—_—

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wer

CHAPTER XX.

“Tt is impossible, sir! utterly impossi- he! and, pardon me for saying it, most ysurt! This matter has been dragged n too long already. And on such evi- [ utterly refuse to follow up the case. YOU have done well, undoubtedly, put it was only at the urgent request o% Mr. Lamotte that I have allowed it to tinue, and now I wash my hands of whole affair.’’

It is Constance Wardour who speaks, deodigg very straight and with head

gery firmly poised, and weari upon her fuce what Mrs. Aliston wor have ealied her ‘obstinate look.'’ Her words

were addressed to a well-dressed, gentle- maniy-looking personage, who is neither

nor yet middle-aged, and whe mitght pass for a saliciter with a good run

of clients, or a bank cashier out on special

pusiness. He is looking somewhat dis-

concerted just now, but recovers his com- almost as she ceases speaking.

“But, madam,’’ he expostulates mild- ly, “this is unheard of, really. You em-

ploy me upon a case which, just now has reached a crisis, and when success seems almost certain you tell me to drop the case. I never like to drag forward my own personality, Miss Wardour, but yeally this is a blow aimed directly at my professional honor.’’

There is an ominous flash in the eye of the heiress, but her voice is smooth and tranquil, as she replies :—

‘| am sorry if this should injure you, Mr. Belknap, but, pardon me, I scarcely gee how it can; you, as I understand, are a ‘private detective,’ answerable to no one save yourself and the one employing you. I, as that one, pronounce myself as satisfied to drop the case. I decline to use the circumstantial evidence you have brought against a man who is above sus- picion, in my mind, at least. Let the Wardour diamonds rest in oblivion. Mr. Belknap, I am ready to honor your draft for any sum that you may deem sufficient tocompensate you for the trouble you have taken, as well as for the hurt done your professional pride.’’

Private Detective Belknap stood for a moment, pondering, then he lifted his. head and said, with an air of injured virtue beautiful to contemplate :—

“Miss Wardour, of counse there is no appeal from your decision. In my profes- sion it often happens that we are com- pelled to unmask fraud and deceit in high places, and to wound the feelings of some we profoundly respect. While in your employ, I was bound to work for your interest; I owed a duty to you. Be- ing dismissed from your service, I owe a duty still to society. As an officer of the law, it becomes my duty, being no longer under your commands, to make known to the proper authorities the facts in my possession. I do not know this Doctor Heath, consequently can have no object in hunting him down; but, believing him guilty, and holding the proof that I do, I must make known the truth, other- wise I should be compromising myself, and compounding a felony.’’ Here Mr. Belkna> took up his hat. ‘‘I will send in my statement of expenses, etc., to-mor- Tow, Miss Wardour. This withdrawal of the case has been so sudden, so unex- pected, that I am not prepared for a set- tlement of accounts.’’ And Mr. Belknap turned slowly toward the door.

But the heiress stopped him by a ges- ture.

“Stay a moment, sir,’’ she said, and the ominous gleam was intensified into a look of absolute hatred, for an instant. “Lhope I do not quite understand your Meaning. Did you intend to tell me that if I dismiss you from my service, you Will still continue the search for my dia- monds?’’ :

“No, madam; I will simply place the facts Ihave gathered before the town futhorities, and leave them to use the knowledge as they see fit. I then with- draw from the field, unless called upon

| 48 a witness, when, of course, I must do

my duty.’’

Miss Wardour stood for some moments in silent thought, one foot tapping nerv- ously the while, a sure sign of irritation With her. At last she said, slowly, and With an undertone of sarcasm, that she made a futile effort to conceal :—

“I think Icomprehend you Mr. Bel-

ap, and I withdraw my dismissal. You are still retained on the Wardour robbery fase; I suppose, therefore, you are sub- ject to my orders.’’

Mr. Relknap laid down his hat, and returned to his former position. Without & trace of triumph or satisfaction in his face or manner, he said :—

“Tam subject to your commands, cer- teinly, Miss Wardour; but I beg that you Will not misapprehend me.”’ :

“Be easy on that point,’’ interrupted Miss Wardour, somewhat impatiently. ‘Now then, Mr. Belknap, I want a little time to consider this matter, and to con- Salt with my aunt; also to see Mr. La- Motte. During this time I desire you to femain passive, to make no move in the Matter; above all to mention your sus- Picions to no one. You can, of course, Keep as close watch as you may please Wer Doctor Heath, but it must be done quietly, do you comprehend? You are to fay nothing of this matter not even to

r. Lamotte.’’

