The Washington herald., 1916-06-04

powder, which she exhibited triumphantly Then
they returned to the Burton house.
Mrs. Burton met them with a glance in which
hope and bewilderment mingled Have you found
anything?' she asked.
Il hope to-shortly," said Mona. Have you
an old envelope with your address," she asked.
Carrying the envelope to the light, she
busted it with a portion of the black powder
she had purchased Mary gave little cry as the
impressions of four fingers and a thumb showed
vaguely the white paper.
MY finger prints" exclaimed Mona "Now il
you will kindly call Mimi again. Mrs. Burton I
think can promise you some definite progress"
Minis gaze openly expressed defiance she
answered the ring.
81 sorry to trouble you," said Mona
adopting a more conciliatory tone than she had
used before Indeed, am quite sure that have
wrOnged you in my suspicious, and I have called
you in order to tell you before Mrs. Burton that
! am very sorry if have done you an in Justice"
She stepped forward, and in doing 50, dropped her
silver vanity box, which fer TO the floor, almost
at Minis feet With smile, the maid stopped
and recovered it.
Thank YOU" smiled Mona, holding the box
carefully by its edge. "Oh, Just moment please
she called as Mimi made a movement as though
to leave. As the maid paused uncertainty Mona
carried the vanity box the window, and busted
more of the black powder over its polished sur
face Against the silver background appeared the
imprint of the maids fingers and thumb.
will you please give me that envelope of
Mrs. Burtons?' Mona asked Mary The other
obeyed promptly, and Mona Strengthened with
cry of apparent satisfaction
81 have caught YOU red handed Mimi :" she
said crisply. "Perhaps you have not heard of the
wonderful evidence of human finger prints? It
has been established that there is no more in
taIble witness than the teII-tale marks of the
thefS own hand. This envelope holding out
that which Mrs. Burton had given her--"reyealed
a peculiar set Of finger prints. And now. produc-
ing the vanity box, Il have another set Of finger
prints, which coincide exactly. As the envelope
was recovered from Mrs Burton's desk there is
only one course can take must telephone
Tor the police, and give you into custody the
charee OF purloining documents of your en-
Ployer. May use your phone Mrs. Burton?"
The mistress stared though dazed by the
sudden development. For a moment Mimi stood.
surveying her questoner with wide-eyed amaze
ment. Then with gasp she sprang forward and
caught MOna's arm.
Mono, not the police" :" she walled "Any-
thing but the police! I confess! I will tell you
eyerything-but not the police
MOna's ingenious ruse had worked perfectly
The girl swiftly veed her satisfaction and pre-
tended to consider the maids request.
Il don't know that you can help us-that we
need your evidence" she said obviously.
"Oh, but you do not know-you do not know
all that can tell you," pleaded Mimi swiftly.
i can take you to the man who paid the
money for the letters, who"
"You wretch :" cried Mrs Burton. who now
saw the others duplicity. Minis tears redoubcd.
His name is Runklr and he told me that he
wonld pay me well for any information ! could
give him for his newspaper. But even he is not
the man you want. He is only agent. The
real man is"
"Who?" snapped Mona
Mimi smiled crafty. you promise me that
shall be proteCted-that shall not suffer-"
'lf you tell me the truth and keep faith with
me-" conceded Mona grudgingy.
Very we'll, then. II is a promise. The man
You want, who employed Runkle, Is Reginald
Wentworth"
Mrs. Burton gave cry Of increduty
"lmPossiblel Why. I know Mr.. Wentworth
weilI He ~ above any such nfamy. There would
h' no need for him 10 stoop 10 such methods 10
gnin money, for he Ia rich In his own right,