atilda Grath is an avaricious old woman. Her letter was in the
nature of blackmail. She did not actually know that the Doctor is the
boy's father, but she adopted that idea merely from the fact that he
appeared upon the scene as soon as the guardian died. Then at the
auction, it appears that there was a squabble over the possession of a
collie dog, and the Doctor settled the dispute by purchasing the
animal, and presenting it to Leon."

"Oh! He did that?" Madame was inwardly incensed, but she quickly
suppressed any expression of her emotion.

"Yes! Old Miss Grath thought this was 'queer.' Then when she
subsequently learned, what she did not at first know, that Leon had
been taken into the Doctor's home, her doubts vanished. This accounts
for her allusion to the Doctor in the letter, and the reason why she
did not write again, was that she had no proof with which to
substantiate her suspicions. I instituted a search, however, and
unearthed a package of old letters in a worm eaten writing-desk, upon
which no bid had been offered at the auction, so that it had been
thrown into the waste bin in the barn. Among these I found two, which
were from the Doctor, alluding to the boy, and also a photograph of
himself sent at the earnest solicitation of Margaret Grath, as one
letter explains. I suppose he thought that this was the least
repayment he could make for a lifelong sacrifice."

"You have those letters?" asked Madame, with some anxiety.

"I have them here," answered the detective. "Do you wish them?"

"I do!"

"I will give them to you upon one condition,--that you give them to
your husband. They are perhaps more valuable to Leon, as the only
evidence which would prove that he is the Doctor's son. But as the
Doctor has taken him into his house, it is evident that he means to
provide for him."

"I will accept your terms. My husband shall know what you have told
me, and I will give him the letters to-night."

"With that understanding, I give them into your custody."

He handed a packet to Madame, who quickly placed it in her
hand-satchel. Then she arose to depart. Handing him a check already
signed she said:

"Please fill in the amount of my indebtedness to you."

Mr. Barnes took the check, wrote "five hundred dollars" on the proper
line, and handed it back to Madame Medjora.

"Will that be satisfactory?" he asked.

"Quite!" she answered shortly, and left the office. Having
accomplished her purpose she had no