Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-04-16

nately father Is wealthy. and ] have
something In my own right from
grandma. So that's settled. Next.
I've always had fancy for detective
work. and would like to interest my
self IN getting nj the bottom Of this
mystery"
There was something refreshing In
this Yankee heartincss, aud Lady
Hartmore. who recognized the typical
American girl. smiled for the first
time IN months. AS for the young
lord. he folded his fiancee In his arms.
Miss Dorothy spent several hours
one morning with Lady Hartmore,
notebook and pencil IN hand, asking
innumerable questions and noting the
duccd to Stanwood Berks. He was In
vlted TO dinner. Dorothy when the
function was over said she didn't like
him.
The Hartmorcs went to their home
In the country. and Dorothy remained
kept to herself. After awhile she
wrote Lady Hartmore that she and
her mother were going to follow out
their itinerary IN trip TO Scotland.
The Hartmorcs had relatives In Edln-
burgh. and Dorothy asked for letter
OF Introduction TO them. The letter
was sent. and Dorothy went to Scot
land. There she chatted gllbly with
the branch of the Hartmore family to
whom she had been introduced and
when she departed was spoken of as
that inquisitlve American
Lord William was TO meet Dorothy
In London. and Dorothy wrote him to
bring the blank certificate OF his moth
er's marriage with him. When he ar
rived he asked her what she intended
TO do with II. She put her head on one
side and, looking at him saucily. said:
Don't you wish you knew"
But surely you will tell me, your
fance"
do real detectives go about telling
people Of their clcws.'
II won't tell any one"
certainly not, because you won't
secret, but woman detective must"
He got no satisfaction and was
obliged TO content himself with the
part Of n lover, leaving whatever was
serious TO his american GIRL as he
called her.
One morning Mr. Stanwood Berks
received letter from Miss Dorothy
that sent him to London posthastc.
and he was closeted with the young
lady for an hour. What transpired be-
tween him and her she kept TO herself
with all the rest of the moves she was
making. When Mr.. Bcrks returned
and again met his cousins, the Hart
mores. he was very much changed
He had aged ten years. lie was silent.
distralt and had lost all that was gen.
ial In him. He got away from them as
soon as possible.
Dorothy's last move had been made.
and she was ready to report results
She wrote that II convenient for Lady
Hartmore she would spend few days
with them, when she would have
something Of Importance 10 communi-
cate. Lady Hartmorc responded ia
vorably. and one morning the dctcc-
tive appeared. Gathering the earl. his
wife and their son In room and lock-
Ing the door. she said To them:
'I've worked II all out
what have you worked OUT asked
the countess.
How did you do III" asked Lord
william.
Come. tell u.s." said the earl impa.
tlently.
well. you know, got lot Of in
formation before ! started In from
you. Lady Hartmorc. consulted law
marriage laws In your country. Some
thing learned put me in mind of
your visit Ia Scotland soon after your
marriage. So. MS you know. went
there. met lot Of people who re-
membercd your visit and asked many
questions. They called me the inquisi-
tive American. Wasn't II funny? At
last | found an old friend of yours.
Lord Hartmore, to whom you intro
duced Lady Hartmorc as your wife.
That. according to the Scotch laws.
made her your legal Wife
Upon my word. you are right ex-
claimed the earl. delighted. "Who
was the MANI
John Murchlson. a classmate OF
yours at oxford
"John Murchison. Will he swear II =
Here Is his affidavit"
While the cnrl read the paper there
was triangular embrace among the
others: then Dorothy continued:
"You know. didnt like MIR Berks
and got an idea that he had tempered
with the marriage certificate. ! stated
the case TO chemists. and one of them
told me that n certain-hcrc II is
drawing n slip Of paper-"soutlon 81
iodIdc Of starch when used for writ
Ing appears much the same MS ordi-
nary Ink. but completely disappears IN
the course of few weeks. and moth
ing will restore IL. Having learned
from you that Mr. Berks had taken
the clergyman after the wedding to a
desk OF his own choosing on which Ia