The Prescott daily news., 1910-05-21
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 tme 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 confi- dential agent for the firm; even a lit tie detective work came occasionally in his line; a quiet, sleek unobtrusive sort of fellow outwardly, straw-colored as to hair and closely trimmed whis- kers, soberly dressed, aged about thirty-five. agile as a mountain cat, shfty as red fox, and walking ad- vertisement of the truth of that old adage about still waters running deeply.
 When did you get back?" quoth Mir Carboy with a 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. could find no record of her marriage to MT. Meleen"
 These statements were perfectly true -on their face.
 And the child-what of the child 2"
 There was no record of either it's birth or death"
 This was deliberate lie!
 That's awkward" exclaimed MT. 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 l 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. It is hardly likely that Meleen could have been mistaken in his belief, and yet-Are you altogether sure of your facts?"
 Perfectly" was the unflinching 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 could discover,' said the unblushing Hews.
 This was lie number three:
 NO 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 was then only a common mineworker, ana IT, as seems to be undisputed, he never revisited the place."
 True enough" Carboy admitted. He hao perfect confidence in Roger Hews. who on more than one occasion had served the firm faithfully.
 Well, the way seems to be clear lor 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"
 | should say that was the next ''ep, SIT" rejoined Roger Hews in .e'ei tones, as though the fact that twenty or thirty million dollars were .. stake possessed for him no interest at all
 put that sleek exterior covered a ssee'ning volcano of a plot which had .ot Hs hatchment and its goal the ps'sohal ~ and private aggrandizement M. r' Roger Hews. In his report to . oarboy he had deliberately sup eSsea r some facts and had cheerfully u aoout others. That he had thus oVea false to the trust reposed in ,,n troubled his exceedingly rubber as Ae conscience not whit. He was w" uou' to play the game of his life. It as daring scheme, and might not ta pau out worth cent" as he admitted
 u'aseif, but 1t was worth trying. ciewhat to the surprise of MT. .a~Hy' when he next desired the
 'ices of Roger Hews he was in-