Once more the detective took up his

at, = “I comprehend,” he

Fron shall be Wardour: for thr

said, gravely; obeyed to the letter, Miss ce days. then,

my task

SOK IORI II IIE SK y Pe RRR oo

* The Diamond Cotevie ;

By LAWRENCE M. LYNCH (E. M. Van Deventer) \ Author of “A Woman's Crime,” “Joha Arthur’s Wirt,’ “The Lost 3K Witness,” “A S'ender Clue,” “Dangerous Grounc,” \ “ Against Odds,” Etc., Etc. yw SEES SEIS SIE OK SIR SE EE IE HE SESE SE OK SRR RIK RIESE EK RIE AE ESAS IE ESE ME Sg

(Continued)

——_>

- ~

will be an easy one. Un rriagay incrsiune- I will call on you again.’

‘That is what I wish,’’ she said; ‘‘I will have further instructions for you then.’’

With the bow of a courtier, the private detective withdrew from her presence, and for a moment the heiress stood as he had left her, gazing at the door through which he had disappeared, as if she were seeking to transfix an enemy with the angry fire of her eyes. Then she struck her hands together fiercely, and began a rapid march to and fro across the room.

““Ah!"’ she ejaculated; ‘‘the = sleek, smooth, oily-tongued wretch! To dare to come here and make terms with me; to fairly compel me to keep him in my ser- vice! and to bring such a charge against him. If he had an enemy, I should call it a wretched plot. But I'll not be out- witted by you, Mr. Belknap; I have three day's grace.’’

She continued to pace the room with much energy for a few moments, and then seating herself at a writing table, rapidly wrote as follows:—

“Neil Bathurst, Esq., ‘No. — B— street,

"i we “Dear Sir—If in your power, be in W— in two days, without fail. Danger

menaces you friend, Dr. H—, and I only hold detective B-— in my _ service to bridle his tongue. I fear a plot, and can only stay proceedings against the innocent by proclaiming the ¢ruth concerning my

diamonds; acting under your advive, I will withhold my statement until you arrive.

‘*Hastily, ete., “CONSTANCE WARDOUR.”’

There was yet an hour before the de- parture of the eastern mail, and Con- stance sealed her letter, and dispatched it by a faithful messenger; this done, she pondered again.

The private detective had waited upon her that morning with a strange state- ment. For weeks he had been working out this strange case, guided by the fact that the chloroform administered to Con- stance was scientifically meted out. He had commenced a system of shadowing the various medical men in W—, without regard to their pres#nt or previous stand- ing. Nothing could be found in the past or present of any to cause them to fall under suspicion, until he came to invet

tigate Doctor Heath. Here what did he find? First, that his antecedents could be traced back only so far as his stay in W— had extended. Nothing could be found to prove that his career had been above reproach, previous to his sojourn here; hence, according to the reasoning of Mr. Belknap, it was fair to suppose that it had not been. ‘‘For,’’ argued the astute private detective, ‘‘where there is secresy, there is also room for suspicion.’’ And Constance felt a momentary sinking of the heart, when she recalled the words she had overheard, as they fell from the lips of Clifford Heath: ‘Here, Iam Clifford Heath, from nowhere.’’ Starting with a suspicion, the private de- tective had made rapid headway. He had ascertained beyond a doubt that Doctor Heath’s expenses, taken all in all, were in excess of his professional income. He might have a private income, true; but this was not proven, and then there was a mystery that the accused had tried in vain to hide from the eyes of the hunters. There was a correspondence that was car- ried on with the utmost caution, letters received that had thrown him quite off his guard, that were destroyed as soon as read. Finally and lastly, there was a bot- tle broken into fragments and thrown to the dust heap; but, without doubt, the counterpart of the one found at Miss Wardour’s bedside on the morning of the robbery; while, among some cast-off gar- ments, had been found the half ofa handkerchief, that matched precisely the one found over the face of the heiress. All these facts Mr. Belknap had laid be- fore her with elaborate explanations, and ‘‘notes by the way,’’ but instead of draw- ing from her the expected indignant de- mand for the instant arrest of the accused one, Miss Wardour had listened coldly, and with marked impatience, and had finally declared her decision not to move in the affair, nor to allow any one to act in her behalf.

As Constang: reviewed the arguments of the detective, a new thought came to her. Doctor Heath, all unconscious of the danger menacing him, taight in some way, do himself an injury, and add to the chain of circumstantial evidence that was lengthening for his overthrow. He must be warned.

