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THE SUNNY SOUTH.
4^-
WHOSO FINDETH A WIFE.
by william le queux,
Author of “The Great War in England in 1897," “Zoraida.” "Stolen Souls,”
Author ot ; <QuiIty Bomte/ . .. A Secret Service,” Etc., Etc.
COPYRIGHT 1897 BY WILLiAfl LE QUEUX. PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL
ARRANGEMENT WITH THE AUTHOR.
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
\ND II. Deedes, a confidential clerk in a gcrvernment office
CHAPTERS I-v''*' 1 ' '. g chief> t he Bari G f NVarnham. her majesty’s pi.n-
ceives a dispatch fri k hjm tQ se al lt U p. He does so and places it in his
cipal foreign secrets y. :.. 0 „ le an old college chum, and afterwards delivers
pocket. He lunches with DudleyOgle^ a ^ ^ M , the Nook w ^ h M rs. Laing. to
the dispatch to '. „..„ ed h p is somewhat jealous of the attentions of an old
whose daughter De<jd» ^ K telegram in cypher alarms Deedes, and lie is about to
« «»«'“ —- <*• *■<* ■»*» «' W.
lying in the path. t , he dead body of his friend to awvait an inquest.
CHAPTERS III AND Ltartllng news that he Is accused *s a spy by his
Deedes hurries borne to . document entrusted to him has been stolen, tlhe en-
Chief, who informs h n 1 oar[ conta lning nothing but blank paper. At the same time
velope handed back to , thom tha t Russia is on the point of declaring war
agafnst r Englaml in consequence of the secret dispatch being known to the Russian gov
ernment. w-irnham persists in accusing Deedes with being a
CHAPTERS V producing the original of a telegram appar-
spy. and renders him aim ^ ^ en harK led in at the Stran.l nostoflfioe. and
ently in Deedes handwriting £ ^ secret document. His lordship also stated that to
which contained the fu te t to his own house, and afterward, restored
make the document stil^ofer h hls presence. Deedes afterward dls-
it to the safe. Lon " n ‘ rn * A t £ an old gossip in the village of Warnham that Ogle and
covers in a convocation Neighborhood meeting each other secretly, and evidently
Miss Laing b.n < 1 iwh.. is summoned to give evidence liefore tlie coro-
devisinfi
deep-laid scheme. Deedes is summoned to give
. • ♦ * i whilst there lust’'before belns sworn, he observes a
'.ablN wWcN riNebs his attention, and'he is dumbfounded by an amusing discovery that
staggered belief. _ _ At t he inquest Deedes and others give evidence, and Ella,
I.i.. iw.iw.f that Ogle has been murdered. An .open >“
■s an article on ithe
rdict
. a l. and with which the false
aled. Ella is unable to reply.
remember*
dummy e
clew lo a most
" I said.
”\\ ,;a'_ do you
CHAPTER IX.—THE BOND OF SECRECY.
I held the small l.rass stamp towards her,
inviting tier to examine it, hut she shrank
back with an expression of terror and re
pulsion. refusing to touch it.
"Have you ever seen Dudley with this in
his hand?" I asked, repeating my question
seriously, determined upon learning the
truth.
"Where did you find it?" she inquired, a
look of bewilderment upon her haggard face.
"You have not answered my question, El
la." I said sternly.
"Your question? Ah." she cried, as if in
sudden remembrance of my words. 1 I
have* never .seen. Dudley with it. - 1 I swear
1 haven't.”
"Is that the absolute truth?" 1 asked, in
doubt.
••The truth!" she echoed. "Did 1 not a
moment ago promise you I would never
again deceive you by word or action? Can
you never have confidence in me?" she
asked, in a tone of mingled regret and re
proach.
"But this was found in Dudley's posses
sion. I said, holding it nearer my gaze, and
detecting in Hie bright sunlight streaming
through the window the small portions o:
black wax still adhering to the cleverly-cut
coat of arms. Black wax. I
had been used to secure ih»
velope.
' it sill
’7\nu*'a»H 'Jo!
surprise. At that instant ' it occurred to
me that she was an adept in preserving a
mystery; she could practice deception with
a versimilitude little short of marvelous.
"But this," 1 observed, "is no ordinary
seal.”
"It looks ordinary enough." she answered,
smiling. "It's only brass.”
“But its discovery forms
serious and startling crimo
"A clime!" she gasped,
mean? Dudley's murder?"
1 di<l not fail to notice that she used tha
word "murder" as if she had absolute proof
that death had not been due to natural
causes. Yet the effect of my announcement
had been to till her with sudden apprehen
sion. She strove to appear amazed, but I
thought I could detect in her attitude and
bearing a fear that I had knowledge of her
secret.
"It is most probably connected with that
tragic event." I answered meaningly, look
ing Iter straight in the face. "The police
wili no doubt pursue their investigations, and
clear up the matter.”
