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t XShe f Holladi l Co.re Mi^w* w V|/?* wVU"" ?A "Mr. tionnaay was with his wii^e at v' the time?" ' f< "Yes, sir. He nml liis wife had been 'J abroad nearly a year. His health had H broken down, and the doctor made him 'I take n long vacation. lie came home ^ a few months later, but Mrs. Holla- 8 day stayed on. She didn't get strong again, some way. She stayed nearly v four years, and he went over every few months to spend a wees with her, and lit Inst slip linnin In '11 ? 'bringing her child with her. That was J the first time any of us ever saw Miss Prances." s' "Mr. Ilolludny thought n great deal 11 of her?" "You may well say so. sir. She took |!< his wife's place," said the old man -v simply. "And she thought a great deal of 1 him?" a "More than that, sir. She fairly wor- 11 shlped him. She was always at the " door to meet him; always dined with ' ( him; they almost always spent their " evenings together. She didn't care much ^ for society. I've often heard her tell ^ him that she'd much rather just stay ^ it home with him. It was he who . rather insisted on her going out, for he was proud of her, as he'd a right to be." J' "Yes," I ITild, for all this fitted In ^ exactly with what I had always heard t about the family. "There were no other relatives, were there?" ((1 "None at nil, sir. Both Mr. Holla- pj day and his wife wore only children. Their parents, of course, have been j0 f.oad for years." "Nor any intimate friends?" "Nhne I'd call intimate, sir. Miss IlV?n/>na llfl.l anma anl.^nl *..l 1~ ? ? OI - ? v >IUU O.ZIIIV nvilUiil LI U UV19, UUl plie was always?well?reserved, sir." "Yes," I nodded ngiln. "And now," ^ I added, "tell me, as fully as you can, what has happened within the last , three weeks." . ( "Well, sir," he began slowly, "after Rj her father's death she seemed quite i Istroeted for awhile?wandered about t0 the house, sat in the library of even- ( lags, ate scarcely nny.hiug Then Mr. , lio; to gm .o co.. iiig o iho ho..se, an J ; cl.e brightened up, and we a'.l hoped i f? she'd soon be all right again. Then she i J* eeeme.I t<? get worse ot' a sudden and r.c'nt r 1 r. i away to get Belatr ready. I go! the pl;i o in order, sir, and tele- nl graphed her that we were re.uly. f>ho enr .' ere I thai >>h ?'d come hi a few ; days. Tea days r.gi the red of the servants cause, and 1 !o .ko.i for her : Ul every day, I ut she di.'.n'i conn. I telegraphed her again, but alio didn't an- | sever, and ih.a'ly 1 got so uneasy, sir, | I couldn't ro t, and came hack to the , city to see what was the matter. I got hero early this morning and went light to the lion e. Thomas, the second butler, had been left in charge. ?c and lie tolcl me that Ml^s Frances and .l her ma Id her started for Belair the , same day the servants did. That's all I know." m "Then phe's been gone ten days?" I jQ questioned. "Ten days; yet, sir.'* Ten days! What might not have happened In that time! Dr. Jenkins m's Jj x theory o:' dementia recti re l to me, and I was more than o.er in- lined to eve lit # It. How elao explain this fight? 1 ~ JT coul l : qp from Mr. Ito.vco's face how * Absolutely nonp'u ed be was. "Well." I ::I(1 a: ! i -r. far want of " some'. Ling bctlcr, "we ll go with you t the Louse find pee the mini In charge there, l'erltnps be can tell us sonic> thing more." But be could tell us very little. Ten *?. days before a carriage bad driven up to the door. Miss Holluduy and her uial.l had euve/ed it and been driven nway. The carriage had been called, lie thought, from some neighboring " stable, as the family coachman lind , l?een sent away with the other sownuts. Tliey hnd driven down the nve- Pc uue toward Thirty-fourth street, where lie supposed they were going to ^1 the Long Islnud station. We looked tu through the house; It was In perfect w order. Miss Holladny's rooms were J" just as she would naturally have left them. Iler father's rooms, too, were evidently undisturbed. "Here's one thing." I said, "that might help," and I picked up a photo- hi graph from the mantel. "You won't el mind my using It?" to Mr. Royce took it with trembling fa hand nnd