This was a delicate task, and she hesi- tated a little over the manner of accom- plishing it.

Finally, she seated herself once more at her desk and wrote another letter, or rather a note.

It contained only a few lines, and was addressed to, ‘‘Mr. Raymond Vandyck.”’

Meanwhile, private detective Belknap was driving slowly in the light buggy, that had brought him to Wardour Place, toward the residence of Jasper Lamotte. His features wore a look of complacent self-satisfaction, and he hummed softly to himself, as he drove easily over the red and brown leaves that were beginning to flutter downward and carpet the high- way.

Arriving at Mapleton; he drove lei- surely up the avenue, and lifting his eyes toward the stately edifice crowning tae Lill. he saw. standing on the broad

DAILY ~- XAMINER,

, Fea,

Plpzza, and gazing Girectiy toward nun,

a beautiful woman, clad in trailing silk, and wearing a shawl of richest crimson cashmere, draped about her head and shoulders; as he drew nearer, he was startled at the strange mingling of pallor and flame in her face; the temples were like blue veined ivory, and the slender hands, clasping the folds of crimson, seemed scarcely strong enough to retain their hold; but the lips and cheeks were a glowing crimson, and the eves burned and glowed with a steady light.

‘*So,’’ thought private detective Bel- knap, ‘‘I have not left all the beauty be- hind me, it seems. I suppose this is the daughter of mine host.’’

And so thinking, he reined in his horse upon the graveled drive and, lift- ing up his hat, with elaborate courtesy, said :—

“I believe this is Mapleton.’’

The lovely brunette allowed the crim- son shawl to drop from about her head as she came slowly down the steps, never once removing her dark searching eyes from his face.

“This is Mapleton, sir. this is Mr. Beiknap?’’

Somewhat surprised, he the affirmative.

‘“*Mr. Belknap, the detective,’’ she per- sisted, and then, seeing that he hesitated over his answer, she added, ‘‘I am Jasper Lamotte’s daughter, and know that he expects you.’’

‘“*l am the man Mr. Lamotte expects,”’ he said, throwing down the reins and springing from the buggy. ‘‘Is Mr. La- notte at home?’’

‘*My father is in the library,’’ she re- plied, coming still nearer him, ‘‘follow me, Mr. Belkaap, I will send a servant to take your horse.’’

He followed her up the steps,and across the broad piazza; as they passed under the shadow of the arched doorway, she paused, looked about her, and _ then, drawing close to the detective and laying one hand lightly on his arm, she whis- pered :—

‘“‘Mr. Belknap, I have a word for your ear alone. Can you meet me to-night where we shall be secure from intrusion?”’’

Her burning eyes searched his face, and accustomed as he was to strange situation, Mr. Belknap was startled for a moment out of his self-possession.

**T have need of your professional serv- ices,’’ she hurried on, ‘‘and they must be rendered very secretly. Will you hear what I have to say?’’

The beautiful face was full of wild eagerness, and Mr. Belknap was not in- sensible to the piquancy of the situation.

May I ask if

answered in

“Tam yours to command, madam. Name the place and hour,’’ he replied gallantly.

‘Then meet me at the boat house, you can see it from here, to-night At nine. Be sure you are not followed, and—above all, do not mention to my father, or any one, this meeting of ours. You will be punctual?’

‘‘As the hour itself.”’

‘“‘Thanks. Comein now, sir; I will send « servant to announce your arrival.”’

She threw open the door of the craw- ing room, motioned him to enter, in- clined her head in a graceful adieu, and swept down the. hail.

Two minutes later he stood in the library bowing before Jasper Lamotte and his son Frank.

‘‘Ah, it’s you, Belknap,”’ said the elder Lamotte. ‘‘And what news?’’

‘*Very little, sir.’’

‘“‘But,’’ interrupted Frank, you have fired your train?’

‘““Yes, and I have run against the worst impediment that ever comes in a detective’s way.”’

‘“‘And what is that?’’

‘“‘A woman.”’

‘surely

CHAPTER XXII,

Doctor Heath stood at his office look- jag out upon the street, and whistling

softly. Below and directly under his gaze, stood a fine bay horse, harnessed to u new light road wagon; and horse and owner were somewhat impatiently wait- ing the arrival of Ray Vandyck, who Was under engagement to drive with Doctor Heath, and pass his opinion on the ‘‘points’’ of the handsome bay, a re- cent purchase of the doctor’s, who was a lover of a good horse and a fine dog, and Was never without one or more speci- mens of each.