"The police!" she whispered hoarsely, just
as Mrs. Eaing had done when the officers
had entered her house. Ho you think they
will discover the cause of poor Dudley's
ue-.-.th?”
"i cannot say." I answered calmly. “They
will, however, discover the reason he liad
this seal in his possession."
"1 tell you it was not his—1 mean 1 never
saw him with it.” she protested.
“But lie may have had it in his pocket and
not shown it to you. Indeed, there were
reasons that he should not do so, because
it was used for a nefarious purpose."
"For what?" she asked, suddenly evincing
an interest in t lie stamp, taking it from my
hand and examining it closely.
It was on my tongue to relate to her the
whole circumstances, but suddenly remem
bering that for the present the secret of
England's peril must be preserved if the
identity of the spy was to be discovered, 1
refrained, and answered:
"The man who used that seal committed
one of the worst crimes of which a man can
lie guilty."
What was it. tell me?" she asked quickly.
"Surely Dudley never committed any o r -
fer.se.”
. am not certain.” 1 answered gloomily.
“An enemy who would pose as a friend, as
he has done, might lie capable of any de
ceit."
"Have I not already told you that he was
not your enemy. Geoffrey?" she observed,
i almly.
"Ah. Ella!” I cried in disgust. "All these
falsehoods only render your conduct all the
more despicable. You will deny next that
you went down to Warnham to meet him
surreptitiously."
"To Warnham!" she cried, white to the
lips.
"Yes. Do you deny it?"
"No I—it is quite true tlia-t I met him i
there,” she faltered;
"You spent the day with my rival, un
known to me." I went on bitterly. “Yet you
declare that you never loved him!”
Her breath came and went in short. qumk
gasps, her haggard eyes were lixed. and she
stood silent, unable to make reply.
"It is useless to further prolong this pain
ful interview," I exclaimed at last, turning
from lnr.
"I swear I never loved him." she cried sud
denly. "Some.day when you know the truth
you will bitterly regret how you $ave mis
judged me. how. while striving to serve you,
I have fallen under suspicion.”
“But your visit to Warnham!” I said. “Is
that an act such as can lie overlooked with
out explanation?”
"I only ask you to place trust in me. and
I will prove ere long that I acted under
compulsion."
“You want me to believe that he held you
Irrevocably in his power. I suppose?” I said
with biting sarcasm.
She nodded and held her head in downcast,
dejected attitude.
"It is easy enough to allege all this, now
that he is dead,” I observed doubtingly.
“I have told you the truth. I feared him,
and was compelled to obey,” she exclaimed,
hoarsely.
“What was the object of yourflvisit? Sure
ly you can explain that?"
“No. I cannot.” \
"You absolutely refuse?”
"Absolutely,” slie answered, in a low.
strained voice, looking straight at me witli
an expression of determination.
“Then we must part.” I said, slowly but
firmly disengaging myself from her embrac
"No. no," she wailed, sobbing bitterly and
clinging more closely to me. "Do not be
cruel. Geoffrey. You would never utter those
words could you know all.'
“But you will not tell me." 1 cried.
"At present 1 dare not. Wait: lie patient,
and you shall know everything."
“How long must I remain in doubt and
ignorance?" 1 asked.
"I know not. Tomorrow the bond of se
crecy may be removed from my lips, or it
may be many months ere I can fearlessly
speak and explain.” she answered, ir
strange voice, almost as speaking to herself.
"From your w.ords it would appear that
some person stili hoids po^'er over you. e 1
though Dudly is dead," I said, looking into
her eyes seriously.
She sighed deeply, and her hand, resting
upon my shoulder, trembled \ioently. "Yes.
you guess the truth." she answered. "1 would
tell you all: explain ail these facts that no
doubt puzzle you and cause me to appear
base, heartless and deceitful, yet 1 fear the
consequences. If I did so we should be part
ed forever."
"But if von fold the tru»h_and cleared
' «L £
11 wit n h
stern and de-
hut. with her
my neck, she
‘aTe’ an^ {3!JgJ; She stool wflrtr her eye
resting upon the distant line of drooping wil
lows. Not until 1 had repeated my question
did she move and answered in a voice almost
inaudible, as she clung to me:
"We should be parted by death," she whis
pered. hoarsely.
"By death!" I cried, dismayed. "What do
you mean. Ella? Do you fear that the same
tragic fate that lias overtaken Dudley will
overtake you?”
She shddered, and burying her white face
upon my shoulder, again burst into a tor
rent of tear*. Hers was indeed a woeful
figure, bent, dejected, and grief-stricken.
Raising her head at hist she stifled her sobs
with an effort, and implored with earnest
ness:
“Toil. me. Geoffrey, that you will not pre
judge me. Tell me with your own Ups that
you will be content to wait in patience until
I can present the facts to you in their true
light. I am not an adventuress, -as you
think. I have never. I swear before heaven,
looked upon any other man with thought of
affe-tion. I have told von of my inability to
speak: 1 can tell you no more.”
