The Holl&day Ca.se A Mystery of Two Continents By BURTON E. STEVENSON Cot<>n?l.i. 1901. Wy Viwwr KM ??d Ccmwr =Q my nn;>rnrtlcffl ejv*. snr seemed and worn. Sli? eouid scarcely talk, she 11*iii sn consider. H" v. < ; very fiunous doctor, with in?;:.y . ty famous puticnt*. and I oulrt t.\' t!iat this case piqued him? that nnofLrr physician should have been preferred! "of course. Mr. Uoyce." lie said finally. "Misa Hollmlny tvas perfectly free to choose another physician If she th ejxht best." "But would you have thought it probable?" queried our Junior. "Ten minutes ago I should have '.nought it extremely improbable." nu sweren tne doctor emphatically. "KiiH, women are sometime* erratic, as we doctors know to our sorrow." Mr. I Joyce hesitated ami then look the bull l>y the horns. "Dr. Jenkinson." he began earnestly. "don't you think It won hi he wise to see Miss Holladny?you know how her father trusted you and relied on you-an ! unsure yourself that she's In good hands? 1 eonfeas I don't know what t ? think, but I fear some danger is hanging over her. I'primps she may even have fallen into the hands of the faith eurlsts." Jenkinson smiled. "The advice to seek rest and quiet seems sane enough." he said, "and ut terly unlike any that a faith eurlst would give." "Rut stjii, if yon could see for yourself," persisted Mr. ltoyee. The d ?cror hesitated, drumming witli Ills finger? upon the arm of his chair. "Fucli a course would be somewhat unprofessional," he said at last. "Still I might all In n merely social way. Vfy Interest In the family would, I think, excuse me." Mr. Royce's face brightened, and lie caught the doctor's hand. "Thank you, sir," he said warmly. "It will lift a anxiety from the firm. and. I may add, from me personally." The doctor laughed good uaturedly. "I knew that, of course." lie said, i "We doctors hear nil the gossip gong I might mId that I wan Kind to bear this bit If you'll wait for me here. I'll go at once. We Instantly absented, uud he ealleil his carriage and was driven away. I felt th.it at last we were to aee behind glimpse would be enough to penetrate the mystovy. Hut in half an hour be was back again, and n glance at his face told nie that we were again destined to disappointed. "I sent tip my card," lie reported briefly, "and Mlsa Ilollnday sent down word that she must beg to be excused." Mr. Itoyce'a face fell. "And that was nil?" he asked. "That wiu a'l. Of course there was nothing for me to do but come away. I couldn't insist on seeing her." "No," assented the other; "no. llow 1 do you ex pi a 111 it, doctor?" Jonkln?on sat down and fur a moment studied the pattern of the carl?et. ' Frankly, Mr. Koyce," he said ai lust, "1 don't know liow to explain it. The most probable explanation Is that Miss Ilollnday Is suffering from some form of dementia, perhaps only acute primary dementia, which is usually merely temporary, but which may easily grow serious and even become permanent." The theory had occurred to me. and 1 saw from the expression of Mr. itoyce s rare that he also hail thought of it. "Is there no way that we can make wire?" he asked. "She may need to he waved from herself." "She may need it very hadly," agreed the doetor. nodding. "Vet she Is of legal age and absolute mistress of her actions. There are no relatives to in terfere. no Intimate friends even that I know of. l see no way uulcss you, as her legal adviser, apply to the authorities for an iuijuest of iunaey." But Mr. Koyee made an Instant gesture of repugnance. "Oh. that's absurd!" lie cried. "AVe have no possible reason to take sucli action, rt would offend her mortally." "No doubt," assented the other. "So i fear that at present nothing can be done. Tilings will Just have to take their course till something more tie .cided happens." "There's no tendency to mental disease In the family?" Inquired Mr. Jtoyce after a moment. "Not the slightest." said the doctor 4-niplmtlcAlly. "Her father and mother were both sound nnd well balanced. I know the history of the family through three generations, and there's no hint nf any taint. Twenty-flve years ago Tlollnday. who was then Just working i<> me rnp in >vnu mreet, cirove Himself too hard?it was when the market went tall to pieces over that Central Pacific ileal- and had a touch of apoplexy. It was just m touch, but I made