The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-06-18

| Josephine Devereaux' history-as ono
is In q way familiar with the %unevent-
full history of a friend-for that very
reason | am rather hazy as to details.
In other words. there never has been
any reason why one should want to
I plumb her past. She is almost a mem.
Der of our family, and has been for so
long a time that whatever affects her
also touches u.s."
Precisely" said Mr.. Flint. so brisk.
~ that his augmented interest caught
Van Vechten's attention.
"Well?" the latter encouraged.
at is in the close relationship
among the different families con-
cerned that | hope TO find the key TO
the puzzle. And there again | look
for your help.
Consider, Mr.. Van Vechten: it'e a
scure. u~nimportant young mar here
in New York to Temple Bonner in
England, whose name in any language
means unlimited wealth and power.
He and his family own no inConsider-
able portion Of the worlds second
city. He is inaccessible to all ordi-
nary methods OF approach, and by
virtue of his position and affiliations
a force to be reckoned with even by
the ruler he has elected to owe allie
glance To. But 1t has become unmis-
taxable that a binding cord leads
n rOuUh Tho no1a nf intnryarinO
events, uniting Temple Bonner and
Jim O'Neill as surely as if they walked
hand in hand.
Nov you are privileged to assOci-
ate with such people; you are one Of
them. | am not. That's how you can
help me-"
The young man surveyed him curl
ously, perhaps a little admiringly.
There was a noticeable one of re-
spect in the question which he pres
entity asked.
Flint. how did you come 10 be bur
rowing into the past, and raking up
old dead, forgotten ~romances?"
You supplied the hint" was the
quiet answer When you said that
TIE house had not been rented through
the regular Channels-that is to say,
by application at the estates Offices
a moments reflection told me that
possession of the house could have
been obtained only in one other way.
namely, by direct authority of Mr..
Bonner himself. Rather extraordinary,
Ell? 1t was while trying to verify this
conclusion that ] stumbled upon the
rest"
IF your information is exact, the
would Josephine think is she knew
how it had been exciting the clubs
curiosity for 10, these many mOcns!-
if you are correct, then it is her old
home-her birthplace-the house
from which she was married. Well,
we'll, WE'LL"
The marriage had not been a happy
one, and the speaker paused. There
was a quality in the detectives silence
and intent attitude that seemed subtly
to encourage the young mans remi-
niscent vein, for after giving the un-
fortunate union a brief mental turn
ing over, Van Vechten dismissed it
and went on.
Josephine had a twin sister-Hen.
rietta-been dead for years and years.
She too made an unlucky match, | be-
lieve-people, you know, don't talk
about such things. | know next to
nothing about it. Must have been
some gay times in that old house,
Mr.. Flint of a sudden leaned for.
ward and fixed Van Vechten with a
look that arrested and held his atten.
ton.
Now then. Mr.. Van Vechten." he
had grown all at once compelling, "if
the yelled lady you saw Sunday after
.noon-the one who came in the taxi
If she did not resemble Miss Carew.
then wasn't it Mrs. Devereaux that
you were reminded Off"
wait, Flint, wait" the other
checked him. she was a young lady,
mind"
STILL" insisted the detective. you
thought at first glance-before you
saw that she was a young lady-that
she was Mrs. Devereaux-isn't that
so?"
For a long time Van Vechten sat
scowling at the table. BY and by he
looked up and his regard encountered
the detectives.
II believe you are right. Flint be
admitted at last. 1T was the difference
in years that fooled me. Until | real
ized my mistake | believed the veiled
lady 10 be Josephine Devereaux.'
GRO BE CONTINUEDD