I made a movement, steady
liberate, to put her from me
arms entwined fondly about
cried in an agonized tone:
"No, Geoffrey. At least show me a little
grain of pily. Be patient. If you desire it 1
will not come near you until I can reply to
your questions and ('ear my conduct of the
stigma upon it: I will do anything you ask
so long as you give me lime to pursue my
investigations and free myself from this ter-
rib'.e thraldom. Say you will, and bring back
peace and happiness to my hear'. 1 love
you, Geoffrey. 1 love you!" and her hot. pas
sionate lips met mine in a manner that
showed plainly her terrible agitation and her
fear lest 1 should east her off.
Slowly during those moments of painful
silence that followed, my anger and bitter
ness sonc what abated, and even against my
better judgment, feelings of pity swayed my
mind. It seemed to me as 1 reflected upon
the past, that Dudley Ogle had been unfortu
nate in his early surroundings and education:
iiis character had received a wrong bias from
the very beginning and the possession of
wealth had increased it. And yet. in spite
of all thait, there was something pleasant
and good in him. No man is altogether hid
eous when truly known, and I had not yet
accurately ascertained the character of his
i mysterious relation with my well-beloved. J
had during this interview caught a glimpse
of the real, true woman beneath the veil of
falsehood and evasion of tile truth; I had
seen a wistful! look occasionally In Ella’s
eyes, as though she were haunted constantly
by some terrible dread.
Yes, 1 pitied her. Perhaps, if I waited, the
I time iwouhl come when her nature would re
cover from the blight that had fallen upon it:
when the alien element that had grafted it
self upon her true life would lie expelled by
those avenging powers that vex and plague
the < rring soul, not ill mockery, but to save
it from the death that cannot die.
The strangeness of her manner and the
tragic apprehension of her words would. I
knew, never fade from my memory, yet
half-inclined to believe 1 had misjudged her.
1 at length, although feeling that the world
could never again be quite the same for me,
drew her slight form towards me. and im
printing a long, passionate kiss upon her
ready lips, said:
“1 will try and think of you as a woman
who has been wronged. Ella. I will wait un
til you can explain, but remember that until
you relate to me truthfully the whole of the
facts there- can he no love between us."
"No love!” she wailed in a voice of poig
nant grief. "Is your love for me so utterly
dead. then that you should say this?"
"No." I answered, caressing her. stroking
her wealth of gold-brcxwn hair fondly as of
old. “I love you still. Ella, yet. speaking
candidly. T cannot tru'st you further until
you explain the truth.”
"But you will be patient, will you not?"
she urged. “Remember that I have before
me a task so difficult that it may require all
my woman's tact and cunning to accomplish
it. But I will—I must, succeed: failure will
mean that I lose you. my most beloved.
Therefore wait, and ere long I will convince
you that I have not lied.”
‘Yes, I will wait,” said I, kissing her once
again,’ “until you have cleared yourself.
However, remember that I say I cannot love
you as I have done.”
"Very well,” she answered, her tear-stain
ed face brightening. “If such is your decis
ion I am content. Before long I will ex
plain all the facts, and then, I feel confident,
you. noblest and dearest, will love me even
better than before.”
"I trust I shall,” I answered wi-th heart
felt earnestness, taking her small hand and
pressing it softly; "for I love you. Ella.”
“I care for nothing else,” she answered,
raising her face to mine and smiling through
her tears. “I am happy in the knowledge
that yon will think of me. You have ene
mies, yes, many. But there was one that
loved you always—aye. and loves you now.
and ever shall love you!”
For a moment 1 gazed into the deep blue
depths of her clear, trusting eyes, still grasp
ing her tiny hand in mine, but almost at that
instant the door opened and Mrs. Laing, fus
sy good-natured and full of sympathy, en
tered. and seating herself, commenced to
chat about the event's of that memorable
morning.
CHAPTER X.—ENGLAND'S PERIL.
By the discovery of the duplicate of Lord
Warnham’s private seal in the possession of
my dead companion, it became impressed
upon my mind that Dudley Ogle, the man in
whom 1 had placed implicit trust, had not
only abused my confidence by making love
to Ella, but was a spy in the Russian secret
service. Try how 1 would I cou.ld see no ex
tenuating circumstances, and as next morn
ing, when sitting alone in my London flat,
moody and disconsolate, 1 calml> reflected
upon the startling events of the past few
days. I sa\* Plainly from Ella’s attiitude when
I hail cxl:l .ted the brass stamp, that, not
withstanding her declaration to the contra
ry, she had seen It before.
It seemed placed beyound all doubt .that
Dudley Ogle had acted in conjunction with
certain agents, who had by some means as
certained t lie very day and hour that the
secret convention would arrive from Berlin.