him take a long vacation, which he spent abroad with bis wife. It was then, by the way, that his daughter was born. Since ihon he lias been careful, and has never beeu bothered with a recurrence of the trouble--lu fact, that'a the only illnes^ tu the least serloua I es-er knew bliu ' to have." Tbero wai nothing wore to he wild, aud we turned to go. "If there are any farther developments," added the doctor as he opened the door, "win \ %Ml may count upon me if I can be of auy assistance." "Certainly." answered onr Junior. "You're very kind, air," and we went back to our cab. The week that followed waa a perplexing one for. noe and a miserable one for Royce. Aa I know now, he bad written her hulf a dozen times and had received not a single word of auawer. For myself. I had discovered one more development of the mystery. Ou the day following the delivery of the money I had glnuced. aa usual, through tha tinnnclul column of my paper as I rode home on the car. and one item had attracted my attention, lite brokerage Ann of Swift ?tt Currer bad that day prevented nt the subtreasury the sunt of $lOo in currency for converalon into gold. An inquiry nt their offlco next morning elicited tlte fact that the exchange had been effected for the account of Miss Frances Hollnday. It wss done, of course, that the recipient of the money might remain beyond trace of the police. CHAPTER IX. OCR regular work at the office Just at tintt time happened to be unusually heavy and trying. The Rrown Injunction -utt, while not greatly attracting public attention. Involved jtolnts of such ulcctj- and affected interests so widespread that the whole bar of New York was watching It. The Html substitution case was more spectacular and appealed to the press with peculiar force, sluce one of the principal victims had been the "ldest son of Preston Mcl.andberg. the veteran managing editor of the Record, and the bringing of the suit impugned the honor of Ids family. Rut it is still too fresh In the public mind to need recapitulation bore, even were It connected with this story. The Incessant strain told upon both our partners and even u|>on nte, so that I returned to my rooms after dinner one evening determined to go early to bed. But I had scarcely donned my house <'oat, settled lu my chair and got my pipe to golug when there came a tap nt the door. "Come In." I called, thinking it was Mrs. Fitch, my landlady, and too weary to get up. But It was not Mrs. Fitch's pals countenance, with Its crown of gray I IihIt, which Appeared In the doorway; It was n rotund and exceedingly florid visage. "You will pardon ine, sir," began a resonant voice, which I instantly remembered, even before the abort, square figure stepped over the threshold Into the full light, "but I have Just discovered that I hare no match with which to Ignite my gae. If I might from you borrow one"? "Help yourself," I said, and held out to him my case, which was lying on the table at my elbow. "You are very good," he said, and me more distinctly, he tittered a little exclamation of surprise. "Ah, it Is Mistnir"? "Lester," I added, seeing that be hesitated. "It is a great pleasure," he was saying as he took the matches; a "great good fortune which brought nte to this house, so ioneiy one grows at time*? and then, I greatly desire some ad lee. If you would have the leisure"? "Certainly." and I waved toward n chair. "Sit down." "In one moment." he said. "You will pardon me," and he disappeared through the doorway. He was back almost at once with a , handful of cigarettes, which he placed f on the table. Then he drew up n chair. I With a little deprecatory ge-Uuro he | used one of my matches to light a , cigarette. "It was truly for the gas." he said, catching my smile, "and the gns for Ibc cigarette!" Tberb was something fascinating about the man?an air of good humor, of comradeship, of strength of purpose. My eyes were caught by his stodgy, nervous hands ns he held the "."" 