Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

noticed that your so-called brides gloves
did not fit her; the boy below noticed that
her shoes were so tight she hobbled. That
set me thinking. a woman of ,lrs. Kan
SONS experience and judgment would not
be apt to make mistake IN TWO sucn I'M
portaut particulars; which, taken with the
veil and the promise she exacted from you
not to address touch her during your
short ride to the hotel. led me to point
my inquiries that l soon found out that
your wife had had the assistance of another
woman in getting ready for her journey and
that this woman was her own maid, who
had been with her for a long time, and
had always given evidence of an especial
alta chment for her. Asking about this
girls height and general appearance (for
the possibility of substitution was al
ready in my mind. l found that she was
of slight figure and good carriage, and that
her age was not far removed from that
of her young mistress. This made the sub
stitution l have mentioned feasible. and
when l was told that she was seen taking
her hat and bonnet into the brides room,
and. though not expected to leave TIL the
next morning, had slid away from the
house by the basement door at the same
moment her mistress appeared on the
front steps. my suspicious became so con-
frmed that | asked how this girl looked,
I'm the hope that you would be able TO
recognize her, through the description, as
the woman you had seen sitting in Re-
CeptiOn Room No. ,. But, to my surprise,
Mrs. Fulton had what was better than any
description the girls picture. This has
simplied matters very much. BY 1t you
have been able to identify the woman who
attempted to mislead YOU in the reception
room. and l the person who rode here with
you from Mrs, Fulton's house. Wasn't
she dressed in brown? Didn't you notice a
similarity in her appearance to that of the
very lady you We're then seeking?
Il did not observe. Her face was all |
saw. She was looking directly at me az l
stepped into the room.
Il see. She had taken off her veil and
trusted To your attention being caught by
her strange featureS-as ii was. But that
dress was brown; m sure of it. She was
the very woman. otherwise the mystery
is impcurtrable y deep plot, Mr., Ransom;
one that should prove to you that Mrs.
Ransom's motive in leaving you was of
very serious character. Do you wish that
motive probed 10 the bottom? l cannot do
1t wouthout publicity. Are you willing TO in
cur that publicity
Il must Mr. Ransom had risen in great
excitement Nothing can hide the fact
that my bride left me on our wedding day.
II only remains now to show that she did
It under an influence which robbed her or
her own Will: an influence from which she
shrank even while suCcumbing to it. l can
show her no greater kindness, and l am
not afraid of the result. l have perfect con-
tideuco I'm her integrty'-he hes!tated. then
added with strong conviction-'and in her
love
The detective hid his surprise. He could
not understand this confidence. But then
he knew nothing of the memories which
lay back OF Il. Not to him could this
grievously Inundated and disappointed man
reveal the secrets Of "A CCurtship which had
fixed his heart on this one woman, and
aroused in him such trust that even this
uuCallvd-fUr outrage to his pride and af-
fccrjOn had not been able to shake ii. Such
secrets are sacred, but the reflection of his
trust was strong on his face as he re-
peated;
Perfect confidence. Mr. Gerridge What
ever may have drawn Mrs. Ransom from
my side, il was not lack OF affection. or
any doubt of my sincerity or undivided at
tachmeut to herself"
The detective may not have been entirely
convinced on the first point. but he was dis
erection itself. and responded quite cheer
fully with an emphatic:
Very well. You still want me TO md her.
I will do my best sir; but first, cannot you
help me with a suggestion or two?'
~"
There must be some clue to so sudden
a freak On the part of young and beau
tiful woman, who l have taken pains to
learn, has not only a clean record but
reputation for good sense. The Fultons
cannot supply 1t. She lived seemingly
open and happy life in their house, and the
mystery is as great to them as to you.
But you. as her lover and now her hus-
band must have been favored with con-
fidenccS not given to others. Cannot you
recall one likely to put us on the right
track Some fact prior to the events or
TODAY | mean; some fact connected with
her past life before she went to live with
the Fultons?"
No Yet let me think; let me think.
M Ransom dropped his face into his hands
and sat for moment silent. When he
looked up again the detective perceived
that the affair was hopeless so far as he
was concerned No" he repeated, this
time with unmistakable emphasis, she
has always appeared buoyant and I'M
tramneled. But then l have only known
her six months
Tell me her history so far as you know
81. What do you know of her HE pre-
yIous to your meeting herr
n was a very simple one. She had
country bringing up. having been born In
a small village in Connecticut She was
one of three children and the ON! one VINO
bas survived. her sister, who was her
twin. died when she was a small child and
a brother some five years ago her for-
tune was willed her. as have already told
YOU, by a great-uncle. 1t is entirely IN her
own hands. Left an orphan early. she
ayed first with her brother then' wheh ne