The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-15
SYLvIA'S FORTUNE.
By Gerard Hopkins.

Copyrighted, 1907. by Jessie Morgan
 In well appointed but not luxuri. ous library two men stood staring al each other. The younger. white faced and startled. leaned with one hand on a mahogany table. The other older and more calm smiled with conscous pride and triumph.
 "orville Westonp' gasped the younger man. You here?"
 You seem scarcely pleased to see me Marsden," replied the visitor coolly. as he took a chair. T just arrived. Of course you understand"
 .'N-no. What do you wantr
 1T have just learned of your remark able good fortune. It is not every fellow who escapes state prison to be made custodian of a young girls wealth.
 Hush! She is in the house. You know I was innocent of crime"
 "Innocent?' snaered Weston. "Of course, every fellow Is innocent until he is proved guilty The crime was committed"
 Young Marsden almost .reeled. He glanced nervously toward the library door. It was nearing midnight.
 'I know" said weston. She is with your uncle and aunt at the theatre But before they reach home Well nave a talk. I'm broke. Marsden.'
 "So am T."
 "I know you are A fellow just admitted to the bar can't be expected to have made a pile. But you've got Sylvia Ford's fortune in your keeping.
 Marsden. who was not the hardeneo man of the world his unwelcome visi- tor was, turned still whiter, and glanc- ed apprehensively toward small safe.
 weston laughed
 sYou give yourself away so plainly So it is there, it is? What is 1t? Casn' Bonds? Something negotiable? Sit doWn I want to talk to you"
 Feeling himself weak and power less in the hands of this man he hated and feared. Marsden sank into a chair,
 "Remember old WhittakerF asked he eyed his companion with the gaze of a hypnotist. What a fad there was that summer at the lake for the airnatures. of celebrities? And Whit taker had just brought out oook' He was all the rage there then, and you had the fever, as well as the women You had an autograph book--a sing uIarly convenient one. RememDer' whitaker put his signature on page -peri1ously near the Dottom-re-
 Marsden's breath was coming fast and painfully. a draft for 5000 was cashed' signed by whitaker, and although he swone he never gave 1t his name was at tached. and he had to admit me signatureT
 1.-the book was stolen" whispered Marsden. ''You know who took 1t.
 "Oh, no; I know nothing about It. But the book with the missing page torn out, could easily have been identi- fled as your own. You know that
 Tt was never found"
 "Oh. yes, 1t was found It Is in existence to-day. And the detectives are not through with the case yet l know where the book is, Marsden
 'But I am innocent. did not use the page"
 owned the book. You asked Whit taker to sign his name. You said you wanted him on page all by himself He neglected to add verse-he left the page bland except for his name. You needed money. You had money after the draft to bearer was cashed. Remember?'
 My uncle gave me that"
 -''Who would believe it?' Don't you kTfow, Fred Marsden, that the product ion of that book now, the fitting or the page where 1t was torn out. your name on the cover. would be evidence difficult to refuteT'
 My God, yes"
 And you. just starting out on your