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- of the insult that had been put upon her, because lie would undoubtedly- sacrifice OTTftrrl liinnr f A cummnrw l 4 Ids information, together with the al leged name of the mysterious gentleman. TAR\ next morn ing. while the judge and Pau line were sitting over their break fast, he said: “By the way, my dar- : ' ling, you remern- 6er u«y saying yesterday that that person—the black haired man, whom I paid a check to, reminded me of some one?” ' n* - *'• mJ l . * Pauline, who had been sitting in a listless and pensive posture, instantly brightened up and expectation sparkled in her eyes. anuroK* a v Yes, I remember 1 Have you tliought ■who ifc is?" ‘‘It occurred to me last night, or-cariy this morning, while I was lying awake. The name ho gave yesterday evening— 'John—something"’—- : - “John Crush.” “John Crush—yes; that was not the name of the person I am thinking of. I don’t mean to imply that his name may not have been John Grusti.' But ho cer tainly bears a remarkable resemblance to another man wham you, I think,- never saw, but whose name will be famil^ iar to you.” “Who? tell me!" Tho judge was a litt le surprised at her impatience. “Mind you. it’sorily a fancy of mine," he said. “Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it; out it had Sue’ odd relation to a nu tter very ne: you. Of course, however, it is im bio that the person who was here last niglit can be the man I refer to." “But who is it?" ‘‘He reminded mo of Horaco Du pee," said tho judge. . “Of course you know whom I mean. I was not personally en gaged in the trial, .but I dropped Into the court one day, and watched the pro ceedings for half on hour. That was the only occasion on which 1 ever 6aw Du pee. He was a striking looking fellow’, and 1 retained an unusually distinct memory of his features. This man Crush looks a good deal older than Dupee did —though, to be suro, it was several years ago.” ... - “Will ydu -have some more coffee, deqf?”-asked Pauline. “No more, thank you. I’ll go and smoko a cigar, and th an— How is your mother feeling this morning?” “About the same. 1 have an idea it might bo good for her to get up to break fast in tho mornings. I think she could, if 6ho tried. Perhaps a stimulus of some sort would benefit her—some great piece of news, for instance. “Possibly. But I hardly think thero is any news that would bo likely to in terest your mother. iSho hardly ever so much as looks in a newspaper. “I don’t mean news of that kind. But if, for instance, she should hear that the thief who committed the robbery of everything to inflict summary punish- It was n name I had heard before, and I ment upon the blackmailer. She had had even met the genjleman himself. So, therefore decided'to pay the latter a sum Lwhen tho steamer was announced. I took of money, giving him to understand that ‘ half ***' hour and went down to the wharf no more would be forthcoming for a to sa i’ 6°od day to him. And then, Mrs. month; and in the course of that month * Ketelle, acuirious thing happened.” IfflrW&ed to turn all her energies to ! He paused and fixed his eyes on her. the task of clearing Percy, by some means or other, of the old charge which 60 hampered and obstructed him. fcjhe would then be free to deal witiilhe black mailer at her leisure, and'slvo intended, to punish him to the full extent of the law. But the revelation of identity changed the whole i case. To Pauline it had been totally un- j expected; and yet In looking back she could fancy that she had known him in tuitively from tho first. Be that as it might, it was a triumph morecomplete ’ than she had ever, dared to anticipate. Dupee was the man who Iiad ntiurdered her brother Jerroltl; he (as site believed) was the man who had cast a nearly fatal 6lftdow dver the career c»f Percy; and he, again, delivered himself, bound hand and foot, in ip hgr power by perpetrating upon her the crime of blackmail. She ? had liim securely, tor though he had given a false name the judge would be able to identity him as the- recipient of the check, and the case against him would thu£jbe proved. He would be ar rested on that charge, and then it would go hard, but the whole truth should como She regarded Percy as as free, and was strongly impelled tQ go and tell him the story at once; but, .t bt, she ifiity liad apd then bring him 1 there should be no element _ i. She wislied, moreover, ... , joy the pleasure of managing; the affair