Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-19

TT HAD been with no htue
i that the wretched Sydney had been
talked by his daughter into facing @ mauu
plessey. He heartily wished ne hau i.etea ~
left the comparatively safe asylum OF VIC
United States At every moment ne eA-
peoted TO feel the hand Of a detective upon
his shoulder. His weak, unstable fnind was
incapable Of distinguishing friend iIO.i' @
foe or deciding on any definite poicy ~ ne
had spent the evening lounging moouliy
about his brothers house, longing LOT yet
dreading his return. At one moment ne
was tempted again to rush on IN searCi.
of Huron, at another to throw hirnsel
entirely upon the mercy Of his brotner'
He allowed himself to be led into the
presence of Admiral Plessey's daughter
feeling that II would at least be an ad-
vantage to know all his enemies by sisht'
Maud, on her part, awaited with a
wildly beating heart the coming OF the
man who had actually seen her father
shot and who was able with word to
strip her OF her right TO her fathers name
and fortune. Yet she knew he would not
dare to speak that word.
She drew herself UP to her full height
proud and defiant as Jove's queen-and
looked the man steadily and scornfully IN
the face.
II seemed long before he could raise
his eyes to meet hers. Then his obvious
shame and confusion changed immedi-
ately into an expression of bewilder-
ment He scanned her face, eagerly
studying every feature.
but you amt Miss Plesseyl" he
blurted out
Maud misunderstood him. The blood
mantled In her face. II am the daughter
of Admiral Plessey" she replied bravely'
the daughter of the man whom you
robbed and whom you saw shot at Ports
mouth"
The man was too puzzled and surprised
to show any alarm or shame. He step
ped closer to the girl and peered up into
her face.
But 1t amt possiblel" he maintained.
"If you are that womans daughter, what
are you doing with Aline's eyes-with her
nose and ears-and be gosh! with her
identical proud, sneering look, just what
che used to freeze me with when l eX-
planned how I'd lost her money!"
It was Maud's turn to be bewildered.
"I don't understand you, Mr.. Dereve,
she faltered, II have only just heard of
your sster'-she steadied her voice and
said firmly-"whom I know now that my
father married"
Dereve shook his head sadly. 81 don't
know about his marrying her." he said
slowly. II amt heard that" He sat
down and continued to stare at the girl
before him. But what 1 want to know
is what call have you to resemble my
dead sister,"
Maud stood trembling with excitement
In the centre of the room, painfully con-
scious that three pairs of eyes were scru-
tinizing every detail of her appearance.
Richard was the first to break the silence
well, there's no harm in my saying
that 1 traced a resemblance between you
and Monty, Miss Plessey, the first time I
saw you
The two girls eyes met They smiled,
and their smiles were curiously alike.
well, this beats everything!" ex-
claimed Sydney, slapping his leg.
"Monty"-he turned towards his daughter
-"go and fetch that portrait of your
aunt that hangs in your uncles bedroom"
AS the young girl with swift, startled
glance at Maud hurried away, her father
placed his hands to his brow, made an
effort to concentrate his muddled wits,
and at last formulated an inquiry
How old are you, Miss Plessey?"
Twenty next birthday"
Sydney smiled derisively.
IT guess not, or you're big girl for
your age. You won't see 20 again, nor
%. What do you say, Mr.. Arrol?"
At any other time Richard would have
protested against the gross discourtesy of
thus accusing lady to her face of look
ing three years older than she made her
self out to be. Now, without taking his
eyes off Maud, he replied without finch
ing, Begging Miss Plessey's pardon,
should certainly have taken her for %
or 23."
A cry of bewilderment, piteous in it's in
tensity. broke from Maud.
What does all this mean? Who are
you trying-all of you-to prove me to
bs?"
Search me-" replied Sydney in his
unintelligible Yankee dialect; he scratched
his head, "Kinder puzzles me-
Monty returned with the photograph.
Maud seized 1t greedily and devoured it
with her eyes.
She drew deep breath and laid the
picture down.
II can't understand this."h she moaned.
Sydney emitted a chuckle.
my brother tells me I'm a fool" he
observed, "and perhaps I amt shown
myself over and above cute in this trans
action, but can see as far through
brick wall as most men, and 1 reckon
The servant opened the door.
"Mr. Huron would like to see Mr. Dereve
on urgent business" she announced.
"Show Mr.. Huron in" commanded
Monty, not forgetting at this crisis that
she was mistress of her uncle's house.
All waited in silence till Mr.. Huron
made his appearance, He stared from
Maud to Sydney. then at Richard and
Monty, whom he did not know.
"Sit down, Gilbert my friend" said
Sydney. You are just In time to assist
at a most interesting development. You
know this young lady pretty well,
guess"
Huron smiled pleasantly and nodded.
II have known Miss Plessey ever since
she was"
How oldg'
Sydney barked out the question, cram
ing his neck forward toward his one-time
accompliee.
Huron glanced keenly at him; then at
Maud, then at Monty. In a flash he took
in the whole situation.
"Ah" he said, II can pretty we'll guess
what you have discovered" He smiled
ironically. "of course It must be very
terrible for you, Dereve, TO find that Ad-
miral Plessey's daughter was also your
'Niecel" Numbered the American ex-
ultantly.
At that word Maud turned pale as a
ghost and sat down abruptly, holding on
TO the table beside the couch
Il shouldn't shout that quite so loud"
said Huron, quietly. "You don't realize
what that disclosure means 10 Miss Ples-
sey'" He directed a look of deep con-
eern and commiseration at the girl whom
he had threatened and cajoled in vain
They forgot, petty sehemers and rogues,
both OF them, that the girl had a nimbler
clearer brain than any OF them there.
The nrst shock OF the discovery Dassed