Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-23
CHAPTER XXXIV.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Mcbride called upon Helen about four
o'clock; but no letter had arrived from
England. Her father had received some
foreign mail by that boat earlier in the
day, downtown, and she felt that there
was no chance now She was evidently
very much depressed about 1t, and stood
at the window looking at the gathering
darkness. wiping off the window pane oc-
casionally with that peculiar nervous move
ment which forebodes a fit of tears
Mcbride had seen enough OF that sort
Of thing, so'he thought 1t best to take his
leave and to promise to call later In the
evening, as the last mail would not be de-
livered until after o'clock. He was disap-
pointed himself that the letter had not
come, and he hoped 1t would arrive soon.
He felt sure that when one prop fell and
Mr. Hardy MaXwells heartless deception
was exposed by the discovery Of his forged
letters, the whole fabric of the girls in
fatuation would fall; and then, at last, his
patience would be rewarded He had not
been able to keep his promise to find Max
we'll for her. But he could keep his VOW to
expose the Englishman.
Helen was standing at the window when
he returned, and she flew to the door to
let him In. What a change two hours had
made! She was radiant. She was a picture.
He had never seen her so beautiful be-
fore. as she rushed into the parlor and
then turned and faced him, waving a let
ter In her hand.
''There!' she said, II knew It! I knew
it! Read that No; I'll read it to you. No.
You can read 1t yourself" forcing 1t into
his hand. "oh. I'm so glad that never be-
leved any of those horrid things" she
said as she stood facing him while he read
her hands clssped and trembling with ex-
element; her face half smiles and half
tears.
1t was simple letter, which Just filled
four sides Of the sheet, closely but neatly
written in girls hand. 1t was from Miss
Ohlstrom's cousin and read.
Dear Helen: Mamma asks me to an
swer your letter, as she is not very well.
We are so glad you like Hardy Maxwell.
We got long letter from him about a
week before yours came. He said some aw-
fully nice things about you; In fact,
mamma thinks he must have intentions.
But suppose you know all about that. /
think he would be perfectly splendid lover
so tall and handsome
Papa was little worried because Hardy
wrote that he had resigned his position in
England; but he said he had something
more promising on hand in America, and
that he wanted to stay there for other
reasons. We could almost guess what the
other reasons were, after what he said
about you. You know he was chief Of the
foreign service at Scotland Yard, and the
inspector told papa he was the most prom
lie I'M hnl
inspector when he got back. He went to
America after some bank robbers or some
thing, and he was very lucky / think
papa said the chief OF the robbers han
pened to be on the same ship. and HARDY
got put in the same cabin with him, and
the captain was very kind, and took the
robbers bag into the captains room on
the last day. so that Hardy could get II
afterwards, and he found all the robber'
papers and things In It, A Mrs Stewart
that papa says is the cleverest woman de.
tective in the world was with Hardy, and
she got the robber to make love to her, OIL
something. Papa says she and Hardy man.
aged things SO cleverly that they can ar
rest all the robbers any minute, and q
man is going over this week to bring them
back; but 1 suppose Hardy has told you
all about It himself
Give Hardy much love and tell him to
write often
Your affectionate cousin.
AGNES"
Mcbride was speeches.. His first thought
was of Johnson and his theory of the dis
appearance. Could it be possible that some
of the gang had waylaid Hardy Maxwell
and finding Maynard with him and in the
way, had killed them both? That would nc.
count for the disappearance OF the two
men. He had not the heart TO throw a
cloud over the happy face before him just
then. II that were the solution OF tht
tragedy in the cab. it would come TO light
in time. But after reading the letter he
could see no earthly reason why Hardy
Maxwell should not have written al
least line, unless It were true that he
was lying a the bottom Of the river.
Now what have you got TO say?" de-
manded Helen, smiling rsdiantly. takins
the letter from him and holding II tightly
in both hands as If to be sure that it was
real.
81 am sure do not know what to say,
Mcbride faltered. beginning TO feel slcl
at heart and discouraged at the turn thing
had taken, unless IT, is TO go and tell th'
police TO look for a detective named Max
we'll. l suppose you still hold me to my
promise TO find him for you, no matter
what his name is?"
Now don't be disagreeable," she admon
ished, but tell me what you think bes
10 be done Some one must know where h,
u.s. Perhaps detectives do not give thei
real names to the police Suppose you asl