The Harrison times., 1916-05-13


mo repeat, first, what | have already
learned from you You were born and
brought up in that little lumber com
munity you told me about. You went
to the Learest high school five miles
away. Your father was poor-he had
lost considerable in California oil
mines, believe you told me. He still
lives simply in the old place. Now
is that all true, Doris?"
eyes, it is, and some time you will
90 back with me. want you to know
and like my father
Lawrence frowned slightly. II hope
the meeting will be pleasant one.
You won't be hurt If | ask you anoth-
er question. Is your father paying
for your education?"
Suddenly Doris blushed and for the
first time showed real annoyance.
Yes" she said. THAT is-no; he is
mott"
From whom do you receive it?"
Doris refused to answer. Lawrence
pleaded with her in vain, but no more
would she say.
This is very hard for me-" said
Lawrence at length. But since you
won't help me by telling all you know
about it l am obliged to make a thor
ough search of your room The prosi-
dent of the college authorized it, Let
me 90 IT informally this way and then
l shall be able to help you out Of
what may be very serious matter. l
had hoped that you would clear the
natter without this-but you have ap-
parently some reason why you don't
want to tell me the truth. Be sure
that | will do everything, even TO the
limit, to get you out of this"
More than ever you talk like de-
tective," Doris flung at him.
81 am, detective in the employ Of
the federal government. 1t Is a coun-
terfeiting case" he was still study
ing her face, but she showed no add
ed embarrassment. "My real name is
James Titus. We traced these coun-
terfeit bills to this town, then to the
college and l entered college to work
it down. It was about four years ago
that the bills began to circulate, but
we didn't get around to looking the
matter up till last summer A similar
issue of counterfeits had suddenly
stopped about eight years before.
I've watched every bill that has been
paid into the class treasury, the ath.
letic association, the tea room and the
drug store. That is how | traced 1t
to you. have suspected you for only
a week"
Trembling and with a face now
pale, now crimson, Doris led James
Titus to her room in the dormitory.
She opened her wardrobe and silent
ly brought out suit case, which she
opened and from which she drew out
a heavy metal box which she unlocked
with key she wore about her neck
on ! long locket chain.
James drew from the boy roll of
bills and examined them carefully
with a pocket magnifying glass. A
look of satisfaction at having achieved
the object Of his quest first showed on
his face, and then look Of pain as
he looked at the detected figure at his
side.
my father didn't send them. /
wanted to go to college, no one knows
how much But then father lost his
money and he couldn't send me. That
was the summer before | was ready
to come. Then one day when / was
working out in one jof the shanties
about two miles from home in some
woodland that father owned l found
a trapdoor | went down and ther |
found these. It was twelve hundred
dollars-enough to take me through
college. OF course, couldn't tell that
they were not real. All / knew was
that the cabin had been occupied by a
queer old sort Of hermit who had died
without leaving any heirs. know
that for the few pieces Of silver he left
in his hTlse we could find no claim
ant. | suppose 1t was very wrong of
me, but | thought because l found
that money it was mine. | am so sor-
ry. Shall have to be in prison all
my life?"
The detective drew the frightened
girl toward him as If she had been a
child making a confession.
mo one but you AMI l and the
kind.hearted president of the college
shall know. That can be arranged
easily. When | make a confidential
report Of this to the authorities / am
sure there will be no further investi-
cation. In the meantime finish out
your year here and then--the very
first day you are through you must
become Mrs. James Titus"
Copyright, 1916 by Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndcate)
A L.