'i ?" urn ngiireup. I IH'II tliey ! "MV name it MartiQny?Jntper Afar- I < tignv" , wandered to hta face, to the black , hair flecked here and there with gray, j to the bright, deep aet eyes, ambushed j under heavy brows; to the full llpe, 4 which the carefully arranged rauatacbe < did not at all conceal; to the projecting chin, with its little plnme of au im- < perlal ? a atrong face and a not un- > handsome one, with a certain look of t uoaatery about It. 1 "It is truo that I need advice," he < was saying as he slowly exhaled a 1 great puff oi smoke which htf bod f drawn deep Into his lungs. "My name C Is MortlgnyWosper Marti guy''?I nod- s ded by way of salutation?"and I am y fims turop loug sluce suspected. It is my desire to become u cltlren of Amer-rlcV "How long have you beeu living lu America?" I asked. "Rirce two mouth* only. It Is my Intcntlou to establish hero a business In wines." "Well." I explained, "you ran take no steps toward naturalisation for three years. Then you go before a court and make a declaration of your Intentions. Two yeara later you will get your papers." "You mean," he hesitated, "that It takes so many years"? "Five years' actual residence -yes." "Hut." and he hesitated again, "I had understood that?that"? "That It was easier? There are Illegal ways, of course, but you ran scarcely expect nie to advise you concerning tliein, Mr. Mnrtlgny." "No. Of course, uo'.** lie cried hastily. waving his hand In disclaimer. "I did not know?It makes nothing to in* ?I will wait?I wish to obey the Inws." He picked up a fresh cigarette, lit It frotu the other and tossed away th? end. "Will you not try one?" ho naked seeiug that my pipe wna finished, an<3 I presently found myself enjoying tlx host cigarette I had ever smoked. "Ym comprehend French?no?" "Not well enough to enjoy It," I said "I am sorry. I believe you wouh! like Ibis book which I am reading.' and he pulled a somewhat tattered volume from his pocket. "I have rea<3 It, oh, ver' many times, as well as al the others, though this, of course, 1< the masterpiece." He held it so that I could see tlx title. It was "Monsieur Lecoq." "1 have read It lu Kngllab," I said. "And did you not like It?yes? 1 an ver' fond of stories of detection. Tha Is why 1 was so absorbed lu that af fair of Mees -Mees?nh, I have forgot ten! Your names are so difficult fm me." "Miss Holladay," I said. "All, .ves. And has that mygter: over arrived at a solution?" ? "No." I said. "Unfortunately w? haven't any M. Lecoqs on our detectlvi force." "Ab, no." he smiled. "And the younj lady?In her I conceived a great Inter est, even though I did not see her How Is she'/" "The shock was a little too much foi her," I said. "She's gone out to hei country place to rest. She'll soon bt nil right again, I hope." He had taken a third cigarette ami wai lighting It carelessly with hla faci half turned away from ine. I noticed how flushed Ids neck was. "Oil, undoubtedly." he agreed after a moment; "at least I should be inoat sad to think otherwise. Bpt It is late; I perceive that you are weary; I thank rou for your kindness." * "Not at all," I protested. "I hope . nn'll come In whenever Ton f?*l 7" "A thousand thanks! 1 shall avail uyself of your Invitation. My apartment ia just across the hall," he added ?a I opened the door. "I trust to see rou there." "You shall." I Mid heartily, aad bade dm good night In the week that followed I saw a food deal of Martlgny. I would meet dm on the stairs or In the hall. He :amo again to see inc. and I returned ids visit two nights later, upon which Dccnslon he produced two hottlea of Chateau Yqueni of n delicacy beyond all prnise. And I grew more ami more to like hlua. He told me many stories af Paris, whleb, It seemed, had always been hla home, with a wit to which bis slight accent and formal utterance fave new point; he displayed a kindly Interest In my plana which was very pleasing; he wgs ulwnyf tactful, courteous, good humored. He was plainly a boulevnrdler, a man of the world, with an outlook upon life a little startling In Its materiality, hut Interesting In Its freshness nn 1 ?!-1- ? . V.V UVV 1|UIU|C| nilU U'ttl, he added, Hitting In my room ono evening; "It Is necessary for me that 1 take life easily. I have n weakness of the heart, which h?B already given me much trouble. Besides, I have yonr companionship, which is most welcome, and for which I thauk you. 1 trust Meee?Mees?what you call?Holladay Is again well." "We haven't heard from her," I said. "8he is still at her place in the conntry." "Oh, she is doubtless well?in her I take such an Interest?you will parSon me If I weary you." "Weary me? But you dou't!" "Then I will make bold to ask you? have you made any?what you calltheory of tho crime?" "No," I answered?"that Is, none beyond what was In the newspapers?the (legitimate daughter theory. I suppose rou saw it. That seems to fit the caas." He nodded meditatively. "Yet I like o Imagine how M. Lecoq would ap >1 imcu u. wouja ne neiiove it was a -nurder alinply !