Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06


res SIR knew him at once, although the light
was bad. And when I would have seen him
palmer, Mrs. Gilroy would not let him be
brought under the lamp
On, indeed" said Durham, making note of
% tnls, Look here" and he held out a large por-
trait OF Bernard, different to that shown~at the
inquest. You recognize this, | suppose?"
That's my Bernard, sir"
is 1T good likeness?"
Jane examined the photograph closely. "Not
wnat ia call very good one, sir, neither was
the other. There's a look wanting"
What sort of a look?"
We'll, sir, you might call it rogush look,
OF gentleman who had seen life and had been
gay This portrait is sad and horrid looking. /
should have been afraid to be courted by Ber-
nard IT he had looked like this But he was al
ways bright and full of larks Then he has not
got spot on his chin he has here. | sup
DONE
Durham started. Here was a means of identi-
hcatlon. Bernard had rather large mole on
the left of his chin Didn't the man who walk
ed out with you have this spot?" he said, pur-
posely adopting the word she had used
No, sir He had chin smooth and white"
Did he ever write you a letter."
Jane blushed again "Just short note MAX
ing an appointment, sir" she said, feeling in her
breast, 1T being early for love letters, and me
being most respectable young lady. I carry it
next my heart"
Durham took the note she handed him without
hesitation, and glanced through it. The writing
was not unlike that of Bernard's, yet he saw
very plainly that it lacked several characteristics
which distinguished that of Gore The. note sim
ply asked Jane to meet the writer on Sunday at
the Marble Arch, and was signed Bernard
III give you sovereign for this said Dur
ham, quietly.
Thank you, sir" said Jane, accepting without
moments hesitation "Of course, Bernard's
dead now, there's no use keeping his letters,
but if he'd been alive I'd have kept them on the
chance of his not making me Lady Gore"
did he wear any rings?" asked Durham, pay
ing the money and putting the letter away.
Three, sir. Two gold and one silver"
This was another point of difference Bernard
hated rings and never by any chance wore any,
not even signet ring. But by this time James
information exhausted, and Durham con-
cluded her examination for the moment. He
would be able to resume it later when necessary,
and congratulated himself on the fact that he
had secured Jane as his housemaid. When
brought face to face with the real Bernard she
would be able to see the difference between him
and his double And then she might also be
able to recognize the double should he be found.
just as he was dismissing Jane with letter
to his housekeeper clerk brought in name
written on piece of paper Mrs. Gilroy," said
Durham to himself wondering greatly. ''Tell
her to come in" he said aloud, and ushered
The clerk showed in Mrs Gilroy as demure
and sly-looking as ever. She was richly dressed
in black silk much better dressed in fact than
she had ever been during the life of her master.
Also Durham noted that there an aggres-
sive air about her which he had not noticed be-
fore. He proceeded to feel his way cautiously
wondering what she had come about.
"It's to see me about your annuity?" he said,
tentatively.
eyes" replied Mrs. Gilroy, coldly, and took
the seat which had been vacated by Jane. "My
beggarly annuity"
The lawyer, who had taken up his position be-
fore the fire with his hands under the tails of
his frock coat, turned to look at her. The bit
terness of the tone startled him. "What do you
mean"
stMean!' echoed Mrs. Gilroy, with vindictive
glitter in her pale eyes. "That Sir Simon prom
ised me five hundred year for life"
ooh, you must be mistaken" said Durham,
quickly "He never said you were to have more
than one hundred"
''He might not to you. but he did to me-" said
the housekeeper dcggedly 'T have right to
five hundred"
"I think not" said the lawyer, calmly "And
let me tell you Mrs. Gilroy, that Sir Simon did
not place your name at all in the second will.
Had it been executed, you would not have had
even the one hundred you despse. Therefore,
you may congratulate yourself'-he watched her
face while speaking-"that Sir Simon changed
his mind about disinheriting his grandson"
The woman's eyes glittered still more mali
ciously and color rose in her bloodless cheeks,
''I knew how it would be-" she muttered. "I
guessed he would play me false. He never was
worth kekaubi.
'TYou are gpsy," said Durham looking up
"yyhat makes you say that?'
'Kekaubi is Romany for kettle. You would
MT use it unless"
"Who l am is nothing to you," interrupted
Mrs Gilroy sharply.
''Yet you don't resemble the Romanyl" said
Durham, looking at her drab appearance. "Your
eyes are pale and your hair"
'fIet my appearance be, Mr. Durham. I am
here for Justice, not to hear my looks discussed
YOU as the executor of the estate to make it the
five hundred he promised me"
''I don't know that he promised you that
sum-" said the solicitor, "and even if he did 1
cannot give it to you. The money now belongs
to Sir Bernard Gore"
'fFIe is supposed to be dead"
"You put il rightly" replied the man. "He
is supposed to be dead, but until his body is
found I will administer the estate on his behalf
But have no power to help you"
Mrs. Gilroy seemed struck by this view of
the case Suppose Sir Bernard isn't dead?
she asked.
with difficulty. Had this dangerous woman dis
covered the fugitive at Cove Castle. "Do you
know if he is alive" asked Durham, quietly
looking at her.
perhaps" said Mrs. Glroy, who seemed to be
thinking. Then she rose. II don't know that
need 10 bother you further" she said
"Will you tell me why you demand this
money!"
because Sir Simon promised it to me-"
"On what grounds"