Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-16

he added rshow her around. Jim" As
they walked off, ne said to a friend stand
\ ing by: That's the best looking pair in
Y . house today"
' Mcbride took Helen all over the building
and asked her IL there was anything on
the program that she cared to see. lie
told her the swimming tank was "beastly
hot and stuffy" on visitor days, and sug-
gested that they go up to the library, where
they could have a little chat In one of
the large windows and would not be likely
TO be overheard
When the girl was seated in the EN-
brasure OF the window he did not seem
TO know exactly how to begin, but her
manner betrayed that she was very impa-
tient to hear what he had to say about the
matter nearest her heart.
You know / had an awful row with the
governor at the office yesterday morning.
l couldn't tell him that / had called on
you, you know. so / told him you met me
in the corridor" Mcbride began awk-
CWardly. She frowned a little at this, so he
added quickly: you will have to forgive
me for that, too. / am getting to be an
awful liar since 1 met you; but that is
the last. hope. Just as an evidence that
l can tell the truth will you allow me to
say that you are looking perfectly lovely
today?'
VILE she smiled 81 lightly and thanked him,
she was clearly not in the humor for com
pliments and avoided meeting the eyes
that were simply devouring her. For a
moment she ALMOST wished they were not
alone in the library.
But what about Mr.. MAXWELL she in
quired eagerly.
McBrlde's face changed at once. He did
not seem to like the subject.
Il suppose l may as well come right out
with 1t, Miss Ohlstrom, he answered look
ing ronnd the room to be sure that no one
had come in. "The fact is looking out
of the window and Juggling at the blind
\the fact is-your frend-I mean the gen
.Agman you knew as Mr. Maxwell-is
rascal" Without looking at her, he could
feel her trembe she sank into the win
dow cushions lie did not like to look at
her lie went on. Il persuaded Mr. Hartley
that as | was his confidential man, he
might as well tell me the whole truth al
have me find 1t out elsewhere, and per
haps get a false impression. He says your
friends name is not Maxwell at all. That
is why you could not get any information
about him at the club. They knew him
there as Milton Fletcher. At the last hotel
he stopped at his name was James Walton,
land at the one he went to before he was
goodness knows how many other names
he had"
lie stopped and looked at her for
moment. She was very pale. She did not
look up when he ceased speaking Her lips
gradually compressed until they were moth
ing but a thin straight line. as she said
decisively:
Il don't believe word of It. Mr.. Hart
ley is deceiving YOU"
mo, l assure you. / went to the club
this afternoon myself, and found he was
known there as Milton Fletcher. 1 went
to the hotels. and l found that his name
was Fletcher at one and Walton at the
other. promised to help you. you know"
he added, STOPPING over her, and have
\ done the best 1 could to find any mistake
hon Mr.. Hartleys part; but am con-
WINGED that he is perfectly frank in this
matter"
She put up her hand, as II to keep him
off, and looked straight ahead out of the
window. Her eyes were full Of tears now.
you must be mistaken" she said very
quietly. "Mr Maxwell brought letters to
us, YOU know. from an uncle; papa
brother"
Mr.. Hartley told me that / would find
out he had made your acquaintance through
letters"
How on earth could he know that, when
he did not know who Mr.. Maxwell was,
Sven?" she said quickly, as IL she had
fRund flaw in the story.
I'He knows the man, and he knows the
letters were forgeries." She looked at him
beseechingly, but he went on II may as
we'll tell you the whole truth, and have
done with 1t. Miss Ohstrom, although L
hate to hurt your feelings in undeceiving
you. Mr.. Maxwell, you call him, was
one Of the Ardmore gang. The police found
In his room at the hotel some OF the bag
gage that they knew belonged TO the gang,
and they were just going to arrest him
when he ran away. Their business was
passing bad bank notes, and 1t seems that
Ithe gang used innocent women as tools to
pass the notes. They would pick out some
stylish looking girl. and one of the best
looking of the gang, who made a speciality
Of that sort OF thing. would present forged
letters to her family. Then he would make
love TO her and usually persuaded her to
gun off with him TO some other country
Dt~tals started violently, and drew in her
underlip with little shudder. "Once there,
they would force her to pass off their
counterfeits, and sometimes
He did not go The girl before him
was not listening. With her face buried
in the cushions beside her she was sobbing
like child He tiptoed over to the library
door and closed It. Then he went back to
her. She heard the door close. and stood
up TO meet him. Her face was very stern.
The mouth thin red line once more.
please send me home at once" she said.
81 don't want TO hear anything more. 1
don't ever want TO see you again. Nor
she put out her hand protestingly as he
started toward her You must forgive
me, but / cannot bear the sight Of you.
As for Mr. Hartley" she added. her voice
rising a. II In anger. Il don't believe him.
/ won't believe him. It's all a he," she
almost shouted. stamping her foot IT'S a
lie and a shame. and I won't believe IT, If
I believed that would kin myself Its a
lie. l say, LIE"
but. my dear Miss Ohlstrom, he gasped,
quite carried off his feet by this sudden
outburst OF passion.
II don't care what YOU say l don't be-
Iieve Il. III wait until l see him. II it's
fiftv years oh. why doesn't he come back