The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
a Butterfly on the Wheel. :

THAT | wrote it!F exclaimed the
lady. Y
collingwood shrugged his shoulder.
and smiled
obviously one of US must have writ
ten it." he explained, ironically polite
And your motive is pretty clear,
think. You hope to marry George Ad-
maston, don't you, il Peggy loses this
case?"
Lady Attwill laughed.
Don't think you can threaten mel
she exclaimed scornfuiiy. Even if
did write that letter, how can you
prove it, Who will believe you-YOU,
who stand convicted of decoying your
friends wife to Parish Soon il will
be asserted that you wrote IT, Adnas-
ton will get his divorce. You will
marry Peggy, / shall marry George,
and everything will end as we mean Il
to end. But" she rose and her eyes
flashed, 'if you dare 10 fight"
Il shall fight" interrupted Colling-
wood, grimly. Fight for all I'm
worth The case must be withdrawn
at once! Peggy shall not be tortured
again as she was; I'll spare her that
indignity at all events"
The lady again laughed lightly.
I'm afraid. my dear Colling," she
said pityingly, that the difficulty is just
little too big for you"
we shall see" returned Colling-
wood calmly. ''In the first place. it has
been proved conclusively that | could
not have written that letter"
What do you mean?'
That as | didn't write it"
at will be assumed that | did?" The
lady laughed scornfully. Really, my
dear Colling, your simplicity is charm
ingr'
Nov, if you confessed to George
Admission that you wrote that letter"
continued Collingwood, as If there had
been no interruption, there would be
an end of the case of Admission VS..
Admission and Collingwood"
'If / confess" scoffed the lady.
Yes" His lips frightened and his
voice dropped And l intend before l
leave this room that you shall confess ~
Lady Attwill famed herself gently.
You're proposing TO make long
stay" she remarked
Possibly. You shan also tell him, y
he went on, that you planned this trip
10 Paris without Peggy's knowledge.
II he knows that he will believe in her
innocence and | mean that he shall
know"
The lady rose suddenly, her eyes
blazing with angry scorn.
DO you think | am afraid OF you
and your game of bluff" she demand
ed. "A pretty conspiracy-to deyoure
me and save Peggy Admaston! Why
shouldn't Pauline have written it
At this moment Collingwood heard
the sound OF Ellerdine's returning mo-
tor car in the street below.
III show you in a minute he said,
walking to the door He met Ellerdine
there and took the package OF photos
from him.
"All right. Dicky, old man," he ex-
claimed affectionately. "A thousand
thanks -
You're quite welcome, old fellow"
Ellerdine assured him as he watched
him loosen the ribbon. ."But-tell me,
what do you want them for?'
I'll see you in an hour and tell YOU
all about it," Collingwood replied, run
ming through the pictures He found
the one he wanted and put it in his in
side pocket
"All right, Colling. old boy, but you
know this is my little game. OH he
caught sight of Lady Attwill as Col
lingwood turned. Il say, Alice, can
you
Collingwood's fingers were placed
gently across the mustache.
"Sh! That's all right, Dicky! I'll
see to this"
"Yes, but" his lordship protested in
a low tone as Collingwood slowly
forced him out of the room, Il want
to ask her if she can write with"
The closing OF the door destroyed
the rest of the sentence.
We'll, Colling.' said the lady with a
half yawn. as she turned back into the
room, I'm simply dying with curios-
ity."
Are you?" he returned grimly.
We'll, | shan't keep you in suspense.
Dicky once said to me that he could
find things out if he only had enough
time"
Yes" nodded the lady with a smile
of amusement, he said the same thing
to me"
We'll, he wasn't far wrong" said
Collingwood, soberly. AT all events,
he has found out something in this
case"
Really! What"
That whoever wrote that letter did
so with the left hand" replied Colling
wood, slowly. his eyes fixed sternly on
the lady's face. She was so surprised
that she could not quite suppress a
slight start, that did not escape him.
But her voice was calm and slightly
bored
'The left hand?" she repeated
Really how very interesting! But
why should it interest me?"
DO you remember about two years
ago you were thrown from your horse
out hunting and broke your arm-your
right arm, Alice-and you learned to
write with your left hand, and that you
sent me a photograph of yourself sign
ID with the left hand? Here it is"
He produced the photograph, and an
Instant later the copy of the letter. |
And here is the photograph of the I
etter read in court The writing is |
IDENTICAL. Now, Alice, the games up!
What are you going to dor