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"Have you been out of town, Dick?" Madeline asked as he caet you over the telephone a day or two ago, and they told hed exultantly as he sat down "I ran down to the

penitentiary at Easton, just to make sure that I wasn't mistaken in a

fact or two"

"What now?" asked Norris

"I've been told that Barry--the lord of St Etienne, Madeline--is at

last tired of his humble but powerful place, and intends to show hi himself for our next mayor Now

even this docile city would hardly exalt a man whom it knew to be a

criminal with a record of two years in the pen,--under another name, of

course"

"Is it possible that Barry--"

"I've verified my facts There is only one man in the city besides

myself that knows this, and he's Barry's closest friend There'll be a

jolly old sensation in the bunch, when I spring my mine"

"If nobody knows it, how did you happen to find out?" asked Madeline

impulsively

There was just a moment's silence, and in that instant Norris had a

flash ofa letter addressed to

William Barry, Esquire Even while he re to suspect that Dick would be capable of anything really shabby

or dishonorable Yet he did suspect--nay, more--he was sure; and the

pause, the look of innocent inquiry on Madeline's face grew intolerable