lerself, withotrt cither her husband’avjr her brother s help. Having determined in her own mind her plan of proceedings, she waited 'Until her husband had started on his daily trip to his.ofrice,. and then she put on her cloak and bonnet and went out herself. It was a fine, clear forenoon. It was not the first tin\e she hail visited police headquarters, and she knew the way thither. The squalid denizens of Bleecker and Mulberry streets stared at the hand some lady as she passed by, but she was too 11‘f eh preoccupied by the matter in hand to notice their observation. She mounted the steps of the big white faced building with a light heart, and asked to be admitted to see Inspector Byrnes. She had just put the question to the sergeant when the inspector came out, in hat and overcoat He recognized her immediately, and lifted his hat with a smile. You are gojjng out," she said. “When can 1 see youif I am not going out,” was his reply. "I am going to ask you to come into my office and have a talk* If you had not come here I might have called on you today. Como in.” And he conducted her to the inner room. Now, then,” lie said, when they were seated, “what is the news?" . . . It is you who should have news for which ; Percy was accused was. caught and convicted; or (if it were possibly) that Percy himself is not dead, but had in some strange way escaped!' “All, yes; Such news would give her fresh Iife. no doubt. But we must not let our imagination take so wide a range.” “It is not impossible. Why may not Percy be alive? No one has seen lus dead body. Why may he not return 6ome day? Men have often returned w ho were thought to be iost for years and years. “Why, my dear, do hot let your mind run on such thought!! You are excited already. We must not hope to see Percy again." After a pause Pauline said, “If he were to come back do you think he would be arrested on that old charge?" - “Speaking from' the legal point of view. I suppose he would be." “But suppose lie were to come back— suppose he were in New York now— would it be unsafe forliim to be seen'or to have it known? Would ho have to keep in hiding until liis innocence could be proven?" “My dearest wife, gently, “the law cannot sentiment. If it were sc.. to be the law. I do not d the judgo, by ter and in afTected would say tliat, ceasing to bo the law, it might not, in certain instance&become something bet- lo.ily in ccrthin As to Percy’s case, is no reason to suppose that he “J*M, , : is almost prosecutor would not appear; and the government would scarcely take up the (natter. No; Percy would be arreat^d and certain for malities gono through with, and—but.' bless my soul, I am talking as if the poor boy were still in this world! God bless him! He is far beyond the reach’ of worldly justice or injustice how!" Ofi i With these words the good judge got up, and after kissing hig wife’s hand in a chivalrous fashion of his, he went into the library to smoke his cigar. Pauline loved her husband, but she was glad to be alone at that moment. She was-wrought opto excitement, and felt the dealing with her thoughts and in private. She went up to her boudoir, and locked herself in. • - Since the occurrence of the day before she had more than once been on the point of revealing the whole matter to her husband. Had it concerned herself alone, she would liave done so at the outset. But the'secret was Percy’s ia the first place, an J she could not tel! how she had been blackmailed without revealing his presence in the city. No' doubt the. judge would keep the secret, for her ante; •if for no other reason; but she had f reflected that it could do no good to Percy to have him know it; and if Percy’s presence should happen to be discovered in any other way it might prove awkward for the judge to have been found in tho position of sheltering a fugitive from justice. On the other hand, si,e.could not tell Percy me, " she returned;,smiling. “I'm sure you have had time to find out a dozen such mysteries as the one 1 asked you about." The inspector, wore an amused look. “When you want" to bamboozle an old hand like me," he said, "you must first of all learn to command your face. You must not look happy if you expect me to believe that you are miserable. If you have lost a brother, you must not look as if you had found one!” Pauline blushed and got a tittle fright ened. “It was not my brother that 1 asked you to find. Inspector Byrnes," she said. “No, the brother was to he thrown in, I suppose! This