The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-09

powder, which she exhibited triumphantly. Then they returned to the Burton house.
 Mrs. Burton met them with glance in which hope and bewilderment mingled. Have you found anything?" she asked
 'I hope to-shortly,' said Mona. Have you an old envelope with your address?" she asked.
 Carrying the envelope to the light, she dusted it with portion of the black powder she had purchased. Mary gave little cry the impressions of four fingers and thumb showed vaguely on the white paper
 My finger prints,' exclaimed Mona. "Now if you will kindly call Mimi again, Mrs. Burton, think can promise you some definite progress"
 Minis gaze openly expressed defiance as she answered the ring.
 T sorry to trouble you," said Mona, adopting more conciliatory tone than she had used before. Indeed am quite sure that have wronged you in my suspicious, and have called you in order to tell you before Mrs. Burton that am very sorry if have done you an injustice" She stepped forward and in doing so, dropped her silver vanity box, which fell to the floor, almost at Minis feet. With smile, the maid stopped and recovered it.
 "Thank you," smiled Mona, holding the box carefully by it's edge "Oh, just moment please,' she called as Mimi made movement though to leave. As the maid paused uncertainty, Mona carried the vanity box to the window, and dusted more of the black powder over it's polished sur face. Against the silver background appeared the imprint of the maids fingers and thumb.
 Will you please give that envelope of Mrs. Burton's?" Mona asked Mary. The other obeyed promptly, and Mona strengthened with a cry of apparent satisfaction
 II have caught you red-handed, Mimil" 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- fallible witness than the tell-tale marks of the thiefs own hand. This envelope'-holding out that which Mrs. Burton had given her-"revealed peculiar set of finger prints. And now, proGuc ing the vanity box, "I have another set of finger prints, which coincide exactly. As the envelope was recovered from Mrs Burton's desk, there is only one course take I must telephone for the DOlice. and oi into charge of purloining documents of your poyer. May your phone Mrs. Burton?"
 The mistress stared though dazed by the sudden development. For moment Mimi stood, surveying her questioner with wide-eyed amaze ment Then with gasp she sprang forward and caught Mona's
 thing but the police I confess! I will tell you everything-but not the police!"
 Mona's ingenious ruse had worked perfectly. The girl swiftly yelled her satisfaction and pre- tended to consider the maids request.
 q don't know that you can help us-that need your evidence" she said dubiously.
 "oh, but you do not know.you do not know all that. can tell you," pleaded Mimi swiftly. II take you to the who paid me the money for the letters, who-
 "You wretch!' cried Mrs. Burton, who now the others duplcity. Minis tears redoubled.
 His name is Runkle and he told me that he would pay we'll for any information I could give him for his newspaper. But even he is not the you want. He is only agent. The real man is-"
 "Who?" snapped Mona.
 Mimi smiled craftily You promise me that shall be protected that shall not suffer-"
 If you tell me the truth and keep faith with me- conceded Mona grudgingly
 "Very well, then. It is promise. The man you want who employed Runkle, is Reginald Wentworth"
 Mrs. Burton gave cry of incredulty.
 .Impossble Why, I know MT. Wentworth well He is above any such infamy. There would be no need for him to stoop to such methods to gain money, for he is rich in his own right,