A Chance Acquaintance

y Charlotte in the morning, certainly no one could have entered the apartment during the night by that door. And as the apartment was the dupl

ed for ventilation, were secured by a burglar-proof device, which fastened them at any desired point, leaving ample room for air, but far too sma

her occupants numbered but two. It didn't seem that it could have been Charlotte; a

e one had raised Miss Pembroke, and that

like a flash, I realized that he believed Janet guilty, an

ty! I, as a lawyer, followed the workings of his mind, and

of course. As to exclusive opportunity, that was mere foolishness. I remembered the chained door, but of course there must have been other ways of ingress to a professional bu

as it-the

ossible way to get in that house that night, surely he would ha

in was on the door when Charlotte opened it that morning! If I had not mentioned it, perhaps no one would

stupid as to tell of that chain? I who desired only to serve and assist the woman I loved-I had done

y he was worried and nervous at Charlotte's mention of the chain. That was why he looked

ouldn't be explained, which was as inexplicable to her as to me, but which no mor

lay on the couch, with closed eyes, and th

o be controlling himse

int, and the mere fact of a chained front door does not preclude other modes of housebreaking. I am by no means sure the windows were all secure

said the coroner coldly. "Will

I called here yesterday afternoon between five and six. My uncle was very cross and grumpy, and gave me no pleasant word while I was h

id you g

own apartment in

d t

some friends in Sixtieth street.

s, almost contempt, at this detailed question

" he said; "you spent the eveni

and then I went directly home. I reach

know the tim

night, and had not yet left my bedroom when my cousin telephoned for me this morning. That is my story, and, as I said, it throws no light on the case. But light shall be

t. It was no more than he ought to have felt, but his spontaneous enthusiasm charmed me. I determined to

though perhaps not specially trained, he was well set up, and

rhaps he gave more the effect of physical force than of mental strength

figure. Although I had heard he was an artist, he showed no trace of Bohemianism in his make-

er had said, there had been no definite accusation, and yet it was plain to be seen that as the evidence seeme

sked George m

h-key to this apa

I've still kept the key. I go in and out as I l

ways on a

ght, and I put on the chain. Since I left, my cousin has to

et on well wit

to live by myself. I hoped, too, that if I were not here to an

urn out t

not control his temper, even if he tried, and it was his c

the conditions of

e his sole heirs, but, though he seemed willing to leave

r business,

an illustrator. I make pictu

d it luc

work to gratify my simple ambitions. I trust I shall make a worthy use of

the young man hypocritical, and yet that attitude as

ke have any enemy

t I know very little of my uncle's business affairs or his acquaintances.

llers occa

es

hat s

or him, and sometimes strangers who came to ask contributions for c

saw these

ne who called. I suppose, as he never went out,

treated the

to them. However, he frequently use

esented

g favors, they were naturally more patient than if

his ill-temper on his

servant ever staid ver

who has lived with him who mig

definitely," he said. "I don't remember them individually. But there were several who were so badly treated by my uncle that it wou

collected from Mr. Pembroke's bedroom, and which we hope

glance he cast on the various articles I had laid before him,

were valueless. He glanced at them with an air of utter indiff

the J. S. who signed his

o his cousin and smiled. It was a flashing smile, as if caused by a humorous thought, and it s

oke flashed back an answering smile, showing

firmed the coroner, looking a little a

ear of him. When we asked him what name the initials stood for, he told us John Strong, but told us in such a way that he gave us clearly to understand that was not the real name of J. S. And so we came to look upon John Strong as a sort of mythical personage, and as the

g time

many years ago. At first the investment was unsuccessful. Then my uncle bought out John Strong's share, and after that the property became exceedingly valuable. I am perfectly sure my uncle dealt justly by his partner so far as the legality of the transaction was concerned. But John Strong seemed to think that my uncle wa

he partner's ini

yes; but I

never seen

often had callers who were stra

egram which was signed J. S.; "This message is dated yesterday and advised Mr. Pembro

ou have as evidence a telegram from a man known to be

's evidence, in addition to that of the servant, that there was no caller here last evening. Then after Miss Pembroke put the night-chain on the door and retired, there was no pos

am, and this implied that it was manufactured evidence, and so pointed to deeper and more complicated villainy th

Janet in all that he said, and the slightly amused air of both of them all seemed to me to prove that the John Strong episode

er, the Inspector, and the Jurymen, t

ent. However as this person did not call last evening before Miss Pembroke put the chain on the front door, and as he could not have entered this apartment afterward, I cannot feel that we should attach great importance to this message. The evidence given goes to prove that the

tness stand, the inquest was closed, and the