is fine weather we are having just uow, Mrs. Ketelle,” he add ed, in another tone. “Capital for exer cise!” “I beg your pardon.” . He laughed. “You live: up ; near the park,"'bfe said. “Would it b# too far for you to walk up to One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, or that neighbor hood?" “To One Hundred .and Twenty-fifth street?" “By. die wa; something enlighten me. There friend of mino in tow the name of Clifton, took.ifter the ini s me of y be able to is an English gentle is over of thaf the hen itary owner of this estate lately ceased, and it b the next man in the succession. It was known tliat lie liad gone to New Zea land, but uipon investigation there it ap peared, that lie had left on a visit to this country. Finally news of him was re- Cei veil from Mexico. Does tho story in terest you?" “Let me hear,* she said. “ Weil, in Mexico a man answering to his name was found; but on being told of his inheritance, he declared that he would have nothing to do with it, That j seemed odd; for people are not In the habit of throwing away threerquarters of a million of money. Just then a person appeared on tlva scene who affirmed tliat ho repre in the other way, an impostor would he the last man in the world whom one . would expect to let a great property slip J ... between liis Queers. Mv EnHishfriend rece j vc She 6at before him with her liands tight ly clasped in her lap, her Ups compressed and her eyes dark "with emotion. “The gentleman whom 1 saw,” con tinued tho inspector, “was not the one named in the telegram, but it was an in timate friend of his, whom 1 had also met before. He Had, however, been re ported dead. But seeing him alive and well, though somewhat changed in ap pearance, 1 came to the conclusion that perhaps a mistake had been made, and that it was the friend who had died” But Pauline could restrain herself no longer. She lifted her hands slightly and let them fall again. “He was :» dear friend of mino,” silo 6aid, while tho tears came into her <»yes; vhe waa a good'friend to Percy I see you know all, inspector; you seem to know everything! Vv hat are ; you going to do with him?” CHAPTER XXIL JOHN CRUSH. HAT am I going to do with him?' tho inspector re peated. “Why. T havo been under t li e impression that lie was al ready in the best of hands and would need no at tention frdm me!” f|f “ A h, don't 1 laugh at me! If you mean harm ^ $ t o him, let me "V/0 S know it. It was by my advice that lie kept in hiding. If he were arrested here it would ruin his position in Mexico, even if ho were re leased again immediately.” “Now, Mrs. Ketelle, let us understand each other,” said tho inspector, becoming grave and business like. “You asked me, a year ago, to clear the memory of your brother, whom you believed to be dead, of the stain that had been put j upon it, by discovering and punishing the real perpetrator, of the crime lie was accused of. I told you that I would do what I could, aud I liave kept my word. By and by you discover that your brother is not dead after all, and is in Now York. Don’t you think it would have been a kind and courteous acton your part to have come to nie and told me of •it?*' “Be is my brother,” was her reply. “I could think of nothing before his wel fare. I ha ve told no one that he is here, or that he is alive—not even my mother nor my husband. I know that you are an officer of the law, aud that when you saw your duty you would have no choice but to execute it. 1 hoped that the real ; criminal would be found, and so all turn outright." | “I don't know as I ought to expect you to care more for the law than you do for your brother," remarked the detective, stroking his chin; "and perhaps l should feel complimented tliat you expected the ; real criminal, as you call him, to be tracked and captured out of hand. But America is a large place, and the po- police have a number of things to look after; and, a^you know, it is one thing to suspect a man, and another to convict him. Ab to Mr. Percy Nolen, 1 will only say, at present, that 1 havo thought it ! sufficient to keep one eye on him; liis ar rest is not necessary at this stage of the proceedings." i “1 thank you, Inspector Byrnes," Pau- 1 line said, "whether you considered me in I your action or net. But have you heard 1 nothing of—of Horace Dupee?" j The inspector raised his head and con- ; tcmplated her gravely, j “So you continue to think it was Hor ace Dupee who stole the money?" tie said. “On', I am