Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-04-29


! said just the same thing, Mr.. Carbuckle
| would never send two gentlemen about
this affair without letting one know. II
he had only mentioned the name there
could be no doubt about which is. the
| impostor, and even Mr.. Ringwood admits
| that there is one. | don't know what to
do but think Mr.. Ringwood had better
go away. don't feel we'll. | don't
know what is the matter with me-" fall
tered Miss Caterham, with a, nervous
twitching about the mouth. "Take me
upstairs, child You will excuse me, sir"
As she led her aunt from the room the
barrister opened the door for them, and
in passing him the girl said, wait a
little, please, Mr.. Mhgwood. Il should
like to see you again before you 60"
Left to himself the barrister did what
most men similarly situated would have
done in his place. He wandered aimless-
ly about the room. musing over the past
conversation His brain was of course
busy as to what was to be made OF the
fact that some one else was interested in
the discovery of Terence Finnigan. "Pe-
gram" he muttered; "a somewhat singu-
lar name. am glad Miss Chichester told
me to wait, as it is essential that /
should get that name right. !. 1t conveys
nothing to me, but it very likely would
to Carbuckle. Pegram." and here his
eve fell on card basket. lie turned
two or three of the top ones carelessly
over. and then suddenly exclaimed. All!
here it is; Mr.. Robert Pegram. ! have
got the name right then; and now, what
the deuce can Pegram want with Terence
Finnigan? OF course his interest In him
must be in connection with the Great
Tontine.' Pegram is either one OF the
Inst shareholders. or acting for one, and
upon what manner of man Pegram or
his principal may be, turns the use they
will make of Finnigan's discovery. Here
his reflections were interrupted by the
opening of the door, and Mary once
more entered the room.
"Now, Mr.. Ringwood,' she said, 1t IS
nv turn. What made you say so marked
lv to.my aunt that you knew all the facts
in connection with Terence FinniganT'
"Simplv that | understood Carbuckle
had placed me in possession or the entire
story" replied the barrister
Il certainly thought that you meant
more than that" said the young lady
"and now explain to me, please. the rea-
son of the imposition"
..That. Miss Chichester, is exactly what
cannot do. My lips are sealed pro-
fessionally. We lawyers are acquainted
with good deal that we are not at lib
erty to blurt out
"I understand it was to be question for
ouestion. sir. and l really cannot under
stand why we are not to be acquainted
with the reason of an imposture that has
been perpetrated upon us. which surely
concerns no one so much as ourselves
.I can only regret that my tongue
is tied. l would tell you willingly II
might: but | must obey orders
"Of course, if you decline to tell me
here is no more to be said about it she
"but if you intend to persist
n such reticence. you must excuse my
.emarking that | do not think your pre- |
'essional assistance will be of much use
o us. We are only poor women,' she
,ontinued with smile. land, as such,
.annot bear not to know what is going
N. We like even to be told that there
$ nothing to tell
81 like that girl muttered Ringwood
q himself as he made his way down the
walk. 1T must. of course, appear silly
lffectation to her my refusing to tell her
he cause of that imposition. 1t is very
urous that Miss Caterham should never
ave told her niece the story of the Great
Tontine.' From what Carbuckle said, l
hould presume that Miss Chichester will
hiefly benefit in the event of this missing
rinnigan proving the last survivor Well,
he next thing is to see Carbuckle. The
Jews that this Pegram m is in the field will
interest him. and decidedly make the
hase more exciting
(To be continued.)