The Jasper weekly courier., 1916-05-19

A
Il wish you would tell me a little
about yourself. Doris. Be sure that /
| shall never reveal anything of 1t. Let
me 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?''
| "Yes, il is, and some time you will
go back with me. | want you TO know
and like my father
Lawrence frowned slightly. Il hope
the meeting will be a pleasant one.
You won't be hurt il l 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 thor
ough search of your room. The presi-
dent of the college authorized it, Let
me do it informally this way and then
shall be able to help you out OF
what may be a very serious matter.
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.
II am. a 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
IL down. II 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. 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 l traced II
to you. have suspected you for only
a week"
Trembling and with a face now
r pale, now crimson, Doris led James
Titus to her room in the dormitory
D She opened her wardrobe and silent
ly brought out suit case, which she
e opened and from which she drew out
J. heavy metal box which she unlocked
e with a key she wore about her neck
on long locket chain.
|, James drew from the boz a roll OF
! bills and examined them carefully
t with a pocket magnifying glass. A
{ look of satisfaction at having achieved
e the object of his quest first showed on
e his face, and then look of pain as
S he looked at the detected figure at his
l side.
t MY father didn't send them.
a wanted to go to college, no one knows
e how much. But then father lost lis
l. money and he couldn't send me. That
t was the summer before l was ready
to come. Then one day when | was
@ working out in one Of the shant!es
d about two miles from home in some
e woodland that father owned l found
8 a trapdoor I went down and ther
o found these. It was twelve hundred
q dollars-enough to take me through
college. OF course, couldn't tell tha
" they were not real All l knew was
II that the cabin had been occupied by {
l queer old sort of hermit who had diet
g without leaving any heirs. / know
e that for the few pieces OF silver he lef
IT in his house we could find no claim
q ant I suppose II was very wrong o
me. but | thought because ] fount
:" that money It was mine. am so sor
e ~. Shall ! have to be in prison al
my life?"
II The detective drew the frightened
is girl toward him as II she had been
of child making a confession.
id NO one but you and ] and th
e. kind-hearted president of the colleg
Is shall know. That can be arrange
easily. When | make a confldene4a
10 report OF this to the authorities | an
sure there will be no further invest
" CATION. In the meantime finish on
e your year here and then-the yer
first day you are through you mus
~ become Mrs James Titus"
lg Copyright. 1916. by Mcclure Newspa
of per Syndicate)