sure of it!” j “But would you go on the stand today and swear to It?” “1 could not do that,” she replied re luctantly. “I have not the evidence; 1 only feel that it was he.” “Then, if you liad the evidence, it w.Quid be all riglit?" “.Yes, indeed. Have you found any thing?" she asked eagerly? “Well, that depends on wliat one con- — q drawer 11, 1889 Pauline gazed at ihe ins^tor in as tonishment. ' , M You know about ♦tliat too.’' she cx- claimed at length. ’ “Why not? What is there so wonder ful in that?” he returned, composedly. “1 suppose nothing seen»s wonderful to you,” replied she; “but I confess I had, expected to surprise you in regard to that! Well, then; if you know that 1 have seen him. 1 suppose that you know all tliat passed between us. also’?" “No, no,” rejoined the inspector, laugh ing, “my knowledge stops at the fact of the Interview. Wliat you said to each other you will have to tell me If you wish • me to know it." “It was in order to tell you that I came here,” said Pauline; and she went on to give an account of the whole affair, the inspector listening to her wit’i close at tention. Her narrative was clear aty precise. “Do you think that he was aware that you were tho r.ister of Jerrold and Percy Nolen?" he asked, after she had finished. “He must liave known iu I was mar ried only a short time ago, and my maiden name was in the.papers.” “Dots it not seem odd that he should have imide this attempt upon a vyomau :ed.” kuew it!” It'also a the robbery, to San Fran I “Yes, yes, arrest!" | ^‘Shortly j tinued tho ' thousand dollar 1 that immediately after e left New York and went knew ill He fled to escape val there,” con- ively, “a note vv as presented to be cashed there, which "was issued by ion here in New York, whose brother lie had murdered? Mur derers are usually more careful, if noth ing else. I think we shall find, Mrs. Ke telle, that he is innocent of that crime. As regards; the robbery I say nothing; but I have never thought it likely that a fellow like Dupee would commit a mur der so peculiarly cold blooded unci com paratively unprovoked as that would iiave been. But if he was wrohgly charged with it it is quite conceivable that lie may liave embraced this oppor tunity to revenge himself upon a member of the family that brought liim to ruin.” "You may be right.” “I believe it will turn out so. But there is another point suggested by your story. It is-quite certain that he did not know your - brother, for if lie had ho would not.have attempted to blackmail you on Isis account—or, at any rate, not on the ground that lie put forward.” “Yes, there can be no doubt about that,” Paulme assented. “Then don't you see it lias a bearing on the robbery? Your theory has been that he committed the robbery partly, at- least, iu order to have your brother ar rested for it. But as lie did not know your brother by sight that’ theory will not stand. If we. consider hini to have been the thief, liis involving your brother in the scrape must have been merely a coincidence. Your brother happened to be talking to the lady, and his overcoat pocket happened to be the one in which the purse could most conveniently Le dropped. If Mrs. Tunstall's husband, instead of your brother, had been in your brother's place, the evidence, so far as the purse was concerned, would have pointed at him." “Tliat is logical—I cannot deny it,” said Pauline. “But it does not show his innocence of the robbery; it only shows that lie iiad not the motive for commit ting it that I supposed lie had; it was not revenge—it was vulgar pocket picking!” “Well, tli.it is as it may be. But let me refer to another jioint in your story. You said that the name he gave to your husband was Crush—John Crush?" “Yes, but of Course it was an assumed name.” “No doubt: but it is curious ti tfit he should have assumed tliat particular name instead of another.” “Why not tliat as well as any?" “Because it is the name of another man—a real man, that is. a fellow who lias been a companion and Ultimate of Dupee's for some years past. John Crush went with Dupee to California and re turned with him. It was lie who pointed you out to Dupee in the park, the day you first saw your brother. It was lie who suggested to Dupee that it might be a profitable job to blackmail you.” How did you learn all that,'Inspector Byrnes?” “I might tell you that I learned it by de|ective intuition, or some other sort of witchcraft But the simple truth is that John Crush told met" “He told you? lie is one of. your men, then?’ Not at all! But he has done me good service on this occasion, nevertheless.” But * * • 1 don’t think I under stand!” it is such a thing as happens every day. John Crush was arrested last night for attempting to take a man’s watch an ah elevated train. It is not the first time we have had dealings with him, and when he was brought in he realized that he would probably be sent-up for a long term. Bo lie resolved to get even with a man who had ‘gone back on hira/gs he expressed it: And that man was Horace Dupee.” “They had quarreled?" “Precisely. And the quarrel was About you. When Crush proposed blackmailing you, Dupee had pooh- poohed it; but he did so only in order to have all the profits to himself. Having got rid of Crush, as he supposed, he fol lowed you about, and traced you to your that I believed, If Dupee had liad any thing to do with tho robbery, that Crush had been equally guilty. He denied it at first, but finally admitted that he liad discovered the fact that Mrs. Tunstall was in the habit of going about town with large sums of money in her jiocket, and upon my pushing him still further he added that lie had pointed her out to 1 Dupee on the morning of the crime, and had waited- outside the jeweler’s shop while Dupee was doing the work inside. According to liis account, Dupee had not • acted 6quarely with him on this occa- ■ sion either; lie had refused to giveliima fair share of the plunder, -but Crush had postponed betraying his dissatisfaction until he could give it some practical effect. He gave a number of. details which coincided with facts that I had previously ascertained, and convinced me that lus story was substantially true." : “Thank heaven!” exclaimed Pauline. “Oh, my dear brother!” “Wait a moment!" rejoined the de tective. “We are not quite out of the woods yet! On making a review of the evidence at our disposal, l doubted whether It would be 'safe to'cause Du pec’s arrest on ’the robbery charge. If tve should fail td hold him we might bid him good-by; he would never be seen here again. But if I cqul J.get from you a confirmation of the blackmail story, and especially if you could prpve actual payment of money, then pur course would bo much simpler. VVe could ar rest and hold liim on that ground with out any doubt, and the rest, unless I am greatly mistaken, will come of Itself." “I can certainly provo the payment." said Pauline. “My husband aud the -beck arc* both in evidence." “Very good; and now," said the in spector; lowering liis voice arid leaning forward, “let life explain to you a little plan 1 liave formed for bringing this thing to a head. ” ■* r ,.. en in to him that between jiis fingers. terious -genii New York, and H it might be a good plan to come on here ami see if he could learn any tiling more about him. . “Now, it so happens that I have aq ac quaintance in Mexiqo who makes a point of knowing what^ goes on there, and whenever he hears of anything tliat he thinks might interest me he drops me a line, or sends a telegram, if there is any hurry. He liad hoard about this affair 1 speak of, and also that tho mysterious gentleman had had an interview with some government officials, and immedi ately afterwards liad left Mexico en route for the United States. He telegraphed CHAPTER XXIII. -. THE SHADOW LIFTED. Y 10 o’clock tl\? next morning all Inspector Byrnes preparations were complete, down To the least detail; and there was nothing left to do but wait for the fly to walk into the web. Horace Dupee, after receiving his check, put it in his pocket with tho intention of man!” ntly. returned the his head “It takes make a conviction, t the note was lorace Dupee, and even d still bo possible that hi from some one else. Mrs. Ketelle, we cannot arrest Dupee on that evidence. If we could find any pre text for arresting him, either on this charge or on any other, then it might be | possible to complete our evidence as to ! this. But the power to do that is unfor tunately wanting.” ‘ I understand you that if any one t a charge against him on another you could obtain a conviction on this?” *<>/.*» $ “1 don’t promise we would do it; I only say it might be possible. But at any rate 1 think it would do no harm if you would tell me all about your inter views with Dupee and what.caihe of it.” brother’s lodgings in Barlem. What ho did there you know. But Crush had distrusted him, and found out the double game he was playing, lie bore him a grudge for it; and early thie morning he sent word to me that he had some thing to communicate. 