Then Dudley, armed with the forged dupli
cate. called upon me, and while we were to
gether extracted the document from my
pocket and substituted the envelope. Yet
there was the registered mark upon it. so
cleverly imitated as to defy detection. How
that had been placed upon the dummy puz
zled me. for the designation 1 had written
could not be known until the envelope, with
its precious contents, had been filched from
my pocket.
The reason of Dudley's visit to Warnham
was now—to a certain extent—explained.
More than probable it seemed that through
bribery he had obtained from one of the
servants an impression in wax of the Earls
private seal, and from it the‘brass stamp had
been cut. The theft of the document had
been accomplished with a neatness that
seemed almost miraculous, and it Dudley
really had stolen it he must have been a most
adroit pickpocket. Nevertheless. even
though his every action had now corroborat
ed up to the hilt the suspicion that he was a
= pv I could not. somehow, believe him capa
ble of such crafty, nay devilish, deception
Friends that we were. I would have trusted
him with any secret or with any of my pos
sessions; but these revelations startled and
amazed mo. x;_: T „/
Still th«*n* was a more remarkable and ptiz*
zling phase of the mystery. If Ella's fears
were well grounded, why had he been mur
dered. and by whom?
The mysterious secret posses.-ed b> th
woman 1 adored, the woman who
under the spell of her marvelous beaut,
was of a tragic and terrible nature. 1 felt
assured No doubt it had some connection
with Dudley's death, and that sin taler cir
cumstance once elucidated would I knevi.
furnish a very valuable clew to the '‘-entijtj
of the spy, if perchance
the innocence of my
companion should be established, as I hoped
“There 1 was stiil one fact, too f„ Wffiired
-A V i>SS tJ'XWaUWy* - ...
session’s in our cottage at' Shepperton some
pieces of crumpled foolscap. He had evi
dently intended to threw them away, but
being unable io get rid of them at the mo
ment. had placed them in a drawer and
locked them up. On smoothing them out. I
found another piece of paper inside. To my
astonishment I saw it was a letter written 1>5
m<\ whilo i lif* pi ere of foolscup
it were oovofevl with words and sontenoes in
ink and pencil, (showing how carefully he
had studied and copied all the characteris
tics of my handwriting. These p.apers were
in themselves sufficient evidence that he had
practiced the forger's art.
1 had. after leaving Staines, returned
straight to Shopperton. an din company with
a detective carefully investigated all my
friend's belongings. \Ve spent the afternoon
and evening in reading through heaps of
letters. bu,t discovered nothing that would
lead us to any suspicion of foul play. The
detective made notes of one or two of the
addresses of the writers, and took charge of
several letters relating to money matters.
When, however, we had removed all the cor
respondence from the small wooden box in
which'it had been kept, the detective ascer
tained that there was a false bottom, ami un-
able to find out the secret whereby it might
be opened, he forced it with a chisel.
At lirst we were disappointed, only one in
significant paper being therein concealed, but
when the officer eagerly opened it 1 at once
recognized its extreme importance, although
1 preserved silence. The paper was nothing
less t hau a Russian passport of a special
character, signed by the chiet of secret po
lice in St. Petersburg, and countersigned by
the minister of the interior himself. It was
not a formally printed document, but, writ
ten in Russian upon official paper stamped
with the double-headed eagle, it was made
out in the name of Duuley Ogle, and alter
explaining thait he was an official engaged in
secret service, gave him complete immunity
from arrest within the Russian empire.
“What’s this. I wonder?" the detective
said, puzzled by the unfamiliar characters in
the writing.
Taking it from him 1 glanced through it.
and without betraying the slightest surprise,
answered. "Merely a passport for Russia.”
"That doesn't lead us to anything,” he re
plied. taking it from my hand, glancing at
it again for an instant, and tossing it back
carelessly into the box.
But when he had completed his investiga
tions. removed whatever letters and papers
he thought might be of use and departed. I
secured the passport and the crumpled fools
cap. and giving Juekes orders to remove my
belongings back to London and give up pos
session of the cottage, I returned to Ros
setti mansions.
With these undeniable evidences of Ogle's
activity as a spy i was sitting alone next
morning pondering over the best course to
pursue at last resolving to go to the Foreign
Office and boldly place the startling facts
before Lord Warnham.
About noon 1 knocked at the door of the
minister’s private room and received in his
deep, hoarse voice-permission to enter. lie
was alone, seated at his big writing-table,
engrossed in a long, closely-written docu
ment lie was studying.
"Well, sir," he exclaimed, with an expres
sion of displeasure when he saw me. "To
what. pray, do I'owe t'his intrusion?”
"I have come," I said, “to clear myself of
t'lie charge you have made against me."
"To clear yourself! Bah!” he cried in dis
gust. returning to his papers. "My time is
too valuable for further discussion.” and In'
made a movement to ring the bell for a mes
senger to conduct me out.
But I placeu my hand upon his bony fin
gers firmly and stayed it, saying:
“It is bo your Interest, Lord Warnham, as
well as to my own. that you should know
the truth.”
