Gilpin observer., 1910-06-30
CHAPTER III.

The exigencies of the story carry us
westward once more. The scene is
The San Francisco office of Messrs.
Carboy, Passavant & Cozine. The
time, six weeks subsequent to the
funeral of Andrew Meleen. There en-
ters to the private room of our old
friend, Phineas Carboy. certain
Roger Hews, who at sundry and divers
times acted in the capacity of conf
dental agent for the firm; even a lit
tie detective work came occasionally
in his line; quiet, sleek, unobtrusive
sort of fellow outwardly, straw -colored
as to hair and closely trimmed whis-
kers, soberly dressed. aged about
Shirty-fve, agile as mountain cat,
shifty as red fox, and a walking ad-
vertisement of the truth of that old
adage about still waters running
deeply
When did you get back?" quoth
Mr.. Carboy. with nod
Last night, sir"
"How did you find those matters in
Pennsylvania"
Quite satisfactory. I should say.
Everything seems to be about as you
expected"
Concerning Mrs. Meleen. now:
Were you able to confirm her mar
riage and subsequent decease?"
"The woman died on the 10th OF
October. '65. and was buried in Nanti-
coke township. l could find no record
of her marriage to Mr.. Meleen.'
These statements were perfectly true
on their face.
And the child-what of the child?"
There was no record of either it's
birth or death"
This was deliberate lie,
That's awkward" exclaimed Mr.
Carboy. "Meleen distinctly stated
that there was child How do you
account for the discrepancy"
Very simply. If the mother died
In travail and the child with her, as
inferred from your instructions,
there might naturally have been no
record of the infants entrance into
or departure from the world. In all
likelihood the baby would not even
be named"
That's not altogether improbable"
assented the lawyer, scratching his
nose But the point is a vital one.
1t is hardly likely that Meleen could
have been mistaken in his belief. and
yet-Are you altogether sure of your
facts?"
Perfectly" was the unlinching re-
ply.
Which was lie number two.
ANY collateral evidence on the mat
ter, such as neighborhood gossip or
the recollections of the oldest inhabi-
tant?'
Nothing of the sort that l could
discover" said the unblushing Hews.
This was lie number three!
mo one seemed to remember An
drew Meleen or his Wife" he went
on. lying glibly, which is not sur
prising If, as you led me to infer he
and If, as seems to be undisputed, he
never revisited the place"
True enough" Carboy admitted. He
had perfect confidence In Roger Hews,
who on more than one occasion had
served the firm faithfully.
We'll, the way seems to be clear
for us to advertise for the missing
nephew or other next of kin. Martha
Meleen. in all human probability, has
preceded her brother across the Great
Divide
Il should say that was the next
step, sir" rejoined Roger Hews in
level tones, us though the fact that
twenty or thirty million dollars were
at stake possessed for him no interest
at all.
But that sleek exterior covered a
seething volcano of a plot which had
Tor its hatchment and its goal the
personal and private ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
of Mr.. Roger Hews. In his report to
Mr.. Carboy he had deliberately sup
pressed some facts and had cheerfully
lied about others. That he had thus
proved false to the trust reposed In
him troubled his exceedingly rubber
like conscience not whit. He was
about to play the game OF his life. 1t
was a daring scheme. and might not
~pan out worth a cent" as he admitted
to himself, but 1t was worth trying.