1 went down stairs and saw him in his cell. He told me of Dupee’s bad faith, andsaid;tlmt I would find that Dupee had actually re ceived money from you. 1 acted as if 1 placed no.credit in Iris nccusation; and upon that he went on aud declared that Dupee had, a year ago. committed a rob bery for which an innocent man was ar rested. Yes, Mrs. Ketelle, it was the Tunstall robbery that he mentioned. I asked him how he knew and. he said mat he was intimate with Dupee at th* time, and that when Percy Nolen was arrested Dupee had laughed and re marked that it was a good 1 job; lie was glad to liave done a -Nolen an ill turn, and that. he hoped Noleu might rot in . jail while he was spending the money Nolen was imprisoned for.” “Oh, the villain!” murmured'Pauline, <vith dilating eyes. * • “I told Crush," continued the inspector, • *• * 7 *?• C 2Tt getting it-cashed at the bank on the mor row. But in order to do this it would be necessary that he bo identified. This would not be a particularly easy matter in any case, and , the less so because the name on it was not his own. At length he decided to get it cashed through some friend. He was reluctant to have it known to any one that he had had any dealings with Judge Ketelle, and it was partly on this account that lie had given Crush's name. But it was an annoyance and a risk even so, and he promised him self that he would not be caught with a chock again hi a hurry. Late that night he succeeded in cash !ng the check over the bar of an inn in the lower part of the-city, where he was lodging. The landlord of the inn was a depositor at the bank on which the check was .drawn. This was on Wednesday. The next .day, Thursday (the day of Pau line’s interview with the inspector), the check was sent to the bank to be turned in with the' other receipts. On Thursday evening the check came back marked N. C. Dupee was not in the hotel at the time; but he entered.- about 11 o’clock. The hotel keeper, called his attention to the dishonored check, and demanded from him payment of the face atiibunt. Dupee had by tint tinie spent a good deal of the eighty dollars; but rather tliftn have any disturbance he deposited fifty dol lars. and promised to goto the bank the next day and have the thing straight ened out. But though he carried, it off with _ composed face, he was in reality filled with rage and apprehension. What could be the meaning of It? chock signed by Judge Ketelle refused at his own bankl Was it a mistake, an accideht, or a deliberate plan?. A mis take it could hardly be; there was notic ing ambiguous in the wording of /’ check, and Dupee had made sure ti the date and all the minor details had been correctly entered. The probability was. greater of its being an accident. Judge Ketelle might have inadvertently overdrawn his account. If this were the case, the matter could be easily rectified. But. on the pther hand, the third contin gency remained—that the chbck iiad been stopped by special direction. If that were so, it meant that Mrs. Ketelle had declared war. She had resolved to defy him. She fancied, perhaps, that he would not have the courage to carry out his threat and reveal her intrigue to her bushapd. “Well, if that were her idea, she would discover her mis taka He would reveal her shame, whatever the consequences to himself. He would blast her life; not only her husband, but the whole world should know what she had done; and if he suffered imprison ment‘for it, at any rate the tihae would come when he would again be free, and then he pould seek her out and taunt her with her’ ignominy. For time would bring no freedom to her, This bitterness of malice on his part was partly characteristic of fhe nature of the man; but there was in it an ' ele ment of exceptional animosity. Almost all criminals who have fallen from higher social position lay the responsi bility of their, degradation at the door of some person or combination of circum stances outside of themselves. So it was with Dupee, who dated the beginning of his misfortune from the day when ho was arrested on the charge of murder by the father of Jerrold ■ Nolen. Pauline and her mother were flic only living rep resentatives (as lie believed) of that man. They should suffer a vicarious punish ment. Sostron '' ' tnis punishment inn,„, hoped Mrs. K,Ml “ , fate. Th.BHWSga matter, l,o-vg vcr u >«Stt eOem that thia could be«? ever she might think 3i .the poBriUlity fi vyas too serious a one '***? rnzmg this, Dupee nr« either contingency q S red Judge Ketelle’s office J7-X the refusal of the check J fSfl ittobe an ordinary bil^* the judge redeemJf Ul ^** 4JOod. the matter Resent at any rate, on the contrary. res!LC' n '5l offered to his Claim, £ sllo s) to defend himself. ° u ^j] It was about 11 o’cloe'r „-i ed the steps of the jSjjS street. The rooms were on there was an outer office three inner rooms opening*‘Q other. Two or three clerks? in the outer rooiiiwhen n>. Cret| i| H- asked one of them if t£° <5! 