The Press., 1915-12-29

westminster, who looked in the city
directory for another person OF my
name. He found only mine. Calling
in the superintendent of carriers, he
made inquiry as to whether any OF
them delivered mail to any other per-
son than myself of my name. None
of them did so. l left the postonlce
without confirmation of my theory
| was much disappointed and began
to realize that my chances of proving
nv innocence were not so goou as
had thought them. All that day the
matter ran through my brain like How
ing water. l came to no conclusion
and at bedtime returned to my lonely
home. l made no inquiry as 10 where
nv wife and children had gone, FOR
had no explanation to offer as TO the
accusing letter. l studied the hand-
writing, but was not conscious OF ever
having seen it before. At last 1t oc-
Cured to me to place it in the hands
of detective and bid him make an
investigation.
He spent an hour with me, asking
questions with view to assisting MIN
in his work. They were so many ana
so varied that when he had hnlshed
7 could not see that he had elected
anything to give him the remotest
clew. While he was at work l was
living alone at my home, taking my
meals at my club. l learned that my
wife had gone with the children to her
mothers. | did not communicate with
her, having resolved that I woI~d not
do so until I was indicated and could
show her how unjustly she had treat
ed me.
One day my detective came to me
and told me that while questioning me,
when he took the case, from what
had told him as to my trouble WIN
Maud Penrose before my marriage he
had no doubt she had written the let
ter or, rather, had employed some one
TO do so for revenge. But be was I'M
able to prove the charge. This had oc-
Cured to me, but l had dismissed 1t
at once because 1 did not consider it
reasonable to suppose that any eou-
Gated and refined woman could posi-
blv commit such base act. This had
no effect on the detective, who said
that not all criminals were G lound
in the lower classes. l did not con
vince him that he was wrong, nor dld
he convince me that his charge was
unsuppOrtable.
year passed, during which l was
called upon to make a long trip on
business and was for months traVel-
ing. The estrangement between me
and nv wife continued, | being too
proud to attempt a reconciliation With
out proof of my innocence, she being
convinced that my silence was PROOF
of nv guilt. A mutual friend told me
that she remembered Maud Penrose's
warning that she would in time dls-
cover my true character to her cost
| This indicated to me that l mad no
chance to effect reconciliation WITH
! out proof, and l began to despair or
ever being reunited to my family
One day nv detective came to me
and said that for $1,000 he could Sc
cure information as to the writer OF
| the letter. I gave him check Tor the
amount and told him that if he could
! give me the proof l required before
the next Christmas, which was APP
preaching, I would add a handsome
bonus for himself The day before
tbe anniversary he came to me with
specimen of penmanship Identical with
that of the discriminating letter. selz-
ed it greedily.
'"Wh0 is the writer?'' l asked.
st don't know" he replied, but l
do know that she was simply an aman-
,4ensis. I can get an affidavit from her
giving the name of her principal II
YOU will sign an agreement not to in
ouire as to the identity of the aman
uensis or to prosecute.
l signed the agreement and the mex
day received the statement written IL
the hand of the writer of the incrlm
mating letter. That was two days De
fore Christmas. I sent messenger
to Helen that if she would return tt
our home at once l would meet hel
there with undisputable proof that she
had been deceived and victimized. she
replied that she would go home a
once and If I could convince her OF
nv innocence l would make her thu
happiest woman in the world.
We met on the morning of the da!
before Christmas. Without word
handed her an envelope containing TIT
evidence l had received When sh'
came to the name of the perpetrato
of the accusation. Maud PenrOse. sh'
stood transfXed.
81 suspected this" she said, 'bu
your silence convinced me that my sus
picion was wrong. 1t seemed a con
fession of guilt"
The next day we spent the happies
Christmas Of our lives.