White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-07-13
MY LADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of Young Girl
WiIkie Collins
INSTALLMENT NO. 9.

IL WOl w, 4hl. Ivy hAOW hO"
you look at me on ordinary occasions.
and | see how you look at me now.
You are a very clever lawyer; but,
happily for the interests that | com
nit to your charge, you are also
thoroughly honest man. After twenty
years experience Of you, you can't
Speak at once, sir, and speak plainly"
Mr.. Troy yielded, inch by inch, as
1t were. Il bring news which, fear,
may annoy your ladyship." He paused,
and advanced another inch. ut is news
which l only became acquainted with
myself on entering this house." He
waited again, and made another ad-
vance. Il happened to meet your lady
ships steward, Mr.. Moody, in the
hall"
Where is he?" Lady Lydiard inter
posed, angrily. II can make him
speak out, and | will Send him here
instantly"
hold off the coming disclosure lit
tie longer. "Mr. Moody will be here
directly" he said. "Mr. Moody re-
quested me to prepare your lady
ship"
will you ring the bell, Mr.. Troy, or
must II"
Moody had evidently been waiting
outside while the lawyer spoke for
him. He saved Mr.. Troy the trouble
of ringing the bell by presenting him
self in the drawing room. Lady Lyd-
iard's eyes searched his face as he
approached. Her bright complexion
faded suddenly. Not word passed her
lips She looked and waited.
In silence on his side, Moody laid
an open sheet Of paper on the table.
The paper quivered in his trembling
hand.
Lady Lydiard recovered herself
first. "Is that for me?" she asked.
Eyes, my lady"
She took up the paper without an
instant's hesitation. Both the men
watched her anxiously as she read 1t.
The handwriting was strange to her.
The words were these:
II hereby certify that the bearer of
these lines, Robert Moody by name,
has presented to me the letter with
which he was charged, addressed to
myself, with the seal intact. regret
to add that there is, to say the least
of it, some mistake. The Enclosure re-
ferred to by the anonymous writer, of
the letter, who signs "A Friend in
Need has not reached me- No five
UNDERGROUND bank note was in the
letter when l opened it. My wife was
present when l broke the seal, and
can certify to this statement if neces-
sary. Not knowing who my charitable
correspondent is (Mr Moody being
forbidden to give me any information)
can only take this means Of stating
the case exactly as it stands, and hold
myself at the disposal Of the writer
OF the letter. My private address is
at the head Of the page.
SAMUEL BRADSTOCK,
Rector st. Annes,
'Deansbury, London"
Lady Lydiard dropped the paper on
the table. For the moment plainly as
the rector's statement was expressed,
she appeared to be incapable Of un-
derstanding it. What, in Gods name,
does this mean?" she asked
The lawyer and the steward looked
at each other Which of the two was
entitled to speak first? Lady Lydiard
gave them no time to decide. Moody"
she said sternly, you took charge
of the letter; l look to you for an ex.
PLANTATION"
II undertook to deliver the letter
at its address," he said II found it
sealed, on the table. Your ladyship
has the clergyman's written testi-
mony that handed it to him with
the seal unbroken. have done my
duty, and I have no explanation to
offer"
Before Lady Lydiard could speak
again, Mr.. Troy discreetly interfered.
He saw plainly that his experience
was required to lead the investigation
in the right direction.
Pardon me, my lady" he said,
with that happy mixture of the posi-
tive and the polite in his manner of
which lawyers alone possess the Sc
cret. There is only one way of arriv-
ing at the truth in painful matters of
this sort. We must begin at the begin
ming. May venture to ask your lady
ship question:"
Lady Lydiard felt the composing in
fluence of Mr., Troy. II am at your
disposal, sir" she said, quietly.
Are you absolutely certain that
you inclosed the bank note in the let
ter?" the lawyer asked
II certainly believe I inclosed it."
Lady Lydiard answered. But / was
SO alarmed at the time by the sud.
den illness of my dog that l do not
feel justified in speaking positively"
WAS anybody in the room with
your ladyship when you put the in.
closure in the letter, as you believer"
II was in the room," said Moody.