Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-16

that Mcbride was familiar with some Of
the circumstances of the case In which
Groscup himself was engaged as counsel
Tn extent Of the clerks knowledge was
problematical Perhaps Mcbride could
throw some light on certain parts which
were not at all clear to the lawyer so far.
The most natural introduction to the sub
ieCt was, OF course the girl in the case
Groscup was very much astonshed to learn
that Mcbride knew her personally and had
called at her house In fact he could hardly
believe it.
"well, Mr.. Mcbride" he said, II am Mr.
Hartley's counsel; retained in case there
should be any trouble in this matter You
are his confidential secretary. Would 1t not
be well for us to be perfectly frank with
each other?"
Certainly. my dear sir. That is Just what
I wish. have nothing to conceal in the
matter / assure you
Then you will not take offense at any
thing ! msy say; however. It may upset
your preconcesyed opinions of certain--peo-
ple?" He was going to say young ladies', 3"
but he thought better of it,
"Of course not. ] shall be glad to have
a few facts in place of all this talk
well, the night before last. l dined with
the young lady you refer TO-"
Indeed" Mcbride was clearly astounded.
"At her house?'
mo, She never dimes at home In a cafe,
on Second avenue"
Mcbride sat there with his mouth wide
open, as II he had seen ghost.
why" he stammered, Il left her at the
Athletic club in the afternoon; feeling i'll.
In fact she was completely Frustrated He
ran his hand through his curly hair for
a moment and then added: II don't I'M
derstand this business at all. l wish had
never heard Of 1t. There seems to be some
trick or double-dealing on the part of
every one That forger Maxwell, started
it all, it seems"
THAT forger, MAXWELL" exclaimed the
lawyer, suddenly recalling a slip of Hart
ley's that evening at Green's. What do
you mean by referring to him as a forger,
may 1 ask p
Didn't you know he was one of the
Ardmore gang?'
what! The Bank of England forgers?'
Certainly The police found the gang $
effects in his room at the hotel, 1 under
stand. They were about to arrest him
when he skipped out"
you and 1 are evidently talking about
different persons, Mr.. Mcbride"
THAT may be- l have never seen Max
we'll myself. All l know about him is
hearsay. He seems to have had more names
than a cat has lives l don't think Hart
. ley can be mistaken. lie made a clean
breast of the whole affair TO me before
he went away. lie said he had met this
man under the name of Fletcher, quite
casually, at a dinner, l believe, and did not
know any more about him than his name.
Had no further interest in him. Did not
even know where he lived. About a week
after Fletcher disappeared, a detective
called on Hartley, and stated that he had
traced him up as one Of Fletcher's ac-
quaintances. Wanted to take him up to
headquarters and put him through the
third degree, or something like that. OF
course Hartley was badly scared, and
wanted to know what Fletcher had been up
to-"
interested
Then the detective told Hartley what
they had found out about Fletcher, or Max
we'll How they had traced him to the hotel
and found some OF the Ardmore gang
baggage in his ROOM and all that. The
only persons they could think of, Hartley
says, that Maxwell would be likely to con-
meet with, was this young lady, Miss OIL
strom-'
you mean Miss Stewart"
mo, mean Miss Ohlstrom."
"Wel, go on. Hartley said the name was
assumed"
Hartley says the detectives had shad-
owed Maxwell, and had seen him witch her
several occasions, and that they were
watching her now, thinking he might write
to her"
They will catch weasel asleep II they
get anything out Of her; that's all have
to say. She's nobody's fool"
Mcbride went without noticing the
interrution:
"Of course l felt II my duty to state the
facts to Miss ohlstrom. who is friend
Of mine, and to inform her that she had
been grossly deceived by the forged letters
of introduction, and so FORTH
Under what name did she know him?''
Maxwell. Hardy Maxwell"
And had she no knowledge of his know
ing Hartley. Maynard, Dr. Ramie, Douglas
and the rest?'
"Of course she had 1t was because she
identified those gentlemen as friends OF
Maxwells that l demanded an explanation
from Hartley. She knew the whole story
about the dinner, and the bet they were
going to make. and all that nonsense"
What smart liar she must be-! ex-
claimed the lawyer. half to himself.
What do you mean. sirT' snapped the