The Washington herald., 1906-12-04

he had with his grandfather. But / never
knew he was Sir Simon's grandson until
l lost him." sobbed Jane. Oh. dear Ise;
and to think 1 should have been Lady
Gore, with diamonds and fine clothes,
had he lived"
Hunt" said Durham, digging the
point of his pencil into the blotting pa
Per; so he practically told you the story
Of Sir Bernard
Yes, sir. as I afterward learned it.
And wasn't that natural. sir. seeing he
was Sir Bernardo"
Jane stared. why, sir, he was always
frightened when Mrs. Gilroy came down
TO the kitchen, and said she was mis-
enemy, and that if she saw him he could
never marry me. / didn't know what he
meant at that time, but / see now She
would have said who he was. l used 10
hide him in cupboards. and once in the
coal cellar. Cook and William never told,
being sympathetic like"
Did he speak in educated Manner
Like the gentleman he was, sir, hav-
ing been educated at EtOn."
When you saw him in the grasp of the
policeman lid you recognize him? Was
he the same man who courted your
Jane stared again and looked puzzled.
There isn't two SIT. that | know Of,
she said; "and now" with a fresh burst
of tears. there isn't one. seeing he is
drowned Oh. dear. dear me. Yes, sir, ]
knew him at once. although the light was
bad. And when l would have seen him
palmer, Mrs. Gilroy would not let him
be brought under the lamp"
'Oh, indeed" said Durham, making a
note of this. Look here and he held
out large portrait of Bernard. different
70
osnize this, / suppose?'
That's my Bernard, sir
''ls it d good Iikeness?"
Jane examined the Photograph closely.
Not what I'd call very good one, sir;
neither was the other. There's a look
wanting
What sort Of a look2''
Wei. sir, you might call it a roguish
look, of a gentleman who had seen life
and had been gay. This portrait is sad
and horrid looking. I should have been
afraid to be courted by Bernard If he had
looked Ike this. But he was always
bright and full Of larks. Then he has
not got a spot on his chin as he has here.
1 suppose he cut himself shaving when
he had this done
Durham started. Here was a means OF
Identification. Bernard had a rather large
mole on the left of his chin Didn't the
man who walked out with you have this
spot?' he said, purpOsely adopting the
word she had used
No, sir He had a chin like a new
born infant smooth and white"
Did he ever write you a letter."
Jane blushCd again Just a short note
making an appointment. sir" she said.
feeling in her breast; 1t being early for
love letters. and me being a most respec-
table young lady. ] 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
II lacked several characteristics which
distinguished that of Gore The note
| simply asked Jane 10 meet the writer on
Sunday at the Marble Arch, and was
signed Bernard"
IN give YOU a sovereign for this" said
Durham. quietly
Thank you sir" said Jane accepting
without a moments hesitation "Of
course, Brenard's dead now. so 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 Core"
Did he wear any rings?" asked Dur
ham, paying 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 a signet ring.
But by this time James information was
exhausted, and Durham concluded her ex-
animation for the moment He would be
able TO resume IL later when necessary.
and congratulated himself on the fact
that he had secured Jane as his house
maid. When brought face 10 face with
the real Bernard she would be able Ia
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 a
/ letter to his housekeeper a clerk brought
/ IN name written on a piece of paper
/ Mrs. Gilroy," said Durham 10 himself
wondering greatly. Tell her to come
/ in he said aloud. and ushered Jane out
quickly by another door. 1t would never
| have done to have let Mrs. Gilrov meet
/ her, seeing that the Hall housekeeper
was hostile 20 Bernard. SO Jane departed
! rejoicing. and Durham went back to his
| desk well satisfied.
/ Bernard never wrote this note. as II
/ is different in many ways to his writing
/ he murmured. Bernard never wear.
1 rings. and he has a mole on his chin
! lIF-
out doubt the impersonation has beer
very clever. But I wonder how I am tc
find the double"
| Before he could reply to this perplex
| ing question the clerk showed in Mrs
/ Gilroy, as demure and sly-loolling as ever
| She was richly dressed In black silk
much better dressed. in fact. than sh,
| had ever been during the life of he,
master Also Durham noted that Their,
was an aggressive air about her whicl
he had not noticed before. Perhaps thi
was due TO her receipt Of annuity. Sh,
was not a lady. and yet she could no
| be called common. Durham had neve
| examined her carefully before but nov
that she was dangerous to Cores interest
he looked at her carefully. A strang,
woman and a dangerous was his verdict
He proceeded to feel his way cautiously
wondering what she had come about.
It's 10 see me about your annuity?'
he said. tentatively.
Yes" replied Mrs. Gilroy, coldly. an,
took the seat which had been vacated h,
Jane. MY beggarly annuity
The lawyer. who had taken up his 20
sition before the fire with his hand
/ under the tails of his frock coat, turne,
| TO look at her. The bitterness OF tn
tone startled him. What DO you meang
"Mean!" echoed Mrs. Gilroy, with a vim
dictive glitter in her pale eyes. "Tha
Sir Simon promised me five hundred
year for life"
"Oh. you must be mistaken" said Dur
ham, quickly. He never said you wer
TO have more than one hundred"
He might not to you. but he did &
me- said the housekeepeT, doggedly. 90
have a right to five hundred"
II think not" said the lawyer. calm
". And let me tell you, Mrs Gilroy
that Sir Simon did not place your nam
at all in the second viii. Had IL bee
executed. you would not have had eve