A quick step behind him caused him to bring his tune to an abrupt close, and he turned to see Ray, who had entered hurriedly, leaving the door ajar, and was busy breaking the seal of a small cream tinted envelope.

Clifford Heath favored him with a quizzical glance, and came away from the window.

‘‘That’s a dangerous looking document, Ray,’’ laughed the doctor, throwing him- self down in his own favorite chair with the air of a man resigned to anything.

‘*]’ve a shuddering horror of anything so small and delicately tinted. But read it, my boy; it’s your fate to be persecu- ted, you are so amiable.’’

Ray lost no time in opening and scan- ning the dainty note, and he now turned # perplexed face toward his friend.

‘‘T’ll be hamged if I can understand it,’’ he said, filiping the note between his thumb and fingers.

‘Of course you can’t, ‘it’ having emanated from the brain of a woman. I only hope your inability to comprehend the incomprehensible is the worst feature in the case.’’

‘‘But it isn’t,’’ protested Ray. ‘‘I must renounce my drive, and your charming society.’’

‘*Really! is she so imperative, you so much her bond slave?’’

Ray laughed. ‘‘Imperative,’’ he cried. “You need not have asked, had you known the name affixed to this missive, and you would obey it with as much alacrity as I shall. Listen, Heath: I can trust you with a secret, if this be one.”’ And. unfolding the note, he read:—

(To be Oontinued. )

FOR SALE

A Yacht, nearly new, conyenient model, excellent sailer, fully rigged and ready fcr rerms easy, For further jarticu- larsapply at this cffice.

May 17th, 1897.

and are

a a RR

‘\8is ‘TTETOWN, MAY 21, 1897.

TREMENDOUS - - - BANKRUPT PURCHASE

WHOLESALE TND RETAIL

SPOT CASH TRANSACTION.

5 Lange

MMENS §£

balkragt SI

NOW ON SALE AT

WEEKS’

$958.00 dollars worth Bankrupt Silks, Black

and Colored.

Black Dress Peau de Sois $1.30 for 95c, $1.80 quality for $1.25. $250 quality for $1.70 per yard.

BLACK DRESS BENGALINE SILK, $1.30 quality for 90c. $2.10 heavy for $1.45. $1.65 for 1.10.

BLACK SATINS at 49c, 75e and 89ec, Gass & Co., price 75c, $1.10 and $1.45.

BLACK SURAHS at 49c, 65c, and 70c, regular 68c to 1.25 per yard, and Surahs Chinas fancy pongee blouse trimming silks, ete., et*.,

Plain and Fancy Silk Velvets and

Velveteens.

BANKRUPT.

Dress Goods.

$1,165.00.—bieven hundred and sixty- five dolJars worth of plain and fancy dress geods. Black and colored Uashmeres, Serges—marked at about 33; to 50 per cent discount.

BANKRUPT.

Ladies, Gents and Children’s Fabric & Kid Gloves.

French Kid Buttoned and Lacing— lack and Colored. Bes: 7 book $1.35 quality for 95c Best5 “ ia *: wee Mixed Lot, 60c to $1.00 for 50c Black and Colored Silk and Lisle and Eveuing Gloves at all prices. Gents Kid Gloves $1.00 to $1.25 for 80c

BANKRUPT.

Silk, Lisle, Cashmere Cotton Hosiery.

Ladies Fine Black Silk Spun Hose $1.55 quality for 96c, $1.25 for 85c, $2.25 for $1.65.

Biack Lisle Thread, 45c¢ for 38c.

Laiies Caslimere Hose, plain ribbed and fancy, Gass & Co’s price 46c to 65c per pair, our Bankrupt price 29c to 48c.

Cotton Hose at all price.

Children’s Hose at all prices.

BANKRUPT. Embroideries and Insertions.

648 yards Embroidery at 24c. Gass & Co’s. price 5c.

963 yards do., 7 for 44e.

1623 yards Gass & Co. Ile. quality for The. Odd pieces up to 33s. for 18c.

All over Embroideriee, Tuckings; etc.

$49 486-Worlh Dry Cons,

cost price

LMMENSE

Daukragt St

NOW ON SALE AT

EEKS’

Se eanniaaienettiemmieedtticatandanadl

hankrapt House Furnishings

633 Winlow Saatss -Bx5 Complete with Spring Rollers.

306 WINDOW SHADES at - 19%. 180 do at - 35ce, 650 (assorted) 65c. for - 4b5c. 108 pretty Dado, 72 for - 49.

BANKRUPT

Lace & Silk Curtains

ECRU AND WAHITE About 200 pairs, Gass & Co., price 55c. up up to $1450. Marked Bankrupt, price from 29c. per pair to $8.75, or sbout 40 p. c. off regulat price.