>ecause it ?o appeared? Flas It occurred to you that Mees Ifol aday truly might bare visited her faher and that his death was uot a rnyrler at all. but an accident?" "An accident?" I repeated. "How xmld It be an accident? How could a nan be stabbed accidentally la the >eck? Bee Idea, even If It were am accident, how would that explain bis laughter's rashing from the building eltbeut trying to him, without flvlng the alarm? U it wssat a purler, vuy should the 1 There's always ? tent men ? but th< j We want a man in [ i find him we will r \ him to push our s Saturday Evenin< i | THE CURTIS PUI 1 PHILADE l i 797 Cherry Strec | "AH that jou My Is ver' truo," he aald "It shows that you have given to thi rase murli thought. I believe that yoi aim have a fondness for crimes o 1 mystery." and he smiled at me. "Is i not so, Mlstalr Lester?" *'I had never suspected It," I laughed ' "until tills case came up, but the ml crobe seems to bare bitten me." 9 "Ah, yes," be said doubtfully, no 9 quite understanding. "And I've rather fancied at times," admitted, "that I should like to take i hand at solving it?though, of course, I never shall. Our connection with th case Is qpded." r He shot me a quick glance, thei r lighted another cigarette. "Suppose it were assigned to you t solve It," he asked, "how would yoi ' set about It?" ' "I'd try to find the mysterious wo ' man." "But the police, so I understand, at 1 tempted that and failed." he objected : "How could you succeed?" "Oh, I dare say I shouldn't succeed,' I laughed, his air striking me as a Utti< more earnest than the occasion de ' mauded. "I should probably fall, Jua ACS 4lu> polloo <114." "In France," he remarked, "it it not In the least expected that men o: the law should"? ?u> e intrusted to the police." "It Is also the fault of our police tlia it Is too fond of the newspapers, o posing before the public. It is a faul i of human nature, Is It not?" I "You speak English so well, Mr ' Martlgny," I said, "that I have won dered where you learned It." J "I was some years in England?thi 1 business of wine?and devoted mysel 1 seriously to the study of the language But I still find It sometimes very dlffl cult to understand you Americanayou speak so much more rapidly thai the English and so much less distinct ]y. You hove a way of running you words together, of dropping whole eyl lables"? "Yes," 1 smiled, "and that Is the ver, thing we complain of In tho French." "Oh, our elisions are governed b; well defined laws which each one com prebends, while here"? "Every man Is a law unto hlmsell Remember It is the land of the free"? "And the home of the license, Is 1 Mui i ne auaeu, unconscious of Irony. Yes, I decided, I was Tery fortnnat In gaining Mnrtigny's acquaintance Of course after be opened bis busines ho would have less time to devote t me. but nevertheless wo should huv Vnauy pleasant evenings together, an< I looked forward to them with consld erable anticipation. He was Interest Ing In himself?entertaining, with tha large tolerance and good humor wbic! I have already mentioned and whlcl was one of the most striking character istlcs of the man. And then?shall admit It7?I was lonely, too, som? times, as I suppose every bacbelo roust he, and I welcomed a companlor ?* It was Monday, the fourteenth daj of April, and we had just opened th< office, when a clerk hurried in with ( message for Mr. Royce. "There's a man out here who wanti to sec you at once, sir," he said. "H< snya his name's Thompson and thai he's Miss Frances Ilolladay's butler." Our Junior half started from his chali In hla excitement; then he controlled himself and sank back Into It again. "Show him in," ho said, and aat wlti I bis eyes on the door, haggard lu ap pearance, pitiful In his eagerness. No! until that moment had I noticed taov the past week had aged him aud wore him down. Ills work of course might | account for part of It, but not fqr all lie seemed almost HI. The door opened In a moment and a gray haired man of about slxtv en tered. lie vu