New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-15

Citdt A>oboiHS WIN VI NOiNC was
somewhat too innocent.
Harper exhaled the smoke appre-
ciatively. "You keep good cigars
for your clients"
'Not altogether for my clients"
Babbing explained. "They're strong
enough to release the little uncon-
scious movements of the body that
indicate when a mans lying. l use
them on suspects. Tell me: Are your
relations with your brother-in-law
such that these letters might be
coming"
Hardly" Harper put in. "I'm
unwilling to think that he"--
"Would you mind telling me
about him?"
mo. Certainly not. Conhden-
TALLY" He glanced at Barney.
Babbing replied to that glance:
Perfectly trustworthy And not as
young as he looks. He got his train
ing in the secret service before he
came to me. His father was a gov
eminent operative. Used to put him
through transoms to open doors
and to shadow persons who would
We suspected any one older"
He invented it with such easy
onviction that Barney almost be-
lieved it himself.
"Well," Harper said. ~ met Van
! Amberg first at college. We were
very chummy . for while.
l met his sister through him. He in
vited me to visit his home during
the Easter holidays"
"And when did you quarrel?"
when he practically accused me
of wanting to marry her for her
money"
"You were not wealthy, them"
"No; and Pm not wealthy now.
was studying medicine when l mar
ried, and l gave it up-at her re-
quest-to look after the invest
ments, the properties, that were left
to her by her father. I've taken a
commission out Of the estate, but it
has never more than paid my ex-
penses."
$50 if these anonymous letters
to your wife were to succeed in
poisoning her mind against you
you'd be ruined financially. Is that
the situation?"
Harper looked narrowly at his
cigar; it had gone out. 'I'm not so
much concerned about the financial
aspects Of it. I've been very happy
with my wife, and I'm fond of my
boy"
"Have you any of these letterso"
"No. AS matter Of fact, she's not
aware that know she's been re-
ceiving them"
And how do you know it,"
81 had felt for some time that
there was something wrong I had
to take measures to protect myself"
81 see. Have you noticed any
thing else-besides the letters?"
"Well, I've had an idea that was
being followed on the street, and I
supposed that the person interested
in separating us had employed some
crooked private detective to work up
a case against me-"
81 see"
"And / thought that if l could en-
ploy you to put men with me, |
could have their testimony to refute
any that might be manufactured
against me-"
"Our Office" Babbing said, "doesn't
handle divorce cases."
81 understand that. This is not a
divorce case. l don't want a divorce
Or a separation, either. I want to
prevent it"
"Have your wife's suspicious ever
had any real grounds?"
"None whatever"
Cor anything that she has mis-
construed to be such?"
"Well-once, last winter, 7 had
supper at Rector's with a young lady
who is in the confidence
of one of our big railroad men. For
business reasons l wanted to get a
line on something he was doing.
That sort of thing, you know, isn't
uncommon in Wall Street."
And your wife learned of it,"
Through her brother"
"There has never been any dis
satisfaction about your handling of
the estate?"
Except on my side. I've tripled
the value of her property and made
nothing for MYSELF"
"Any auditing?"
Her brother has had all NV
statements audited quarterly"
Glow old is your SOM"