Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-26

''I? Oh, II only could be OF service 70
you, should be Bladl But you will not
see this--you formal Americana And this
time you give me credit for kindness I
do not deserve. Who told you that
telephoned I'm your behalf7"
"No one" he answered. frankly, "I
was informed at first that IL was another
person"
Miss Ballantyne7" she interrupted,
quickly. THAT might well apply to me-
for am indeed Miss Ballantyne. But the
one Of whom you speak is the pretended
Miss Ballantyne-or, rather, Miss Ballan-
tyne, the pretender."
Just what do you mean, Miss
Arany?" asked rutherford coolly "Of
course you are not Miss Ballantyne."
"of course am Miss Ballantyne" she
retorted defantly. 'T am Miss Ballan-
tyne, the daughter OF the woman with
whom Geoffrey Ballantyne was In love
] am the rightful heir to his fortune; and
this Miss Ballantyne, alias Talcott, who
is trying TO rob me, has not the least
claim. She's an impostor."
The lovely eyes sparkled and flashed,
as the woman spoke with intense feeling.
1t was clear that she fought back an
emotion that almost overcame her
'Lookl" she said, holding out to him
a mass of papers. Surely you will trust
your own eyesl These will establish my
claim and forever quiet the false preten-
lantyne--even duplicates my costumes!"
Craig looked at the documents which
she spread out before him. There was a
birth record and there the marriage cer-
thcate of Arthur Blwood Ballantyne and
Margaret Horton, the mother and father
He recognized the papers. They were the
ones he had seen on the tea-table at the
Ritz Carlton.
Miss Arany," he said quietly, "I saw
some OF these papers in the possession of
another person. I believe they apply to
her, and belong to hers
II know you do. You have faith in the
pretended Miss Ballantyne-such faith
that you have more than once overlooked
the testimony of your own eyes!'
Craig WINGED in spite OF himself, but
Miss Arany vehemently hurried on
"T admit that you saw these papers in
the possession of the pretended Miss
Ballantyne but they have at last been
secured and returned to me, the riGhtful
Miss Ballantyne, from whom they were
stolen. You remember that they were
placed In the attorneys hands to investi-
gate? The result is-as you see! lie
has returned them to their rightful
ownerl"
Rutherford was startled and puzzled by
this conflicting chain Of evidence. 1t
came also, at n psychological moment
when he was disposed to distrust, not
merely Billie Ballantyne, but the whole
tribe of womankind in general, This
woman told her story glibly; but was not
she the person who, he had been informed,
had sent the men to search his apart
ments?
Seeing that he still looked doubtful,
Miss Arany hastened to produce her
crowning bit of evidence.
"Have you ever received any written
communications from Wilhclmina Ballan
tyne?" she asked.
''WhV do Won wish to know
Because, If YOU have, you must recog-
nize her handwriting. Here is note
from her to you, which explains itself
1t is the cause of my visit"
She produced large, square envelope |
which Craig recognized at a glance was
precisely like one he had in his desk. |
from Billie, relating to the Canadian ad-
vertisements. And the writing in appear
ance was the same. He took the letter |
and opened 1t. with the bes: snow of un-
concern that he could muster. Yes, there |
was the same monogrammed device, in
embossed characters, and below he read |
the following communication:
My Dear Mr.. Rutherford:
II know you will consider this a strange
request, but when l see you-if I ever do
again-I will try to explain more fully