Evening star., 1912-10-06

Willingly, his acting in the little drama was
quite as important as mine was.
3The day began well. l went downtown
in my usual disguise, with the carefully
trimmed white beard, shortly after banking
hours had begun. This was to get look at
Barringer, to see how he was dressed for the
day. He wore, could see as glanced at
him through the receiving teller's window,
modest, checked suit, with gray tie white
spats (that was his one weakness), and tan
shoes. His hat was a gray Fedora, a new one
for him, and detail that must supply i'm
mediately.
$50 far, so good. There was only one
more personal article that must duplicate,
and that was Barringer's valise, suitcase
with many European travel tags, which |
had seen him take to the bank and away on
several occasions. l could not see whether
that was under his desk or not; but l must
take chance on that, for it was vital part
of the arrangements Anyway, comforted
myself by thinking the valise was always
kept at the bank in his office, being brought
back by him empty some mornings, and if
by chance he had not left it there the night
before this day the fact of his returning with
| it late in the afternoon would not occasion
any notice, probably.
| "For it was absolutely necessary that Bar
ringer should leave the bank during the
afternoon, and | had planned that. | have
not referred to one detail in the mans life
with which l had become acquainted; for
| have not been trying to slander him to you.
However, there was detail that had shown
Barringer up to me in anything but agreea-
BILE colors. He was a whited sepulcher
The world knew him as an extremely
godly man, prominent in his church; one of
~ IL &c h,
as hypocrite; for had discovered, early in
my acquaintance with his valet, the exist
ence of a certain Mademoiselle Nina Fabre.
The mere name is suggestive of-er-shall
we call it a romance? Very well! She lived
in a magnificent apartment uptown. No, |
had never been in the place; but Made
moiselle Fabre had maids, and maids will
talk. They had told me a great deal, all that
| should have needed to know had been a
blackmailer; which, | am proud to say, |
have never been. | learned of the beautiful
diamonds, gorgeous clothes, and lavish hats
the lady had. The maids told me of the lux
ury Of her apartments, to fit up which had
cost fortune. myself saw her in her vari-
Gus automobiles as she rode out through the
park and along the Riverside Drive; but
never, of course, with Barringer.
| The maids did not know him as Bar
ringer, either. But they did know of gen.
tleman, Mademoiselle Fabres fance and l
knew, of course, that it was Barringer. 1t
was a very useful thing to know, because l
was about to apply the knowledge to con-
su1nmate the one detail that had worried
,ne,-getting Barringer away from the bank
this afternoon. What | didn't know was
that Fate was about to attend to that part
OF the affair for me, and save me the trouble.
| wish | had known it!
7 WENT to my lodgings and proceeded to
make the Transformation in my appear
ance, having stopped on the way to buy a
gray Fedora the counterpart of Barringer's.
| donned my checked suit, the duplicate of
his, the white spats, the gray cravat, every
thing he wore, not forgetting the white linen
handkerchief with the r. B. embroidered
in one corner, which obtruded from the
breast pocket of the coat. Then l lighted
a cigar-Barringer' favorite brand and,
with my travel-marked suitcase in my hand,
the one with r. B. on the end of it,-I
went out, walking down the stairs lest the
elevator boy should have too good a look at
| me in the car
Il rode downtown in a taxicab, tense
with excitement lest the latter part of my