New Britain herald., 1930-10-31
Chapter 20 A INSERTING DISCOVERY

. " | | Mr. Howard Lecllett. private de- tective, hurried from the train, for it was Thursday morning, and he al ways seemed to be late on Thurs days AS he hurried along the plat form he jostled young woman whose back seemed vaguely familiar. Looking back, he recognized her as the clerk who had left his employ so abruptly several days before. At his office his boy told him that Miss Conaldine was waiting to see him. This reminded MT. Leckett of another fact about the young lady he had just seen. She had left inn mediately after Rose Conaldine's first visit. MT. Leckett began think ing rapidly, and stopped to acquaint his partner, the crippled Hicky, with his discovery.
 "There was nothing turned up at all during those nine days she was with us" unused Hicky, after a first startled whistle, except this Miss Conaldine. No, you can bet that if she was put in to keep an eye on our business, she was put so as to be there when Miss Conaldine came along
 By Perle and keyern? They're one of the oldest firms
 Not likely By some other inter- ested party, I should say; though who it is-. I can't discover that there's any one of her name any where except lem onaldine and he's an old, old story"
 Rose Conaldine bowed to Mir. Leckett as he entered. Although she still made play with her big blue eyes, the detective immediately sensed a change in her.
 Nice of you to call again so soon, Miss Conaldine,"
 T know you said that you would call me up and make an appoint ment," said Rose and she now spoke with a draWl, but circumstances have altered and I thought it only fair to let you know as soon as possible that I do not, after all, re- quirc your serviccs.' This speech. obviously rehearsed, left her some what breathless.
 Did you find out anything at all?" she went on.
 You may think it's sort of funny, but even now l don't know the first thing about where my money comes from"
 You know it is coming, though ?'
 Fifty thousand year." said Rose, tryin gto sound casual.
 Mir. Lcckett gazed at her with pro- found reverance.
 Well, I'm glad" he said. well, I do congratulate you, I'm sure. Fifty thousand a year. And your guardian MT. Perle, l think you said-he has handed it over to you without rcstrictions?'
 How can there be any restric- tions? It's minc," rctortcd Rose. Then she colorcd again-"But, as said, MT. I4eckett, l don't know how or why it's mine. l mean, all MT. pcrle told me is that there had been some trouble about establishing my identity, although it was my own father who left me my fortune. He died intestate-that means. without making will. doesn't it?-bul I am his sole heir. Oh, yes, and l think he said that the money came from an invention. But ] didn't hear what kind because you'll think me aWfully silly-I fainted clean away"
 'An invention!" exclaimed .Ir. Leckett. He picked up d typewriter sheet. ''Hm! I'll give you the gist of this report, Miss Conaldirc, though l must make one thing clear to you. Given time, we should undoubtedly have been able to produce incon- trovertibly accurate information about your parentage but this" he tapped the report-"doesn't pretend to be more than q suggestion. A clue It's a clue, moreover, that you may prefer not to consider"
 'D'you mean because it's the kint of parentage I might be ashamed of?" asked Rose with unexpected in-