Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01


fiction. They were all inscribed with the
| name Larrabec Damon, written in a flowing,
confident hand.
| The new Larrabce Damon Was writing
with his left hand for his right hand was
| still too stiff to be used with comfort More
| over. he had d shrewd suspicion that he was
ambidextrous. For few minutes he prac
| tised copying the signature Of the man he
was impersonating. and while his imitation
| was promising. it was little more than that.
| He knew that he would have to work hard
to achieve passablc forgery. And if this
one detail was difficult there might be others
| that would call for just as hard work. He
| must rise dashingy. rather than by labor
such as was entailcd in taking on another
| mans chirography
When he had gone through the books in
| the living room, and examined the prints
and hangings. 50 as to learn what some of
| his tastes were. he went into small smoking
and writing room adjoining and sat down
| before the rolltop desk There Henderson
found him Eliminating.
| "Cpon my word. said Damon, 81 feel al
most like thief. first taking another mans
name and some of his money. and now sitting
here on the point Of breaking into his desk.
| "You might look at it this way: that the
sooner YOU break into that desk the sooner
we'll be able to start after Larrabec and give
him back everything.
| Henderson and the Japanese broke the
lock, and Damon rolled back the cover. The
desk was not very we'll filled, and the con-
| tents were in dsarraV.
"He left in a hurry said Henderson. Il
can believe it, considering the way | saw
him leap on that steamer in San Francisco.
A good many Of the papers were receipted
bills for clothes and wine and tobacco. There
t,,1f of
them duplicated.
al can't tell YOU anything about them.
said Henderson, when Damon looked at him
inquiringly. "I've no idea what your social
connections are in New York. There are
two more stuck in corner.
Damon dragged these out, and found they
were inscribed. "Mr. William Wallace
"Aha.~ said Damon, pleased "At least
this proves that Wallace and | know each
other. We may even know each other we'll:
for YOU see these cards are worn. Probably
Wallace got to be on such intimate terms
with me that he didn't leave cards when he
called"
"He must be likablc Young man. since
Mrs. Beldon receives him.
Not to me. thought Damon. He pushed
aside the calling cards. adding, Georgian
| will doubtless be Of use in letting me know
| whom | know"
whats that heavy thing under that heap
Of open letters:~ asked Henderson.
|DAAION burrowed in the pile, and drew
Il out large photograph in silver frame.
1t was the picture OF girl of great beauty.
She was standing by window, as if she had
just turned from having looked out, and he
Judged by her relation to the window and a
chair by it that she was tall. Evidently she
was fair. with luxuriant hair ripping back
from wide forehead. Her nose and mouth
were delicate and pretty.
"What a lovely crcaturc." exclaimed Hen
derson.
as she not" Damon responded. a trif1e
less enthusiastically.
81 wonder who she is"
81 must like her very well, or shouldn't
have her in such an expensive frame. said
Damon. I'll stick her up on top Of the
desk and see what else there is. For all
know. may have a whole harcm of photo
graphs.
| They soon forgot the portrait, because
they came upon another picture which
seemed of extreme importance in their search
for the lost Larrabee Damon. 1t was the
picture of small, trim ship, and on the back
of it was written, "Tlis is the Urania. and
| tho 1i+t1a dot tho ,.bnc1 Glands for old