New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-05

But ViOlet's mother was an American;
and she never liked the man-never
trusted him. The money was all hers,
but he's got a lot of 1t in his hands
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the mothers wish. l
fancy-and naturally he doesn't want
Violet to marry, as by her fathers will
he had charge of her affairs until she
does. He had her at school In Paris
] until she was twenty, to keep her out
| of the way Of men but I'm attached to
the embassy there, and we met. l fell
in love with her at sight-who
, wouldn't?-and when Hardcastle
heard what had happened he came and
carried her. off at once. After a fort
night of worry and suspense received
u letter from Violet, evidently written
in great haste. Here 1t is. You shall
see it, Mr.. Race"
dearest Maurice" he read, "this Is
in the greatest haste. I've run away
from my uncle's hOuse-escaped, l
might call it; for, since a dreadful
scene we had, I've been practically q
prisoner. I've been planning this for
days, but have only just succeeded.
I've got to a farmhouse not far from
the village, giving a different name,
and making up q stupid story about my
self, but it very well, for
they're keeping me as a ledger for a
night or two. Really, I'm in hiding
here, for I daren't leave the house lest
my uncle and the hateful, wicked old
valet of his you saw in Paris, pOunce
down on me like hawks and carry me
back agatn. l tell you, dearest, I'm
afraid of them both. l don't know
what they mayn't do, and all because
of my n4oney. I'm sure uncle must
have done something dishonest with 1t.
Anyway, he came to me n night and
said that he knew my mother had left
me a great deal which had v come
into his hands; that he'd got infOrma-
ton about there being valuable bonds
in a bank in New York Of which he
ought to have known. l admitted that
it was true, and that dear mother had
given me a letter about the bonds, just
before she died, saying that they were
never to be put in his charge. He said
he must have them, that he was in
difficulties, but this extra money would
tide him over, and he would make it
all right afterwards. He begged and
pleaded so that l began to give him
the letters of the combination lock, and
had got as far as TVB when 1t seemed
exactly as if mothers voice spoke In
my ear and forbade me to go on. There
was a miserable scene between us after
that. His eyes were awful, and fright
ened me. You know, In my little Gig
arctic case which you gave me with
your initials in 1t, and your photograph
hidden inside, 1 told you I would keep
the thing most valuable to me after
your picture. That thing is the COM
binatiOn by which the safe at the bank
which contains the bonds can be
opened. No one has opened it and cut
the bonds since mother was in New
York last, not long before she died.
Not a soul living except myself knows
the combination, not even the manager
of the bank. I'm sure mother was
right in not trusting uncle, and that
this secret fortune is all l have left. I
daren't wait for you to come here, but
| shall try to get to London by motor,
rather than show myself at a railway
station, and will go straight to the
Savoy. You will get this just in time
to meet me there if you start from
Paris Thursday morning. l shall finish
this letter and write another arranging
about the motor; and to do both, I've
but one sheet of paper. Your loving
"VIOLET."
II think" remarked O'Brien, grave
ly, that we'd better 60 down at once
into Warwickshire, and pay a surprise
visit to MI. Hardcastle's house, the
sooner the better"
"For heavens sake, then, let's get off
without a minutes delay" implored
NaylOr.
There's just one thing we must do
before we start" said O'Brien, "and
that is, get a warrant for Hardcastle's
arrest"
1t was FIVE o'clock Sunday morning,
and still pitch dark, when they got of
in Scarlet Runner; but they had the
warrant; and at nine three haggard,
mud-spattered men arrived at Stoke
d'Estcourt after a nonstop run.
They learned of the first person they
passed in the village where to find Mr..
Hardcastlc's place.
Mr.. Hardcastle, announced q sour
faced, middle-aged woman who opened
the door, was not at home.
"We will see Miss Hardcastle, If her
uncle is not here" O'Brien said, au-
thoritatively. And to his surprise and
the establishment of his companions.
the servant made no objection. And In
two minutes the girl herself, pale and
lovely, appeared.
"Oh, Maurice" she sobbed, running
to him, with eyes for no n else.
.
It was true that Mr.. Hardcastle was
mot at home," as his servant had said.
But he had returned early that morn
ing, by motor, as O'Brien had guessed.
and by threatening to kin Maurice
NaylOr, whom he knew to be in Lon
don, he had forced Violet to tell her
carefully-guarded secret, to save her
lovers life. Then with his coniden-
tial man, her uncle had gone of again
In his car.
"But luckily" remarked the detec.
tive when he had heard these details
from the girl. "he can't sail for New
York today"
II wonderT she said. II happen to