The Washington times., 1909-04-09
CHAPTER XXI (Cont'd).

ARTHUR BARRINGTON EXPLAINS,


Laura Hamilton, and I sup
pose those tears are for me
If so, YOU will not weep when yo'
have heard what I have 10 say.
IT won your love. I persuaded YOU
20 consent to marry me. DO you know
why2'
The girl did not answer this question
She merely sobbed the louder.
II told you that 1 loved you, the
wounded man went on. but L an
ashamed to say that this was not the
truth. / wanted TO marry you because
I knew that there is a fortune of sew
eraI million dollars awaiting you"
steve Clayton gasped at this dis
closure.
What a fool I was not to have
guessed that at the start" he said tc
himself.
Il was after that money" Arthur
harrington went on. Il wanted to
marry you because ] knew that your
name was not Laura Hamilton-be-
cause / knew that you were really
Estella Palmetto. daughter. of the late
Giovanni Palmetti and heiress TO one
OF the biggest estates in Italy"
"oh, he is deIiriousl" gasped the
girl ''He does not know what he is
saying. This is sheer nonsense that
ne is talking. l am Laura Hamilton,
daughter OF John Hamilton, of Brook
lyn.''
NO. I am not delirious," protested
Arthur harrington. Qucrulously what
i tell you may appear TO you to be nom
sense; but II is the truth. You are not
John Hamilton's daughter The Hamil-
tons adopted you when you were an in
FAINT. Your real father was a member
of one of the oldest families OF Rome,
and your mother was an American girl
of good family
1T was an elopement and the par
ents on both sides refused TO forgive the
young couple. Your father and mother
came to America They died here in
great want. and that is why you were
left on the doorstep OF the EamiltOus
when you were baby.
How did you discover ali this?" ask
I'd Detective Peabody, eagerly.
Through q photograph Of the girls
mother" replied the dying man. she
posed for a photographer named Scala
when she was in Rome. shortly before
her marriage TO Giovanni Palmetti.
Scala came here on a visit a few
months ago and he and / met and be-
came quite friendly. One day we were
riding on a Brooklyn street car when
We saw a young girl walking on the
street.
AT sight OF her my friend Scala be-
came greatly excited. When I inquired
as TO the cause he told me that the
etIi was the living image of a photo
ararh ne mad taken more than twenty
SsaTS ago ansi of which he still retained
the negative.
HE expressed a belief that the girl
must be the daughter OF the original
OF that picture. He was positive that
there corlo not be such a remarkable
resemblance otherwise. He told me
about the enormous Palmetu fortune
which would go to a very distant
branch of the family because no trace
Of Giovanni PalmettFs offspring could
be found. He was familiar with the
whole ste-y.
I'VE Investigated and found that this
Eirl who believed herself to be Laura
Hamilton was really Palmetti's daugh-
ter
Then we decided. Scala and I, to
reap the benefit OF our discovery. We
mapped out plan Of campaign. / was
10 win the girls love and make her
my wife before she knew anything
about that vast fortune TO which she
was sole heiress. Scala was 10 receive
8 share of the money after I had got Il.
Scala sent cablegram TO Rome. in
etructing his assistant TO make a new
print OF the photograph Of the girls
mother from the negative. We wanted
the picture 70 prove our contention.
When the photograph arrived and we
com-ared II with the face Of the girl
we found that the likeness was re-
markable.
"Ahi' exclaimed Clayton. excitedly,
~that explains the mystery OF the pho
tograph in the library book It was
yesily the picture Of the girls mother
He spoke aloud, and Arthur Barring
ton glanced at him in establishment.
What exclaimed the latter. You
here, too? I know you. You are the
friend Of Wilbur Lesie-poor Leslie,
who went clean dsffy over that picture.
Yes. that explains the mystery OF the
picture I'm the library book. You and
your friend might as well know the
truth now. / guess.
But how did the picture get in the
library book2.' Clayton inquired. will
you please tell me that2''
Scala accidentally dropped il from
biz pocket while dining in a restaurant
\ waiter picked II up and took Il home.
Jhe walters sister got hold OF it.
The walters sister was employed in
the library. In a spirit OF fun she in
earted the picture between the pages OF
one OF the library books.
Scala discovered his loss and