The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-25
"THE LITTLE FORTUNE
BY Arnold Fredd lex Copyright by +. A. NIunsey Co.

I She shrugged her shoulders and
turned away impatiently.
| "But-my dear young wo.
man"
Let me speak," said Duvall
suddenly. did the old gentle
man with the rheumatism, NJ
Hartmann tell you of this?" he
demanded.
It was the girls turn to be as
tonished. Yes" she exclaimed.
How did you know"
There has been a serious
crime copmitted. mademoiselle, u
and Duvall explained the affair,
concluding: What the original
message was, / do not know, but
/ believe this man Hartmann
does. | wish to put you on your
guard. He is dangerous fell
low"
The girl gazed at him, wild
eyed and uncertain.
That is what he told me about
Mr.. Norris she cried. HE told
me my father left me a collection
of coins worth. thousands of dol
lars, but that a banker named
Morris, to whom he had entrusted
them to deliver to me, had stolen
them and was coming to me with
a single franc and forged letter.
He said my fathers coins would
all be found in Mr.. Morris trunk.
Well, you have done just what
Mr.. Hartmann said you would do.
How do | know that he has not
told me the TRUTH"
She faced her visitors defiantly.
Good Heavens" cried Mr..
Morris. what diabolically
clever story! | have the coins.
| present forged letter. 1t is all
true"
you admit it, then?' cried the
girl.
Wait a moment, young wo-
man." said Duvall sternly. This
gentleman is one of the best
known bankers in New York. He
did not steal your fathers collec-
tion of coins. He bought it to pay
his funeral expenses.
so the forged letter says!'
exclaimed the girl angrily. why
do you bring 1t to me if 1t Is
forged? And if it is forged, how
does it happen that it agrees ex-
actly with the story you now tell
me?"
Because that part Of the let
ter is true"
Mon Dieu!" cried the girl, now
very angry. you say 1t is true
/ NJ. Hartmann says 1t is not true
He should know, l think"
i Because he was my fathers
physician, and was with him when
he delivered the coins to this
man. She pointed an accusing
finger at poor Morris. Now go
away and leave me. You have
robbed a poor girl. 1t is enough,
should think, without torturing
her with your lies." She flung
herself, weeping, from the room.
Duvall lost no time in demand
ing Of the hotel clerk, to be shown
to Hartmann's room. The clerk
assured them the man they sought
had not gone out, and himself led
them upstairs.
There. gentlemen" he said,
mo 3d."
Duvall went up to the door and
tried it. 1t was locked. He rap
ped sharply, but received no
answer.
Have you a pass-key?" he
asked the clerk.
I'm q moment, monsieur" cried
the latter, and disappeared.
He came back in a few mo-
ments and opened the door.
Duvall and the others stepped
in.
The moment they crossed the
Threshold they voluntarily re-
coiled.
On the floor, close to the far
thest wall. lay the body of man
known on the steamer as Gunther
and later as Gratz. He lay upon
his face. A knife still projecting
from between his shoulders show
ed the manner of his taking off.
Duvall sprang forward and,
lifting one of his wrists, felt for
his pulse. The clerk, white-faced
and trembling, closed the door.
TOO late," said Duvall, letting
the arm down upon the floor.
lie is dead. How the other fell
low got out I cannot imagine. 1t
must have been while we were in
the parlor talking to the maid"
He turned to the clerk. Ibid any
one go out during that timer"
"Yes-I-Ithink So" the fell
low stammered. Il did not par
ticularly notice.. l was busy with
my accounts"
But you told us that the man
Hartmann had not gone out
"Oh! No, monsieur; he did not
go out. He was large man with
a heavy beard, and SO crippled
from rheumatism that he could
scarcely walk. / am quite sure
he did not go out"
| Duvall went to the window,
pulled up the shade, and glanced
Eagerly across the street. Would