"A traitor who will sell his country’s honor
is capable of any falsehood whereby to jus
tify himself.” he snapped savagely.
“I am no traitor.” I protested in anger.
His thin white face relaxed into a bitterly
sarcastic smile, and his lip curled in wither
ing contempt.
"The efforts of ten years’ delicate diplo
macy with Berlin have been rendered futile
by your treachery or culpable negligence.
Now you come to me with some lame, paltry
tale or other in an endeavor to convince me
that you are neither thief nor spy! Each
word of yours only aggravates your offence.
I 'have dismissed you. and I tell you I decline
to reopen the question."
“But you have accused me of a crime and
I demand to be judged!" I cried.
“I have already judged you,” he said after
a pause, laying down his pen with a sudden
calmness and fixing his gray eyes keenly
upon me.
“Yes, falsely.”
"You have come to mo to prove that I have
misjudged you.” he said at last, leaning back
in his chair. “Very well. Let me hear your
story.”
“I have no story further than what T have
already told you,” I answered. “You have
made a charge against me; I have come to
you to refute it.”
“By what means?”
“By documentary evidence.”
"Documentary evidence?” he exclaimed.
"Of what kind?”
“You will remember that 1 told you of the
death of the only man who could speak re
garding my absence from the office and my
return?”
“Yes. He died mysteriously. The inquest
was held yesterday," and taking up a letter
from 'his table the earl added: "They report
from Scotland Yard that an open verdict
was returned, although one witness, a wo
man. alleged murder. Well, what was the
allegation? Against yourself?” he asked,
raising his gray, shaggy brows.
"No.” I said with emphasis. “I am not a
murderer."
“Then why did this woman—what s her
name. Ella Laing—” he said, referring to t'he
letter, "why did she allege foul play?”
“I can not tell, but all the facts I have
ascertained 1 point to the same conclusion, al
lhough the medical evidence negatived any
such suggestion.’’
“Then what is your contention?"
"That t'he man who was my friend was a
spv," I said.
•■You would shift the responsibility upon
one who, being dead, can tell us nothing, he
said in a tone of reproachful contempt. “I
• suspected this. It was but what might have
been expected.”
"But I have evidence indisputable that he
was a spy.” I exclaimed, excitedly. "Read
this.” and 1 handed to 'him Dudley’s pass
port. , „
Spreading it out before him. he carefully
adjusted his gold' pince-nez and after a little
difficulty translated it. Then, without ex
pressing any surprise he turned it over and
held the paper to the light of the window,
examining the water-mark.
"Well," lie exclaimed, calmly, at last.
"What else?”
[ placed before 'him the crumpled sheets of
foolscap whereon attempts had been made,
and successfully, too. to imitate my hand
writing. explaining where 1 had discovered
them. These he also examined very minutely,
giving vent to a low grunt as was habitual
to him when reassured.
“Anything more?” lie asked, impatiently.
“T can’t waste time. The outlook is too se
rious.”
•But you must—you shall spare time to
fully investigate this mystery." I cried. "You
will' remember t'hat the dummy envelope you
took from your safe bore an imitation, of
your private seal?"
"Yes. What of that?”
"Here is the seal with which that impres
sion was made,” T replied in triumph, hand
ing to him the little brass stamp. "I have
had the portions of the wax microscopically
examined, and they are of t’lie same wax as
wi-s used to seal the dummy."
He took it between his thin fingers that
now trembled with excitement. I he pro
duction of this object was. 1 saw. entirely
unexpected. Suddenly rising from his chair
he unlocked his great safe and took there
from the dummy envelope. Then, returning
to his table, lie lit a taper and carefully
mad" an impression in wax of the seal I hail
given him. afterwards taking it to the light,
I and by the aid of a large magnifying-glass
l eomWWl u closely with the, seal upon the
r"Afft\ Wtfere ni« vu ’ni — i . — J
ciuired. glancing across to me.
‘■'Among the contents of the dead man’s
pockets.” I answered.
“Impossible.” he retorted. "The police have
possession- of everything found on the man."
“Yes, they had, hut this came into my
possession yesterday at the inquest.
"H ow?"
T hesitated-, then, determined to conceal no
fact from the great statesman. I answered
boldly: “I stole it from the table whereon it
was displayed.”
"Stole it!" he echoed. Slowly he turned
the brass stamp over in his hand, as if deep
in thought; then, witti brows knit in anger
lie looked me straight in the face, exclaiming
bluntly:
"Your story is an absolute tissue of lies
from beginning to end.”
His words startled me. 1 had' expected him
to be eager to further probe the mystery,
and try and elucidate the manner in which
Dudley had manufactured the dummy and
exchanged it for the secret convention. In
stead of this he was distrustful and sus
picious; indeed, he boldly accused me of at
tempting to wilfully mislead him and 1 conceal
tlie truth.
“I have told you no lies. Every word I
have uttered is the truth.” I answered, with
tierce indignation.
