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wasI have nothing to conceal； Mr。 Cleggettit was my forty…ninth
birthday。 Every year； for many years past； a niece of mine who lives in
Flatbush sends me on my birthday a box of plum preserves。
〃These preserves have for me； Mr。 Cleggett； a value that they would
not possess for anyone else； a value far above their intrinsic or； as one
might say； culinary value。 They have a sentimental value as well。 I was
born in Flatbush； and lived there； during my youth； on my father's estate。
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The city has since grown around the old place； which my niece now owns；
but the plum trees stand as they have stood for more than fifty years。 It
was beneath these plum trees。 。 。 。〃
Miss Pringle suddenly broke off； her face twitched； she felt for a
handkerchief； and found none； she wiped her eyes on her sleeve。
In another person this action might have appeared somewhat careless；
but Miss Pringle； by the force of her character； managed to invest it with
propriety and dignity； looking at her； one felt that to wipe one's eyes on
one's sleeve was quite proper when done by the proper person。
〃I will conceal nothing； Mr。 Cleggett。 It was under these plum trees
that I once received an offer of marriage from a worthy young man。 It
was from one of these plum trees that he later fell； injuring himself so that
he died。 You can understand what these plum trees mean to me；
perhaps？〃
Lady Agatha impulsively sat down beside the elder woman and put her
arm about her。 But Miss Pringle stiffly moved away。 After a moment
she continued：
〃The preserved plums； as I have said； are sent me every year on my
birthday。 This year； when I received from my niece a notification that
they had been shipped； I called for the box personally at the freight office。
〃What was my astonishment to learn that the box had been claimed in
my name； not a quarter of an hour before； and taken away。
〃I obtained a description of the person who had represented herself as
Miss Genevieve Pringle； and of the vehicle in which she had carried off
my box。 And I followed her。 The paltriness of the theft revolted me；
Mr。 Cleggett； and I determined to bring this person to justice。
〃The fugitive； with my plum preserves in her possession； had left；
goodness knows； a broad enough trail。 I found but little difficulty in
following in my family carriage。 In fact； Mr。 Cleggett； I discovered the
very chauffeur who had deposited her here with the box。 Inquiries in
Fairport gave me your name as the owner of this lighter。〃
〃Lighter！〃 interrupted Cleggett。 〃The Jasper B。； madam； is not a
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lighter。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Miss Pringle。 〃But what sort of vessel is it
then？〃
〃The Jasper B。；〃 said Cleggett； with a touch of asperity； 〃is a
schooner； madam。〃
〃I intended no offense； Mr。 Cleggett。 I am quite willing to believe
that the vessel is a schooner； since you say that it is。 I am not informed
concerning nautical affairs。 But； to concludeI discovered from the
chauffeur that this lady； calling herself Lady Agatha Fairhaven； had been
deposited here； with my box。 I learned yesterday； after inquiries in
Fairport； that you were the owner of this vessel。 The real estate person
from whom you purchased it assured me that you were financially
responsible。 I came to expose this imposter and to recover my box。 On
my way hither I was caught in the storm。 The runaway occurred； and
you know the rest。〃
Miss Pringle； during this recital； had not deigned to favor Lady Agatha
with a look。 Lady Agatha； on her part； after the rebuff which she had
received； had sat in smiling silence。
〃Miss Pringle；〃 she said； pleasantly but seriously； when the other
woman had finished； 〃first I must convince you that this box does not
contain your plum preserves； and then I will tell you my story。〃
With Cleggett's assistance Lady Agatha removed the cover from the
oblong box； and showed her its contents。
〃That explains nothing；〃 said Miss Pringle； dryly。 〃Of course you
would remove the plum preserves to a place of safety。〃
〃Miss Pringle；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃I will tell you everything。 I DID
claim a box in your name at the railway goods station in Newarkand if
there had been nothing in it but plum preserves； how happy I should be！
I beg of you； Miss Pringle； to give me your attention。〃
And Lady Agatha began to relate to Miss Pringle the same story which
she had told to Cleggett。 At the first word indicative of the fact the Lady
Agatha had suffered for the cause of votes for women； a change took place
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in the expression of Miss Pringle's countenance。 Cleggett thought she
was about to speak。 But she did not。 Nevertheless； although she
listened intently； some of her rigidity had gone。 When Lady Agatha had
finished Miss Pringle said：
〃I suppose that you can prove that you are really Lady Agatha
Fairhaven？〃
For answer Lady Agatha went to one of her trunks and opened it。
She drew therefrom a letter； and passed it over without a word。
As Miss Pringle read it； her face lighted up。 She did not lose her
primness； but her suspicion seemed altogether to depart。
〃A letter from Emmeline Pankhurst！〃 she said； in a hushed voice；
handling the missive as if it were a sacred relic。 〃Can you ever forgive
me？〃
〃There is nothing to forgive；〃 beamed Lady Agatha。 〃I am willing to
admit； now that you understand me； that the thing looked a bit suspicious；
on the face of it。〃
〃You have suffered for the cause；〃 said Miss Pringle。 〃I have
suffered for it； too！〃 And； with a certain shyness； she patted Lady Agatha
on the arm。 But the next moment she said：
〃But what IS in the box you brought here then； Lady Agatha？ Two
boxes were shipped to Newark； addressed to me。 Which one did you get？
What is really in the one you have been carrying around？ My plum
preserves； or〃
She shuddered and left the sentence unfinished。
〃Let us open it；〃 said Cleggett。
〃No！ No！〃 cried Lady Agatha。 〃Clement； no！ I could not bear to have
it opened。〃
Miss Pringle rose。 It was evident that a bit of her earlier suspicion
had returned。
〃After all；〃 said Miss Pringle； indicating the letter again； 〃how do I
know that〃
〃That it is not a forgery？〃 said Lady Agatha。 〃I see。〃 She mused a
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moment； and then said； with a sigh； 〃Well； then； let us open the box！〃
〃I think it best； Agatha；〃 said Cleggett。 〃I shall have it brought
down。〃
But even as he turned upon his heel to go on deck and give the order；
Dr。 Farnsworth and the Rev。 Simeon Calthrop ran excitedly down the
cabin companionway。
〃The box of Reginald Maltravers；〃 cried the Doctor； who was in
Cleggett's confidence； 〃is gone！〃
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CHAPTER XIX
TWO GREAT MEN MEET
〃Gone！〃 Lady Agatha； who had emerged from her stateroom； turned
pale and caught at her heart。
They rushed on deck。 The young Doctor was right； the box； which
had stood on the larboard side of the cabin； had disappeared。
〃It might have b