Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-10

lie had not gone far before he heard a sound as
OF somebody moving. That somebody was coming
in his direction was certain Field turned down
side passage and came at length to lighted
room, at the end of which was a conservatory full
Of flowers, behind which Field proceeded to hide
himself He had hardly done this when the door
was pushed open and Carl Sartoris entered in his
chair. With great difficulty the cripple proceeded
to crawl into big armchair after which he
took from his pocket wig and pair of specta-
cles. He seemed to be expecting somebody He
gave little cough. and Immediately somebody in
the hall began to talk.
MIR. Sartoris is in the conservatory room,
miss, voice said, and Field had difficulty in
recognizing the voice of the doctor, Brentwood.
"WilI you come this way, please?"
Field congratulated himself upon the line that
ne mad taken. From behind the flowers he could
see without being discovered. A pretty girl with
wonderfully beautiful hair, came into the room.
She was not in the least timid; there was an air
Of eager expectation about her
This is very good of you," she said. "T under.
stand that you sent for me. If you are not in
proper state of health to talk to me can call
again, Mr. Sartoris"
just for the moment Sartoris made no replv
1t seemed to Field that he was not altogether
free from physical pain He shaded his spectacled
eyes with trembling hand, as if the light proved
little too strong for him.
1t is not in the least Inconvenience" he said
L se'C lor you at tns somewhat late hour because
| may have to leave England tomorrow If do
SO it will be for some considerable time
Il can give YOU hour the girl said "I
must be in London by ten o'clock"
very well, dare say can manage il by
that time As told you in my letter, am a
very old friend OF your father We were in one
or two ventures together and some of them
turned out to be very successful indeed. Did he
ever mention my name?"
| Il cannot call it to mind" the girl said. "And
| yet it is not common name"
ut is not in the least common" Sartoris smiled
Perhaps your father did not speak of me because
we were not quite friends towards the last At
one time [ was to be your guardian if ANYTHING
happened to you father. But we need not 20 into
| that because it is not material to the case 1T
all"
The girl nodded brightly 81 believe my guar.
dian was Sir Charles Darryll" she said
$50 [ understand" Sartors proceeded in the
same grave way. ut most extraordinary
selection for man with keen business head like
your father"
But you are greatly mistaken" the girl ex
claimed. My father a perfect child in busi-
ness matters Even was capable of advising him
for his good. I should say that there never lived
a man who was so easily befooed as my father"
"1s that so?" Sartoris blurted out "Pm-I
mean, of course, yes, to mere money. but he
was clever enough in some ways. Still, the fact
remains that he made Sir Charles Darryll your
guardian. Did you trouble him at a?"
81 never so much as him, at least in
business sense"
"Ah," Sartors cried There was deep ring in
his voice, 'FTs that really fact? You don't
know, then that certain papers and documents
belonging to your father passed to Sir Charles?
Your father told you nothing of ths?'
mot word, except in joking way. He
spoke of securities and mortgages and the like
| that were to be my fortune when he died He
told me to ask Sir Charles about them''
"Did you take the trouble to do so?"
"Once," she said "Once I did say something to
Sir Charles. He told me that every paper in his
possession had been deposited with his LAWYERS"
Once more Sartoris shaded his eyes with his
hand. Field, could see his fingers shaking In
hard voice sartoris asked if the girl meant the
family solicitor
mo, I don't" she said without the slightest
hesitation "As matter of fact the family So
citor would have nothing to do with Sir Charles
he found him too expensive. It was some little
man in of the inns, Gray's Inn or Clements
Inn, who kept his creditors at BAY But more
than that am afraid I cannot tell you"
Sartoris muttered something that might have
been the strangling of oath. Field began to
understand. Papers, and probably valuable pa.
pers, belonging to Sir Charles were necessary:
and the gang of thieves was at loss what to do
without them
81 dare say can find out" Sartoris said. "If
/ do | fancy you will benefit considerably. Mora
than that dare not venture for the present, nv
dear young lady, because frequently these
things turn out very differently. If YOU could
think of the name of that solicitor"
"Perhaps I might" the girl said. "I have a
good memory, especially for trhes. If do rec
ollect the name I will write you here Do Won
know you remind me of man | knew in India
He much younger than you, of course and
different in many ways. And yet every tims
look at you and hear your voice think of hin"
GAS matter of fact | never was in India at
ALL" Sartoris said hastily. There was a nastv
ring in his voice that caused the girl to look up,
whereon Sartoris laughed, seeing that he had made
a mistake. Excuse me, but this neuralgia of
mine is very troublesome tonight. And am
afraid that am detaining YOU"
The girl muttered something soothing and sym.
pathetic; at the same time she rose and crossed
to the bell. But Ssrtoris merely reached out a
hand and asked her to help him into his chair
He sank back into the wheeled contrivance at
} length with sigh that might have been pain
"I'll go far as the door with you" he said.
, mo, move myself along. And hope that
you will come here again: I'll let You know when
it is quite convenient. Don't forget that may
be the indirect means of bringing you a fortune
am very old gentleman, my dear: won't YOU
give me kiss? Are YOU very much offended"
The girl laughed and blushed as she bent down
and touched Sartors' cheek with her lips. A mo.
| ment later they were gone, and Field had emerged
from his hiding-place Without further adventurs<
the inspector crept back to the pantry and fou1
himself at length in the road He looked "A
, upstairs window whence the hickerins -