“You certainly never obtained possession of
this seal in the manner in which you would
have me lieneve. for the detectives sent to
Staines hail strict injunctions to search for
any object that would lead them to suppose
the dead man was not what he represented
himself to be. and I made a special request
that any seals discovered' might 'be sub
mitted to me for examination. If this had
been In the dead man’s pockets it would
have been brought to me.”
"But 1 tell you it was among the articles
found upon him. r picked it tip from the
coroner's table, and. finding it was not
missed, brought it to you, rather than in
form the police of our suspicions, which I
understood you desired should, for the pres
ent. be kept secret.”
"1 do not believe you,” he retorted, an
grily.
"Ask whoever searched the body and they
will no doubt remember finding the seal." 1
answered.
“It is quite unnecessary,” he exclaimed.
“Unnecessary? Why? ’
“Because I don't believe one word of this
elegantly romantic story of yours.
“But I have brought you evidence in black
and white that Ogle was a spy.” I cried'.
"Evidence of a sort." he answered, care-
lessly. returning to his table and sinking in
to his arm-chair. “You have brought these
things to me in order to induce me to be
lieve that they were in the dead man’s pos
session instead of where they really were, in
vour own*.”
"It is false.” T protested, flushing at his
base and' d-ogged insinuations.
"So is this elaborate so-called evidence you
have brought me." lie answered.
"In what way?” I demanded.
“You wish to know,” he cried. "Well. I
will tell you. First, the passport is a forged
one. and was never written in St. Peters
burg.”
“Why?” I cried in dismay. “How can you
tell?”
"Because its water-mark shows it to be
English paper, whereas all Russian official
paper, as this is supposed to he, is manu
factured by Yaronovskl, of (Moscow, and
bears his name.”
1 ms fact had never occurred to me. and
taking up the paper I exa-mined' the water
mark. finding to my surprise the name of a
well-known English mill.
‘"Alien the attempts at imitating your
went on. “Indeed. I have no proof that all
those letters and words have not been made
handwriting are quite as unsatisfactory,” he
by yourself.”
“They have not.” I protested. “You seem
determined not to believe in my innocence.”
“And the seal,” he continued, heedless of
my interruption. “You expected that it
would be regarded as irresistible proof. Well,
in the first place I do not believe it was dis
covered on the body, as you allege; and,
secondly, even if it had been, it is no abso
lute proof that the dead man was the cul
prit.”
. “Why?” I inquired eagerly.
I • . rh^rrv Pec- [ % Al
J, I have used Ayer’s Cherry Pec
toral in my family for twenty years,
and recommend it to others for
coughs and colds, and whooping
cough. Have never known a single
case of whooping cough that it
failed to relieve and cure, when #
[ Scoff andjough.
r The man who scoffs at
► friendly advice to “take
f something for that cough,
5 will keep on coughing,
until he changes hie mind or changes his earthly
residence. Singular, isn’t it, how many stubborn people
persist in gambling, with health as the sta o
they might be effectually cured of cough, cold, or g
trouble, by a few doses of
Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral.
# This testimonial will be found in full in Ayer s
hundred others. Free. Address J. C. Ayer Co., Lowe , .
with a
‘‘Because it was not with that seal that
the dummy envelope was secured, he an
swered slowly, at the same time handing
me tlie two impressions and inviting me to
compare them.
This I did with breathless eagerness, by
the aid of the magnifying glass, and in as
tonishment was (’Orapelled to admit that lie
spoke the truth. There were several dis
crepancies In the quarterings of the arms
that T had not before noticed, and 1 saw in
stantly that they did not correspond with
those impressed upon the envelope. I he
amazing worthlessness of my discoveries
held me embarrassed, and T stood helpless,
and in silence as the minister hurled at me
some bitter invectives, declaring that I had
come to him with an ingenious stor\ am
evidence that might have convinced a man
less shrewd. .
"Take your clumsily-forged documents and
your attempt to reproduce my seal, and
ieave me at once!" he cried. In a terr i <
ebullition of wrath, gathering up the objects
I had brought and tossing them back to me.
“Your dastardly conduct is too despicable
for words, but remember that to you. and
you alone, your country owes the overwhelm
ing catastrophe that must now inevitably
fall upon It.”
With these ominous words ringing In m\
ears T stumbled out. knowing not whitner I
went and scarcelv responding to the greet
ings of the men I knew, who regarded me m
askance. The great central staircase, up
which climbed the‘brilliantly-uniformed r» i>-
resentatives of all civilized countries on the
face of the earth whenever the Minister
held his receptions, I descended with hea\>
heart, and crossing the gray. si’, nt court
yard soon found myself amid the bustle o.
