Gabriel Conroy

the darkened vista of another passage. Mr. Ramirez had ample time to observe the freshness of the boarded partitions and scant details of the interior of the International Hotel; he even had

to know that, as a visitor to a lady, he was the object of every man's curious envy and aggressive suspicion. There was the sound of light footsteps within, and the door opened. The porter lingered long enough to be able to decide upon the character and propriety of the greeting, and then sullenly retired. The door closed, and Mr. Ramirez found himself face to face with the occupant of the room. She was a small, slight blonde, who,

xtended, she drew back shyly, and, pointing to the

e lady lightened the shadow that seemed to have fallen upon their in

nd tell me why you h

ady looked all deprecation and

imitated her, but his natural impulsi

is better you should erase the name o

hy, Vi

"My God! Because one hundred miles from here live the

el

Is it well? Listen. You

de her, and went on in

dings-which was in the paper that I-I-found. Good! It is true!-ah, you begin to be interested!-it is tru

claims; but the mine on the top of the little hill is unknown, unclaimed! For why? You understand,

out a folded paper (the papers given to Grace

ed the range of foot-hills, for I know every foot, every step, and I came one day

her thin, long fingers closed li

a good man, very kind with the sick. Good! I have sickness-very sudden, very strong! My rheumatism takes me here." He pointed to his knee. "I am helpless as a child. I have to be taken care of at the house of Mr. Brigg

hy

hen listen. The house of Gabriel Conroy is upon the land, the very land, you understand? of t

he know o

cident-what y

that one of the loungers on the side-walk, glancing at the window to catch a glimpse of the pretty French stranger, did not recognise her. Possibly the incident recalled

He looked straight before him, shrugge

standing in front of her companion, so as to be leve

d not

rs regarding property of my late husband, Dr. Paul Devarges, and asking me to communicate with him. I did not answer his letter; I came. It is not my way to deliberate or

slightly, but

was a record of a Spanish grant, others indicated some valuable discoveries. He referred me to the Mission and Presidio of San Ysabel that had sent out the relief

s dark eyes to h

o records. You showed me the only copy of the report; you, too, would have been cold and business-like, until I told you my story. You seemed interested.

or n

ondition by the women, of the Comandante's pity, of her mysterious disappearance, of the Co

out altering her gentle manner, she w

cure my own again-to personate this girl-to out-imposture this imposture. You did not ask me for a percentage! You did not seek to make money out of my needs; you asked only for my love! Well, well! perhaps I was a fool, a weak woman. It was

wn himself on his knees before her in passionate contrition

mother of an illegitimate child! Say that in doing this, you took the last hope from the wronged and cast-off wife who came thousands of miles to claim something from the man who should have supported her. Say this, and that brother, if he is the good and kind man you represent him to be, he will rise up and bless you

ome admiration of the woman before him; "forgive me, Julie! I am a cow

utious to exasperate the already incautiously demonstrative man before her. She said "

ose to deny his relationship? Who will identity him as Gabriel Conroy, when his only surviving relative dare not come forward to recognise him; when, if she did, you could swear that she came to you under another

oed Ramirez,

evarges, I could make no legal claim, and I told him of your plan, he offered himself as wi

kissed her hands passionat

u going?" she

se Gulch,'"

necessary, perhaps, to have a lawyer; but we must first see how strong we stand. You must find out

e here, and unpro

of a jealous nature

ur plans than women! Do you not trust me,

t she restrained him with an arch look at th

tay. This Gabrie

N

od-

e. A moment later there was a sharp ringing of the bell o

respectfully. There was no suspicion attached to the character o

?" said Jack, reaching from the bed, a

rmured som

e some h

rriedly withdraw, when Jac

ut shooting off like that. Who was th

't kno

, and let

illow, and turned his face to the wall. The por

yet? What

sir; do you know a

ow; "but if I catch you hanging round that

ed that he would forcibly dislodge certain vit

G

small ivory-handled pistol in his waistcoat-pocket to one of his most heart-breaking notes, he put his hat on his handsome head, perhaps a trifle more on one side than usual, and stepped into the hall. As he sharply shut his door and locked it, the slight concussion of the thin partitions caused the d

t belong h

ng here?" asked M

at

at

you ask

it it, and after one or two puffs, loo

sked you abo

ught,

n, quietly, without withdrawing his black eyes from the man's face. "You ca