Bankrupt - - Curtains

48} yards best Brusselx, $1.35 for 8c. 14. do Bordering to match, $1.30 80c. 433; do Second Quality, Brussels,........ é

mnageertianen wenienemeaaae tee CON.

| 724 do Tapestry, 75c. for 49c- 3 rolls of Hemp Stair Carpet. 56 yards Cocoa Matting, 75c. for 45c.

| Suitable tor Church or Hall, and odds aad ends of Carpets.

at Fringe, 1 4c. for 8c., aud 24c. for 16c. Mper yard; Curtsin Tassels, Mantle Drapery, etc., etc.

Bankrupt Corsets,

Tremendous Stock,

5 Large Cases Standard and Best Makes.

Gass & Co, price 35c., Bankrupt = 19¢. do do 55c. do 39c. do do 65c. do 45c. do do 95e. do 69e.

A cot of odds in D. & A. makes, ete., etc.

LADIES & CHILDREN'S

Bankrupt Underwear. ABOUT $400 WORTH.

Drawere, Corset Covers, etc., etc. Plain and Trimmed with Vest, and embroidery.

Ladies’ Bankropt Wrappers

About 60 Ladies’ Print Cotton Wrappers from $1.10 to $3.25 Bankrupt price 7T5e. to $2.30.

BANKRUPT

Black Lack and Fancy

: Colored Flouncings Gass & Co., price 9%ec. to $4.20 per yard. Bankrupt Clearing Price 65c. to $2.25.

Lace

White Skirts, Night Gowns; Chemiees, }

{

f ‘ ‘

{ i

|

{ f

W, A. Weeks & Co bought from Assignees of Esta J. B, Gass & Co, Amherst, N.S, at about half

Twelve Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-six Dollars worth of Bankrupt Dry Goods, comprising a general and high class stock of dry Goods, Black and Colored Silks, Cloths, Hosiery, Curtains, Window Shados, Carpets, Ladies’ and Gents’ Underwear, Collars, Shirts and Neckties, Braces, Waterproofs, Lalies’ and Gents’ Kid and Fabrick Gloves, Staple Goods, Hats and Caps, Sunshades, etc; etc, etc. Bought at close on 50c on the dollar, paic for with Spot Cash, and must be sold low.

IMMENSE BANKRUPT STOCK

NOW ON SALE AT

WEEKS’

Gentlemen's Bankeupt Col- umn, Gents’ Summer Underwear.

Cotton Balbrigan and Natural Wool, About 50 doz. Linders and Drawers in all sizes from 24c to 95c. Gass & Co’s former price 35c to $1.35.

BANKRUPT,

Bicycle Sweaters.

MEN’S AND BOYS’, FINE QUALITY Gass & Co’s price $1.06 to $3,26 Weeks & Co’s Bankrupt Price 68c to $2.15.

BANKRUPT Braces, Collars, Ties

LINEN COLLARS.—3 and 4 ply linen good shapes, all sizes at Be, 9c. Ile, and l5c, eold by Gass & Co. at from 12c to 25c.

CUFFS .—18c, 19c, 22c, regular 25c to 35c, plain and link.

NECKTIES-—A bout 100 doz. at about , to 40 per cent. discount.

BANKRUPT TWEED AND CLOTH

& Cases in Factory, Canadian and Scotch Tweeds, Black Worsteds, etc. marked at about 40 p. c. below gelling price.

BANKRUPT

Ladies - Waterproofs. Nearly 100—Al! Good Stock.

$3.60 for $2.45 ; $5.00 for $3.25. $3.00 for $1.95 ; $2.68 for $1.75.

And higher priced goods at from 25 tc 59 p.c. off Cass & Co’s. price.

BANKRUPT Goods in Mantle Room.

Last Year’e Styles. The price to ciear no object.

BANKRUPT.

Real Black Silk aed Black Spanish Lace-. Elegant Quality. Finest quality ever imported to Charlottetown.

LOUTACHE, MALTESE.—$3 60 for

| $1.95 per vard. $1.95 for $1.15 per yard,

$1.50 for 95c. In narrow. widihs— $1.10 or G5c; S5c ior 58c., eto,, etc.

*

And about $2.000 worth of Bankrupt Staples, and a big lot of other goods generally found in a first-class stock.

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