Parliament street. ,
l saw with chagrin how utterly I had
failed in my endeavor .to elucidate the mys
tery. for not only had I been unable to throw
any further light upon the theft of the
treaty or tlie tragic end of the man 1 sus
pected. but 1 had actually heaped increased
suspicion upon myself, (hi reflection I found
myself In accord with the minister’s declar
ation that the passport was a forgery, and
that the brass stamp was not the seal usi ..
by the spy. These facts were absolutely
incontestable. The only thing remaining was
the paper whereon attempts had been m.uie
to imitate my writing. i tried to explain
this fact away and clear the memory ot
tlie dead man of all suspicion, but. alas!
could not bring myself to believe in his in
nocence. There rankled in my breast the
bitter thought that lie had uttered words of
love to Ella, and had tried to induce her to
break off her engagement to me. She her-
se)f had acknowledged, on oath before the
^ ■■jrouei a thftt Hiey had ip.i.i’ reb'd because
was a clumsy linltatTofi ana the Seal has
been cut without due regard to the Warn
ham quarterings. t’he plain incontestable evi
dence of his forgery remained.
He was. after all. a cunning, despicable
scoundrel, who had brought dishonor upon
my nauie and ruined me both socially and
financially. 1 found myself smiling grimly
at the thought of how quickly retribution
had fallen upon him. If he had died from
natural causes it was 'but a judgment for his
misdeeds; if struck down by an unknown
hand it was but vengeance for his t*r achery
towards his queen, his country, and his
bosom friend.
(Heedless of where T went. T wanted on.
called at my club. I remember, and thrust
my letters into my pocket unopened: then
pursuing my way arrived home late in tne
afternoon. As I entered Juekes handed me
a note from Ella, telling me that they had
left Staines owing to the tragic affair, and
asking me to cal! that evening at Pont street,
adding that she wished to see me upon a
very important matter. For a long time [
sat alone, smoking and thinking, trying to
devise some means by which I could bring
the earl to believe in my Royalty: but at
last, in desperation. I rose, dressed, and
took a cab to Mrs. Laing's.
The house was not large, but well order
ed. exquisitely furnished, and there was
a'bout everything an air of elegant refine
ment that betokened wealth, taste, and cul
ture. It was nearly seven when I arrived,
and I was gratified to learn that witli the
exception of Beck, who came later. I was
the only guest. Dinner was a much more
stately meal at Pont street than it had been
at Staines, where very often we sat down in
flannels, and I was not sorry when it was
over, and I found myself free to talk alone
with Ella. It was plain, from the dark
rings about her eyes, that she had passed
a sleepless night, and that her terrible and
mysterious secret bore her down beneath
its oppressive weight. Yet she had greeted
me with the same joyous smile, the same
hearty hand-shake as of old. and T had
while sitting at dinner chatting with her
felt myself wondering how T could ever have
brought myself to utter such Lit ter re
proaches and recriminations as T had done
on the previous day. Her kiss, now that
we were alone, thrilled me; her speech sof’
and musical, held me enraptured by its
charm.
She told me. in answer to my questions
how she had fared after T left the Nook :
how dismal the place had appeared, and
how many bitter memories it would a 1 wavs
possess for her. Th-n. in response to her
suggestion, we walked out upon the baleonv
where, under the striped awning, a table an i
chairs were set. Here, in the cool night 'air
the quiet only broken by an occasional fo ..
fall or the tinkle of a passin°" cab hell
sinned our coffee and gossiped on as lovers
Suddenly, while she was telling me of the
Plans her mother had prenared for their U
murn for a couple of months at the se.asidN'
the loud, str.dent cry of a running newsman
broke upon our ears. At first, fn the ™
$1,500
tance. the voice did not attract our atten
tion but when it neared us th. word
hoarse yet indistinct, held me speechless.
sat stunned. , , .
Ella herself sprang from her i iiiii.
leaned over the balcony, straining ner ■ ■
to catch every sound of the rougm ' ^
voice. The man had paused for bnaui
fore the house, a bundle of papers aeros
shoulder, and the ominous words in- - i ju
"'"Extra spe-shal!! War declared t
England! Spe-sball! \Var against Engl.,
Startling statement! Spe-shall.
(To be continued.)
“Where Doctors Disagree.’
There has been a great deal of di.-a ere.
mem from time to time about th
peutic value of sarsaparilla. In tin rn
authorities deny any particular medu i
vulue to the plant. “It’s just an oM w
remedy,” they say. And in the m
are right. There are about a dcze'i
ties of sarsaparilla, scattered throa
rious countries, and of this doz.-n ■
has any real curative power. So
whose experience might be conlim n
eleven other varieties might hom-''
there was little value in them. T
valuable sarsaparilla is found in H
C ,\ Monardes. a physician of iv '■
cords the introduction of sarsanar I!
Spain as a result of tin' Spanish diseoyi
of the new world, between 1 ■ >-!*» and ■'
the root did not accomplish much. B
adds, “a better sort soon after cam
Honduras." it is this “better sort
used exclusively in Ayer's Sarsapar.i
it is tho* use of; this "better sort
given Ayer's Sarsaparilla prominem •
all other varieties by reason of its v ■
ful cures of blood diseases. Send : ,
C’urebook. a “story of cures tofi
cured.” Free. Address J. < . Ay
Lowell. Mass.