fairly gasping foi breath and plainly laboring undei trong emotion. "Well, Thompson." demanded Mr. Hope*. "wbatfe the trouble now?" "Trouble wioagh, slrl" cried the other. uMy mistress bee been m*d? a way with. air. She left town Juel l&a Ca/a ofo Un SMr. wtMe a* ???M????? I ipetent i [en >le a matter as shoe >otblack in a hundred e shoes properly. In ordinary shine looks h. rood wages for compeey are hard to find. this town ? when we ? . < /* naKe it prohtable tor elling system for The 5 Post. JLISHING COMPANY iLPHIA, PA. i. I I were all waiting Tor her. ami nooody | lias set eyes on lier since, sir." J CHAPTER X. t II y|li. ItOYCE grasped the arms |\ /I of his chair convulsively, and lt I yX ren,a'no<^ 'or a moment |. speechless under the shock. Then he swung around toward me. t "Come here, Lester," he said hoarsely. "I needed you once before, and I I need you now. This touches me so u closely I can't thluk eousecutively. I You will help, won't you?" 0 There was an appeal In his face which showed his sudden weakness? u an appeal there was no resisting, even had I not myself been deeply Interest? ed In the case. u "Gladly," I answered from the depths of my heart, seeing how overwrought he was. "I'll help to the very limit of my power, Mr. Royce." He sank back Into his chair again and breathed a long sigh. "I knew you would," he said. "Get >? the story from Thompson, will you?" R I brought a chair and sat down by the old butler. | 1 "You have been In Mr. Holladay's #Amll?V A i UtuiiK H KICUL UJUUJ JVUIB, llttveu I B you, _Mr. Thompson?" I asked to giro f him opportunity to compose himself. | "Yes, a great many years, sir?nearly forty, I should say." ! "Before Miss Holladay's birth, then I" r "Ob, yes, sir; long before. Just be. j fore his marriage Mr. Holladay bought the Fifth avenue house he lived in ever t | since, and I was employed then, sir, f as an underservaiit." t "Mr. Holladay and his wife were very happy together, weren't they?" 1 questioned. ) "Very happy; yes, sir. They were just like lovers, sir, until her death. # They seemed Just made for each other, f sir." and the trite old saying gathered 1a new dignity as he uttered it. I paused a moment to consider. This, ? certainly, seemed to discredit the theoa ry that Holladay had ever had a liaison with any other woman, and yet what r other theory was tenable? I_ "There was nothing to mar their happiness that you know of? Of course," ? I added, "you understand, Thompson, that I'm not asking these questions from Idle curiosity, but to get to the k bottom of this mystery if possible." " I "I understand, sir," he nodded. "No, , there was nothing to mar their happiness?except one thing." t "And what was that?" "Why, they had no children, sir, for e fifteen years and more. After Miss , Frances came, of course that was all - changed." Q "8he was born abroad?" e I "Yes, sir; in France. I don't Just d know the town." , ! x>m you kuow tne date or her J birth?" "Oh, yes, sir?the 10th of June, 1870, h We always celebrated It.'? h [TO BE CONTINUED.] * Following Instruction*. r "Is your mother at home, little boy?" ( ''That depends on whether yon ere Mrs. Jones or Mrs. Brown." 3 Harmonious. j "The house Is furnished In antique." "To match the bride?" I :Hnf] :l H TBI "BOSS" COTTON PUSS! MnUT, STR0N8CST. MST Tm Muwiunr Oinniwo flversn OtaiUMACIIINKRT CO. Catttnkll. S. C. > haHMMaaBMP s-v ?? ? 1 Union & Glenn Springs Railroad Co. rime Table Effective Aug*. 1, 1005. Leave Union 7. a. m. 1.00, 4.00 and 18.10 p. m. Arrive Buffalo 7.15 a. m. 1.15, 4.16 and 18.25 p. m. Leeve Buffalo 8.15 a. in. 1.45, 5.00 and 18.30 p. m. Arrive Union 8.30 a. m. 2.00, 6.15 and 18.45 p. m. Leave Union 9.00 a. m. and 6.25 p. m. Pass Neal Shoals 9.50 a m. and 8.10 p. in. Arrive Pride 10.15 a. m. and 6.35 p. in. Leave Pride 10.35 a. m. and 0.50 p. ni. Pass Neal Shoals 11.00 a. m. and 7.10 p.m. Arrive Union 11.50 a. m. and 8.00 p. in. aii trains daily unless otherwise noted. Week days only. X Saturdays and Sundays only. Connection made at Pride with Seaboard Air Line through trains Sooth bound in the morning and North bound in the evening. Interchangeable mileage sold by the Seaboard Air Line will be honored by the U. . Requests for information chevrful'y lowered. J. F_ Van Rejwdaer. ? OftlCflll .lyeUt !24 Peachl e d*.. t O Bean, T P. A. Atlanta.