old me that if I married Mr.
Merrill he would take me to see my mother and Jasper. But he was so
cruel--"

She shuddered again.

"We've been living in furnished houses all over the country, and I have
been alone most of the time, and he would not let me go out by myself or
do anything."

She spoke in a subdued, monotonous tone that betrayed the nearness of a
bad, nervous breakdown.

"What does your husband call himself?"

"Why, Frank Merrill," said the girl in astonishment; "that's his name.
Mr. Crawley always told me his name was Merrill. Isn't it?"

Mr. Mann shook his head.

"My poor girl," he said sympathetically, "I am afraid you have been
grossly deceived. The man you married as Merrill is an impostor."

"An impostor?" she faltered.

Mr. Mann nodded.

"He has taken a good man's name, and I am afraid has committed
abominable crimes in that man's name," said the investigator gently. "I
hope we shall be able to rid you and the world of a great villain."

Still she stared uncomprehendingly.

"He has always been a liar," she said slowly. "He lied naturally and
acted things so well that you believed him. He told me things which I
know aren't true. He told me my brother was dead, but I saw his name in
the paper the other day, and that is why I came to you. Do you know
Jasper?"

She was as naive and as unsophisticated as a schoolgirl, and it made the
little man's heart ache to hear the plaintive monotony of tone and see
the trembling lip.

"I promise you that you will meet your brother," he said.

"I have run away from Frank," she said suddenly. "Isn't that a wicked
thing to do? I could not stand it. He struck me again yesterday, and he
pretends to be a gentleman. My mother used to say that no gentleman ever
treats a woman badly, but Frank does."

"Nobody shall treat you badly any more," said Mr. Mann.

"I hate him!" she went on with sudden vehemence. "He sneers and says
he's going to get another wife, and--oh!"

He saw her hands go up to her face, and saw her staring eyes turn to the
door in affright.

Frank Merrill stood in the doorway, and looked at her without
recognition.

"I am sorry," he said. "You have a visitor?"

"Come in," said Mr. Mann. "I am awfully glad you called."

The girl had risen to her feet, and was shrinking back to the wall.

"Do you know this lady?"

Frank looked at her keenly.

"Why, yes, that's Sergeant Smith's daughter," he said, and he smiled.
"Where on earth h