Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-14
CHAPTER XvI-continued.

Removing my paper could
scarcely believe my eyes as ! ooked
at it. The capital IT. in every in
stance. was imperfect in precisely the
same manner as the one in Anne's
letter. There was no doubt Of this.
] wrote a while line of "T's' n it
was impossible to make the key print
1T clearly. made further examina-
ton Of my slip of paper, and found
that every letter had the same pecu-
ljarities as the corresponding letters
in the mysterious note. They were
infnitesimal ~pecuriarities, but they
were indubitable. , Whoever wrote
thai letter to.Anne Van Wyck, wrote
it on that machine that was now be-
fore me and nc other! But the en-
velope was just as certainly not ad-
dressed on that particular typewriter!
Now what did this mean, L asked
myself. And it was a long time be-
fore I could grasp the answer, but it
finally came to me in a fash of in
spiration!
AS had suspected, the letter was
a forgery; it had been written On Da-
vid Van Wyck's typewriter by some
one who could get access to it either
secretly or openly; and it had been
placed in an envelope which had con-
tanned another letter already received
and opened by Anne! A plan of dia-
bolical ingenuity! of wicked clever
I still sat by the machine, looking
at the letter, when the faintest sound
caught my a and I glanced up to
see Mrs. Carstairs gliding toward me.
actually about to snatch the letter
from my hand, Indeed her fingers
almost touched it.
4 I stared at her, and said quietly,
what does this mean? Do you want
this letter."
oh" she said, and her face show
ed a cajoling smile; II beg your par
don, 1 do indeed! I thought you
were copying it" {,
And what If I was?" I said, partly
angry and wholly mystiied.
Don't be angry" and her allurine
face wore a coaxing expression;
please give me the letter.
"Give you the letter! Why should
I do that"
She went so far as to lay her hand
on my. shoulder, and said softly: II
know I did wrong. I ought never to
have read it, but having read it, ]
ought to have shown it,"
81 quite agree to all that, Mrs
Carstairs, but having given it into the
hands Of the detective, you may not
take it back"
1 spoke sternly, even more sharply
than I meant to. for l was afraid the
woman's wiles would get that lette,
away from me against my will.
Then she said: +"Mr. tSturgis-
please"-and no words can express
the persuasive power of her look and
Ivoice-"won't you please do this
to. but give back the original"
Why" I asked, eying her closely
because I'm sure I did wrong tt
take it: and l want to restore it tc
Mrs. Van Wyck."
Now of course I had no intention o!
granting her request, and I'm almos,
sure 1 should not have done SO, but ]
may as well admit that I was greatly
relieved that Markham entered the
room at that moment. Ap t
She turned to the detective with =
pretty pout that was almost girlish
Cant I have the letter, Mr.. Mark
Y ham," she begged.
Have the letter? Certainly not
madam! 1t is without a doubt a mos
t important clue"
Surely Mr.. Markham was proc
against her blandishments, and she
realized that there was no hope tt
h regain possession of the letter.
, ooh, WE'LL" h said, lightly. its Of
no consequence. If it gets Mrs. Var
e Wyck into trouble. I'm sure I can
y help it. I've done all I could to re
trieve what was perhaps a mistake or
h my part. Now, she may take thu
= consequences"
!" Mrs. 'Carstairs glided from tn
room, seeming not at all disappointed
,s but actually triumphant.
h IT give her up" I said to Mark
ham: do you think she really want
ed that letter back for Mrs. Val
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