Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-02-03
Taken from the
by Charles Edmonds Walk

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& This story throbs with real &
3 Ism In the words narrowest Z
& meantoo. II Is a faithful rem. Z
& derina of an authentic expert
& ence In the career of high &
3 official Of a detective agency &
e whose name Is household =
& word throughout the English
3 speaking world. Real names OF 8
& persons and places are some =
& times disguised. In all other re-
= spects the amazing, often thrill &
3 ing, always gripping facts are s,
& recorded just as they happened. 3
&esssscssssssssSS>SsssssssSsssssscssssssss
incident until, some hours later it was
recalled to his mind in surprising
manner.
A card was brought to his desk by
one of the young men whose duty II
was to intercept callers the instant
they stepped from the elevator into
the reception room. The card bore
the name, Miss Crystal Gray and in
a moment the names owner was ush'
cred into Hazards presence.
He beheld tall, slender blonde
woman, pretty and smartly gowned'
who carried herself with a quiet, as
sured air. He rose at her entrance
and indicated the chair where all call.
ers were invited to sit; one that 1aced,
across Hazards wide table desk, two
high, uncurtained windows. Thus
were disingenuous persons placed at
a disadvantage, for the glare beat
upon them like searchlight, While
Hazard, his back to the windows, was
in comparative shadow.
AS he returned to his own seat the
girl gravely surveyed him
This is a novel experience for me,
she began, and hope | haven't been
driven to calling on you because OF my
stupidity; but, really, am at my wits
end"
Hazard smilingly encouraged her.
Suppose you tell me what is worry
ing you. Sometimes it is possible TO
clear away anothers troubles by a
word"
The fair visitor appeared thoughtful
for moment, then she asked:
rs the name of II. Sydenor Gray
familiar to you?"
Il have heard the name" was his
reply, but it is not familiar to me-
Well" the girl pursued. "he was my
uncle. He was an active man OF at
fairs until about eight years ago, when,
his health failing with advancing
years, he returned to the old family
home at Unaminee. where he remained
till his death last May.
Mr. Gray never married, but dur
ing his life he acquired considerable
fortune--or, at least. he was so reputed
and he led others to believe that he
had; but if he left any fortune nobody
has been able to find it.
Before we go any further | want tc
make my position clear. When Mr.
GRAY returned to Unaminee / was thir
teen years old, living with my wild
owed mother in the old home place
We were very poor and unable tC
maintain the property in anything Ike
the style it was intended for, and /,
had run down shamefully. Indeed
mother made no attempt to keep 1t up
1t was much too grand and imposing
to attract a tenant in small town llke
Unaminee, and we were obliged tC
cling to two or three of the smaller
rooms because we had nowhere else tC
60.
We'll, all this was changed when Mr.
Gray appeared A landscape gardener
and host of assistants were hired
and the extensive grounds cleared anC
beautified, and the house was repaired
and refurnished throughout. In short
he spent money lavishly to put every
thing in order, and | daresay there il
no country place anywhere more beau
tiful than Gray Cables.
Poor mother enjoyed the restored
splendors of her old home little more
than year, when she died. 1t was
then uncle informed me that / was tt
be his heiress, intimating that 1t wal
In his power to make me rich. ! have
much to be grateful for to my uncle
He provided the best musical educa
ton available, so that ! am now able
to make a fair living. I'm not grant
opera star, nor ever shall be; but sum
mer chautauquas and lyceum engage
ments during the winter keep me EN-
ployed.
During the last three years have
been much away from home, and some
thing over year ago nephew o
Mr.. Gray's, Edward Gray, showed VI
at Gray Gables Years ago Edwart
got into some sort of trouble that in
volved uncle; but he must have giveI
promises of reformation and in some
way made amends so that uncle for
gave him.
Uncle, however, repeatedly assured
me that Edwards coming in no wa!
would affect my position; as matte
of fact, he told me less than year be
fore he died that he could provide suit
ably for his nephew without diminish
ing my inheritance.
II am going into this so fully be
cause l want you to see clearly tina
from the beginning I was imbuet
with the idea that some day shoult
inherit the bulk of uncle's money, ant
he made no secret of the fact that /
was no inconsiderable fortune. In
deed, nobody could have kept up al