Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/80

 the trial Stanley alleged that his acquaintance of the gambling rooms claimed to be a Vermonter and appeared to have plenty of money."

"And he did not hazard the suggestion that this acquaintance was the son of the man whose name was forged?"

"He did not know that there was a son. To prove this, if the visitor at Cyrus Felton's house on the evening of Memorial Day was the released prisoner of Windsor, note his surprised reply to the housemaid, 'I did not know there were two Feltons.'"

"True," admits Ashley. "Keep along, old man."

"If Stanley was that visitor," pursues the detective, "his object in revisiting Raymond was to obtain revenge for the wrong that had been done him.

"When he arrived at Raymond, at 7:45, he went directly to Felton's house. Failing to find the bank president at home, he obtained directions as to where Felton's office was and proceeded to the bank block. The office, which is on the second story, at the south end of the block, was dark and Stanley returned to the street. As he stood in front of the bank and thought of the day, two long years before, when he stepped from its portals with a constable gripping his arm, he noticed a light in the rear. Perhaps Felton was within. So he pushed open the door and"

"Hold on a bit. How does the bank door come to be open? You are assuming a great deal this time, Barker," laughs Ashley.

"I am assuming that he got into the bank some way or other," retorts the detective. "If not—and here I will quote your own words when you imparted to me your valuable discovery—'What was Stanley doing at 6 o'clock the next morning asleep in the bushes in a lonely gorge near South Ashfield village?"

Ashley laughs merrily. "I was expecting that," he says. "But I'll be hanged if I will believe that an Edmond Dantes sort of a chap like Ernest Stanley is capable of"

"Permit me to suggest that Ernest Stanley may be