THE HORROS OF SFORl
A Bright Woman Gives Her Impre:
Shooting and Huntinsr.
Lady Florence Dixie has an article
Westminster Review under
this head
Lord Ram
'St
which, after a referenc
sport in Mashonaland. she says:
horrible. 1 say it advisedly. I sp* k
the matured experience of one who n
and taken part in sport of many and '
kinds in many anil varied parts
world. 1 can handle gun and r:
few women and not many men
dulged in a tithe cf the shooting ;
ing in which I have been engaged
home and during travels and expid
faraway lands. It is not. therefor,
vice that I take up my pen to v
I. whom some have called ‘female
have come to regard with absolu:-
and destation any sort, or kind, or
sport which in anyway is produ
suffering of animals. Many a ke.
man. searching his heart, will a k:
that at limes a feeling of self-repn
shot through him as he has stop
dying victim of his skill. 1 know t
confronted me many and many a
have bent over my fallen game,
of. alas! too good a shot. I hav
beautiful eye of a deer and its oliffi
glaze anol grow dim as the bright
, shot had arrested in i’ts happy com
I onward into the unknown; t hav
! with the sharp yo-t merciless kn:f-
j ing sufferings of poor beasts who h r
| harmed me. yet whom I laid fi vv u:
veil of sport: I have seen the .term:
t orb of the reol deer. dark, full of t,
ing at me with muto 5 reproach as
its life away, and that same look
seen in the eyes of the glorious orb-
aco of Patagonia, tlie timid, gen: li
the graceful and beautiful koodoo,
liok. f-tc.. cf South Africa seeming!
were, reproaching me for thus ligh
ing The life I could never bring 1
too. I have witnessed the angry,
glare of the wild beast's fading ~
death, fast coming, olepriveil him
power to wreak his vengeance on
aggressor before him. And I sa>
memory of those scenes brings no :
to my mind. On -the contrary, it
with a huge reproach, and I fait,
never done ‘those deeds of -sKi 11—
elti.”
How’s This!
We offer One Hundred Dollars Rew r
any case of Catarrh t'hat cannot
by Hall’s Catarrh Cure.
F. J. CHENEY & CO.. Prop
Toledo
We. .the undersigned, have known F
C herrey for tiho la sit 15 years, a.rul
him perfectly honorable in all bu-
tra.rusactIons anol financially able to
out a,ny obligation made by their firm
West & Truax. Wholesale Druggie-
edo, O.
Wlalding, Kin main & Marvin. Wi;
Druggists, Toledo, O.
Halls Catarrh Cure is taken intern,
a citing directly upon the blood and nri
surfaces of the system. Price Tr.c per bn
Sold bj- all druggists. Testimonials fr
any
Tol-
l arriage wheels are now being
from cold rolled steel. The spokes are
lar and adjustable. The wheel is so pi
gether that any part can be reolacod
out taking off the tire or (felloe.
FOR
...ONLY
* •••
!! AY BE secured.
South, offers a cash gift t0 , sus tain the largest rir
The Weekly Commercial Anneal in i —— *
weekly in the South offers 0 pp ^ al - ,n order to sustain it. ,
est correct number ’of ^lalW\ f aSh . Sift to the subscriber 3rSeSt c,rculation
April 15. lt>97. inclusive as f !n n ° n received in Memnifis^essing the correct (
in November or December it °,? S: If ,h e correct or „„ September 1.
UoO. but if not till March only .*£,!?„“■ h *1.5CK). if In ji^ary"^Tin 1 F
*1. ^uvemoer or December it xvin * , llie correct or
IT50. but If not til. March on y $^, g S J;' “ 8 h W If h
correct guess first received win k Contes t closes Mamh n w
i S 0A R fn Ce i P ir„ JVJ^Phis in Vrmer^v ^ Drize ' ^
from September T'iw?* 4 fol L ow ? : . Fponi
i *FTY CENTS roust ac^mNan '' fr ° m Septe mber Tl«?* t foll ™s: Fmm Sept
Commercial Appeal. The WeXi eV ^ y BUes 8 for A P ri > 15. 1896, 407.2
week—Asked and Answered n!?! Con »ffierclal Anoea^ 8 sl »bscription to Tho
mages’ Sunday sermonl latest Pterinar^DeJ^ 1 * 1 "* 4,11 the new s
and Weekly Commercial Add 8 , et rep orts. Farm Ptment ’ *11.000 prize st,
raisers will be sent free on apniw, ° ne vea r for B Sno?i; trncnt ' etc. Sunri
on application. Sam pie copies' f S r P ! Cla i °? er to a ^nts a
COnnERCIAL appea. » “•
EAL, Memphis, Ter