h banker, six months ago,' he said.

"'Oh! did she?' I exclaimed; 'I am glad she was so fortunate.'

"Then I returned aboard ship, feeling completely crushed. Since that
time I have never paid attention to any other woman, for I can never
forget her. Once afterward I met her on Broadway, on her way to her
carriage. She nodded carelessly, with a 'How d'ye do, John?' and was
quickly whirled away out of my sight. I have never heard from her since
then.

"After the Captain had told me everything about Annie and himself that
he could recollect, I asked him to excuse me, pleading an important
engagement at that hour. As soon as he had gone, I requested my
stenographer to write out his notes in long hand as quickly as possible,
and I returned to consult with my female superintendent.

"Mrs. Warne," I said, "we shall have a difficult task in working upon
Mrs. Thayer; she seems to be very reticent and wary. I have decided to
attack the superstitious side of her nature, which seems to be her
weakest point; and, in order to do so successfully, I shall need your
services. How do you think you would succeed as a fortune-teller?"

"A fortune-teller!" she exclaimed, laughingly; "that is certainly a new
_role_; however, I think I might learn to take the part after a few
lessons."

"Yes," I replied, "the tricks of the trade are easily learned. Here is
a book which explains all the secrets of the profession. It is called
'The Mysteries of Magic and the Wonders of Astrology; by Dr. Roback.'
You can take it to read at your leisure; but, after all, the costume and
make-up are the principal things necessary. You will be obliged to trust
largely to your own judgment and tact in working upon Mrs. Thayer's
feelings. I suppose she has some vague ideas about astrology, etc., but
I have no doubt of your ability to mystify her thoroughly. One thing is
certain, Mrs. Warne, that we must have a fortune-teller of our own, and
I do not know of any one so competent as yourself. I will rent an office
for you near by, and the duties will interfere very little with your
other work."

"I will undertake it," she said, decidedly, after a moment's thought; "I
will make it a success, too, if you will give me my own way about it."

"All right," I answered; "success is all that I require."

Mrs. Warne then withdrew to make her preparations.

In a day or two I received a letter from Miller. He said that the talk
over the inquest was gradually subsiding;