Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-27

that she was fighting hard with her emo
ttons,
It had cost her pride good deal to pa,
this visit: and now she was battling will
that, a real concern for his condition, anc
the urgency of their own need
MY dear Miss Ballantyne" he cx
claimed, all kindness and courtesy. "why
apologize for visit which, [ assure you
gives me the greatest pleasure in the
world Please sit down-or, if you wish
to call your father"
Let me talk things over just with you
first, please" she replied with a little EN-.
barrassment, but taking the proffered
chair Then her pent-up feelings could
not be restrained, and she burst out with
oh, Mr. Rutherford The worst has
happened My papers and the second blue
buckle are stolen!"
Rutherford was genuinely touched by
nor distress, knowing what the loss
meant to her. He nodded and said
quietly, in order not TO play upon her
feelings:
Yes, know about it-I have even
! seen YOUR papers again
Seen them again Where? Oh, tell
! me. please"
Miss Arany showed them to me here.
| this afternoon
Miss Arany," she breathed. "t knew
IL was She"
The grid Withdrew her eyes FROM his
face, and puzzled, disquioted look fitted
across her features. could Craig by any
possibility be in league with these
others Every one else seemed to be
against her, and why not he7 But she
instantly dismissed tho thought as un-
worthy. and once more lifted frank
eyes to his.
craig must have OWNED something
of her thought for he made haste to eX-
plain,
Your expression convinces me- he
said, ''of a fact that ! had already set
tied pretty well in my own mind"
And what Is that" she asked In n
constrained voice.
That YOU did not write me letter
today"
why no! If had written you let
ter. why call?"
Exactly! And | prefer the call any
way! However that may he-in comes
this young lady-and she is a charming
young lady-and she produces the papers
YOUR papers, mind YOU. to prove that
she and not you is the rightful claimant,
the only Miss Ballantyne worth con-
sidering: and she produces such con-
vincnE proofs that she is the real owner
OF blue buckle number one and"
"Oh,' gaspod his startled auditor. lay |
ing a trembling hand upon his sleeve,
you didn't give her my buckle, did !
you?'
"Bless your heart, child-no But /
what is a chap to do when he is shown .
an order for the buckle signed by Miss .
Ballantyno herself"
You mean a letter from me7"
Yes, signed by YOU, apparently, sealed |
and delivered by the other person; on
your own stationery, too"
The girl was too surprised and alarmed
to comment for moment Then she
said;
1T is useless for me to tell you I never
wrote any such letter. never did, of
course VIII you let me see it?"
unfortunately. | cannot. She gathered
it up with the other papers and departed
hastily In my present fix I couldn't stop
her"
Craig stopped He looked intently at
his visitor "And when you came to the
door little later-dressed In the same
identical Clothes-the same kind, | mean
i was tempted to shut the door in your
face. 1t is not every day that one re-
Ceives callers whose costumes seem cut
off the same piece"
"she-she was gowned like me?" asked
Billie,
Craig did not answer. He was revolving
in his mind. This girl is per-
sonatnG you" he said at length.
e.
does she look like me?'
Rutherford shook his head. Save as to
and the color of her hair-no
But she has adopted her own scheme-a
clever scheme at that. She realizes that
with women identity rests largely with
apparel. If you sec ono woman in a |
gray cloak. close at hand, another woman
IN gray cloak at a distance seems the
same, She has copied your gowns, your
coats, your hats. She must have done
nore-she must have had them made
where YOU had them made. She has built
m her recent career upon YOU When . Z
.ou wear one gown, she wears its coun-
erpart Why has she done it? To fool /
me-" [
Blllle's tone was banternE in answer. I
Nobody could fool you, Mr.. Ruther- I
ord, " she said, I
Don't rub 1t in he cried Give me /
imc-let me reason this thing out She
lid fool me at any rate, She fooled me r
,nCe on the Gothic"
oh" exclaimed Billie. her eyes dan |
ing, then you really have come to the l
conclusion that it was she and not myself
Who was hugging Mr. Helderman i'm the
oval suite that night
81 decline TO respond to your levity." I
aid Craig, going on. "She fooled me {
wice-the second time at the big house 4
m the Drive"
II am losing ground" walled Billie
surrey you tHouSIt me tdpdple or VlSlt-
NJ Mr. Helderman clandestinely I be-
ieve you admire me for 1t. Remember [ |
m still a hit of an adventures"
Every time went on Craig, "she has |
ppeared In your gowns-in your get-up.
What is the answer? Somewhere in Eu- |
with Helderman like
nough-she has picked up the tangled :
keins--the tangled ends of your fathers
omance. She has shadowed you-she has
lade herself acquainted with every move =
ou made-she was always ready-she >,
ever knew when her opportunity might X
there is somebody that she has
lied TO fool" Q
Billie clicked her teeth, "She Succeeded D
hen she fooled you" she responded ex- v
ltingly. You know, Mr. Rutherford. a
id not believe for a moment that / made p
we to Mr.. Helderman in the royal suite,