The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-12-22

you--the joke That was to be half in
earnest-and then when Mr.. Wander
pot couldn't sail in the Mauretania the
whole plan was mapped out without a
word being said, even TO me.
"Of course | want to assure you
again, and Jim will write a postscript.
that he meant nothing worse to hap
pen TO you than disappointment and
blow to your concelt. He telegraph
ed TO several Of the people to whom
you had letters. saying that II per-
son turned up calling himself by your
name before the Baltic landed they'd
better wait and make sure before be-
ing nice to you that you weren't your
own absconding valet sailing under
false colors. lie didn't say 1t wouldn't
be you. and he supposed that his
friends would simply hang back for
few days. making no sign, thus giving
you to think that you weren't as I'M
portant in America as you'd fancied.
He imagined, too, shat the heiress busi-
ness wouldn't come off quite as easily
as you expected and that altogether
YOU might be a little sobered down.
AS for your trouble with the bank, we
know now that this Is what happened:
1t turns out that Henry van Cotter
has lately become a partner In the
bank which corresponds with yours in
London, and. having got Jims wire
about the valet probably at the same
time when instructions arrived from
| The London and Southern, naturally
he told his people TO be prepared and
not to pay. How could Jim think OF
such thing happening or that Mr..
van Cotter and the others would run
about gossiping Of what he told them
as mere superstition? 1t must have
been too dreadful for you at the hotel.
And, as for that Mr.. Milton, Pm sure
he is horror.
fsThen 1t was another contretemps
that neither Jim nor ! saw the news
papers at first. OF course the minute
Jim knew what had been going on he
wired everywhere and wrote long let
tiers Of explanation. too "a little earlier
than he'd originally meant, to put an
end to the misunderstanding he'd set
In motion. But meanwhile you'd dis
appeared from New York. Poor dear
my heart quite bleeds for you. And YET
and yeti wonder If all that you've
gone through is entirely matter OF
segretg
1t was here, after the "Affectionate
Cousin Betty" signature. that the 9th
er handwriting began.
81 wonder too. / want to know
what you think about 1t. Now it's al
explained and you see just where and
how much I'm TO blame for whats
past You may or may not be inclined
to forgive me for trying to play Provi
dence that good might come Of evil
But IL there is anything which yol
don't regret perhaps you'll partly IN
derstand-yourself and me. Anyhow
apologize. having now done my hes
to atone, In case you want TO go bacl
TO New York in blaze OF glory an,
be made lion of. Meanwhile ] avail
your verdict and am, as the writer
of anonymous letters are supposed &
sign themselves, Your friend and well
wisher. Jim"
Again fate had "tnken n hand II
the game" and used Miss Moon n
catspaw. Into the fire in her bedroom
at Bonnerstown went all those elab
crate explanations. and Loveland dit
not dream that he had only to com
municate with the bank III New Yorl
10 receive apologies and sum o
money which. after his vicissitudes
would have seemed q fortune. II,
had not even a prophetic .'pricling il
his thumbs" while bis mothers post
Office order for $500 teGOl gayly burneC
in Bonnerstown stove. lie had n,
suspicion that New York society or n
important section Of 1t was wearing
!, uackcloth and ashes on his account
neither did he know that Lesley Deal
mer. whether believing him a genuin
article or not. had sent him an anony
nous donation which lay unclaimed Q
the waldorf.Astoria
In the house he and Hiss Dearme
had no intercourse. and be did not eve
. know what the girls daily occupation
snre or what visitors she saw. But {
least three hours out OF every twent!
four gave her TO him Ms an iutlmai
, companion. near in mind and bod.
Therefore until the hateful Crcm,
should fall out Of clear sky Val va
not eager for home news which woul
leave no excuse for lingering at TIL
old homestead In the blue grass cour
: try.
. Il seemed 10 Val that Lesley was a
: ways happy. and because she was hal
py herself she could not bear 10 81
others sad or unfortunate. Thong
she asked no questions about h
chauffeur's English past. she Shove
frank interest IN bis American exper
ences. She led him on as they spu
through the country side by side |
talk OF fIili Willing. Of Lille de Llsl
Of Ed Binney and even Of lsidora. a
almond eyed.
Too delicate minded 10 put her su
picions into words. Lesley contriyc
tactfully 20 pluck from Loveland SON
scanty information concerning Mis
Afn.n..,s...s.. ..s.,t g,.,,.,....s a.. 81