3 were within* “Bll see. sir." rophecl the clerk i l Up. "What name shall I t- u -V’H "Say Mr. Crush wants ?/. I moment—Mr. John Crush" ’The cleric went into lb ia ,.. , dnd soon came back with ,• •! that Mr. Crush would sin, i.-l'T. peo passed through the door vtJl closed behind him. n e in a handsomely furnished i, arS ...^_ the window of which Jud-'d at his desln The judge barjjl chair and asked him to h 0 w . . ? r think you were up at rayhou^t! i evening," lie remarked. "1 m-o- name and the face.” “You are quite right, jud-v Dupee, assuming an easy ul on a matter connected with L *■ you on that occasion tliat I haveta to trouble you now. There • you remember?” “Perfectly. A chock for tin s eighty dollars. Well?” “Well, there Geems to hr.ypbeej, E difficulty or misunderstanding-^ * biy the cashier at tho batik n^dta stupid mistake; but, anyhow,d* jvas returned yesterday, ruaiid good.' 1 thought you would know about it.” “Hum! I am not in tho habit of h ihg my checks returned, certain!?,’ the judge. " Let me see; oa what was the check drawn?” “The Battery bank," replied Dap* “I will tel! you hclw sucliac might occur, Mr. 0rush*,'"saidthe after a short pause. ”1 keep at several banks. Sometimes cm other of these accounts runs out am aware of it My wife lias a account, whicli tsat the Battery In writing the cheek tire other era may have inadvertently used hen book, my own account being exhaudj The fact that she had money there ml of course not wa rrant the cashier hji ing my check. I do not assert fail is the explanation; hut it might bt* .“To be sure; nothing more likely,’ joined Dupee. “But, at all events, check having been returned, I supp you will liave no objection to another?” -•There would be some other corii atiorus involved in tliat, Mr. Orusli;a the judge, bending an intent look at pee. “May 1 ask you, in the first pis what this payment was for?' It was for a purchase made byU Ketelle, sir,” said Dupee, soiuewlnt^ fused by this unexpected queatkn, purchase at—at our store— lannal man there, and” “AVhat store i9 it you speak off; manded tlve judge. Casteiiani's, on Broadway," repis Dupee, giving the first name faq curred to him, and feeling a little m3 j at the turn of the conversation. “Castellan i, the jeweler?” aiiM judge. “I know the place welL there that the robbe'ry of Mrs. Tuna pocketbook took place last year. Dupee bit his lips. But it was«»| sary to carry out his part, and h* not resist the temptation to ni® 1 at the judge, “You aro judge,” he said, “the robbery to‘“l young Percy Nolen was arrested I “Yes; lie was arrested for it, the judge, gravely; “but it has bea-J covered, Mr. Crush, that the was the work of another luan ' “j man,” he added, fixing his eyes other, “ia known to the police art undoubtedly expiate liis crime, return to this check. How does it i that the money was payabietolj stead of to the company? That peculiar.” . “WelL you see, I-I have an in th© business and am authorize ceive payments personally. “Ahl Still, as the matter, fro® cuniary point of view, concents pany, and net you, it can make o ence if I* cause inquiries tow ^ Casteiiani’s before writing y°® check* As I have no ance with you, you will propriety of this precaution- ' “I don’t regard the light,” answered Dupee, wb , ning to lose his nerve. - countable to the firm. ’ and ,1 must request y° u money. “ g was liis desire to see brought to bay. desk, accident, caused this - book to floor. * : “The affair concerns i directly than it does me » ■ j,*r. : “I will communicate win* pa pp| she authorizes the payro en ‘‘ r mtf" it.” At that moment the aw outer office opened. "An 0 ^ continued the judge, k ^ telle now. We can settle here.” „ . flerf^ It was, in fact, Pauline. ^ pale and grave, but he J ^ like stars. Dupee knev terpret her abrupt him L - ! \oo\i that she bestowed ui . sU nin'>. tend to reassure him. B i to ^ all his resolution and resold