The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-25
1.-THE LITTLE FORTUNE"
eY Arnold Fr,d,rleke-copyriphs BIZ 2. a. Mvnssy Co
nExr wgwk--sunsnlNg JANE

they have registered under the
names OF Gratx and Hartmann. She
IL watching the hotel. and Will wait
there until we arrive"
What hotel Is itT' Mr.. Morris
asked.
The Rochambcau," Duvail re.
piled gravely. We had better have
talk with Mile. Mercicr At once. "
But what possible reason can
these fellows have for going
theref II seems TO m. an extreme
ly foolish move on their part"
Duvaii. who wasongagcd In got
ting \ revolver from his travelling
case, turned TO tho banker quickly,
Not al all. Mr.. Morris. Their
very presence there dlsarms sus.
plcion.
There Is. however. another rea.
son. We assume that the message
old Mercier sent 10 his daughter
contained something OF value.
Otherwise there would have been
no reason for these men 10 sac
rifice a human life TO obtain II.
II Il not highly probable that this
message refers to something only
ineligible to tho daughter her.
self, For all we know IL may con.
stitute. with the franc piece. a
cryptoEram Of which Mile. MERCER
alone can supply tho key. Il IL
even possible that her father has
previously advised her concerning
II. and that these men hope to
gain her confidence and get pos.
SESSION OF her secret. We are deal
Ing with an INSCRIPTIONS pair OF
scoundrels. gentlemen. and they
have something OF great value at
stake. of that be sure"
But" said Mr.. Morris. we have
the franc piece and the message
here"
Have you read IT." Duvall
asked.
NO. regarded II as sacred"
Your feelings. Mr.. Morris. do
you great credit. but for the sake
OF the young girl. and to assist In
revenging dastardly crime. I
think we should examine the con
tents OF that package"
Mr.. Morris looked at tho project.
What ia your opinion. NJ. Ls-
fevre7" no asked.
Il quite agree with Mr.. Duvall
IL IL our duty"
Without further comment Mr..
Morris opened the envelope and
drew out a one-franc piece and a
sheet of note paper containing n
few lines In French.
Duvall read aloud. translating II
as he went. II said:
Ny BELOVED EsTELLE;
II has pleased the good God 10 take M.
from you without our seeing each other
sxsin At this time r.nlir. with bit
tsrn.ss Of spirit that have nothing to
leave Yop but my name. have even
been Obliged to sell my little collection
Of coins in order to defrsy the expenses
81 my sieknss. and my funeral have
kept but one. a franc piece. which prize
because y was tho first money I svsr
earned. For many years carried ~ a-
a pocket piece. send ~ 60 you. my dear
child. as n keepsake OF your father. who
has never ceased to love you with all his
heart. Goodbye. my child am very
weak and can write no more. May God
bless and watch over you always Your
loving father. ALPHoNsE MERCER.
Mr.. Morris listened TO the read.
ing of the letter with face full
of sadness. Poor Mercierl" he
said. 1T sounds like him. We
should have paid him more. How.
ever. | mean to do something for
his daughter"
Absurd" growled Duvall. throw
ing the letter angrily upon the
table.
What do You mean?" Mr.. Nor.
ris asked. somewhat colby.
Il mean. my dear sir. that re-.
gard this letter as a very clever
forgery, and nothing more. Do
you suppose for an instant that
Vernon was murdered to get pos.
session OF that? Come. Let us
start at once"