the conviction of the murderer.

Then, one day Deborah, while cleaning out the cellar, found a piece of
paper which had slipped down behind one of the safes. These had not been
removed for many years, and the paper, apparently placed carelessly on
top, had accidentally dropped behind. Deborah, always thinking something
might reveal the past to Sylvia and afford a clue to the assassin,
brought the paper to her mistress. It proved to be a few lines of a
letter, commenced but never finished. But the few lines were of deep
interest.

"My dear daughter," these ran, "when I die you will find that I married
your mother under the name of Lemuel Krill. That is my real name, but I
wish you to continue to call yourself Norman for necessary reasons. If
the name of Krill gets into the papers there will be great trouble. Keep
it from the public. I can tell you where to find the reasons for this as
I have written--" Here the letter ended abruptly without any signature.
Norman apparently was writing it when interrupted, and had placed it
unfinished on the top of the safe, whence it had fallen behind to be
discovered by Deborah. And now it had strangely come to light, but too
late for the request to be carried out.

"Oh, Paul," said Sylvia, in dismay, when they read this together, "and
the bills are already published with the real name of my father."

"It is unfortunate," admitted Paul, frowning. "But, after all, your
father may have been troubled unnecessarily. For over the fortnight the
bills have been out and no one seems to take an interest in the matter."

"But I think we ought to call the bills in," said Sylvia, uneasily.

"That's not such an easy matter. They are scattered broadcast, and it
will be next to impossible to collect them. Besides, the mischief is
done. Everyone knows by this time that Aaron Norman is Lemuel Krill, so
the trouble whatever it may be, must come."

"What can it be?" asked the girl anxiously.

Paul shook his head. "Heaven only knows," said he, with a heavy heart.
"There is certainly something in your father's past life which he did
not wish known and which led to his death. But since the blow has fallen
and he is gone, I do not see how the matter can affect you, my darling.
I'll show this to Pash and see what he says. I expect he knows more
about your father's past than he will admit."

"But if there should be trouble, Paul--"

"You will have me to take it off your shoulders," he replied, kissing