gazed at it for n moment? hi at the dark eyes, the earnest mouth. d< Then ho handed It back to 111c. ci "No," be answered, "not If It will really help. We must nse every means ly we can. Only"? hi "I won't use Ii unless I absolutely al hare to," I assured him. "And when or I'm done with It I'll destroy It." "Very well," he assented, and I put sl< it In my pocket. H There was nothing more to bo dls- ai > covered there, nnd we went away, aft- m er warning the two men to say not a r word to any one concerning their mis- in tress* dtsappeamnce. d< Plainly the first thing to be done was to find the coachman who had e<l driven Miss HoIIadny and her maid ni away from the house, and with this ai end In view we visited all the stables h< In the neighborhood, but from none of them had a carriage been ordered by H her. Had she ordered It herself from a stable in some distant portion of the w clt^r for the purpose of concealing hor st f-'K * W A Mystery J Continents ^ air z 1 BURTON E. STEVENSON T ^ Ccpyrighf, 1903, by 1 Henry Holt end \ Company ? hereabouts. or had It been ordered >r her by her maid, and was she rcalr the victim of foul play? I put this uostlou to Mr. Koj'ce, tint ho seemed ulte uualrte to reach a conclusion. As >r myself, I was certain that she had | one away of her own accord and had ellberately planned her disappearance. Thy? Well, I began to su.rpeet that e had not yet really touched the bot>m of the mystery. We drove hack to t':e otllce and found ir. Graham tliere. 1 related to him io eircuinstances of our search and ibmltted to 1dm and to our junto'* o ie iie.stlon for Immediate settlement. "At the best, it's a de icato ease." I Dinted out. "Miss Holainy h.i: plain' laid her plans very carefully to promt us following her. It may be difcult to prove that she has not gam way entirely of her own accord. She srtainly has a p rfect riglit to g> lierover she wishes without eousultig us. Have we the right to fotlow ?r against her evident desire?" For a moment Mr. Graham did not ubwor, but sat tapping hi; desk with lat deep line of perplexity between Is eyebrows. Then ho nodded ommtlcnlly. "It's our duty to follow her and And sr," he said. "It's perfectly evident > me that no girl in her right mind ould net as she has done. She had no >ason whatever for deceiving us?lor mning away. Wc wouldn't have in rfered with her. Jonklnsou's right? le's suffering with dementia. Wo ust see that she receives proper medal treatment." "It might not be dementia," I sug^sted, "so much as undue influence? i the part of the new mahl, perhaps." "Then it's our duty to rescue her oni that influence," rejoined Mr. Graini, "and restore her to her normal entnlity." "Even if we offend her?" "We can't stop to think qJ" that. Bodes, she won't'be offended when she ones to herself. The question is how i find her most speedily." "The police, probably, could do it ost speedily," I said, "but since she in lie In no Immediate danger of any nd I rather doubt whether it would 5 wise to call in the police. Miss olladay would very properly resent ly more publicity"? "But," objected Mr. Graham, "if we rat call lu the police, how are we to id her? I recognize, of course, how idesirnble It la that she should he ibjceted to any further notoriety, but there any other way?" I glanced at Mr. Royce and saw that ? was seemingly sunk in apathy. "If I could he excused from the flee for a few days, sir." I began isitatingly, "I might lie uble to (bid une trace of her. If I'm unsuccessd, we might then call in the authorLea." Mr. Royce brightened up for a moent. "That's it," he said. "Let Lester ok into it." "Very well," assented Mr. (Jraham. [ agree to that. Of course any exrase you may incur will he borne by 1 ie o tiled." / "Thank you, sir," and I rose witli 1 i3t beating heart, for the adventure tpealcd to me strougly. "I'll begin , ; once then. I should like assistance one thing. Could you Jet me have ree or four clerks to visit the vaous stables of the city? it would > best, I think, to use our own people." "Certainly," assented our senior iuautly. "I'll call them In and we can ve them their instructions at once." Bo four clerks were summoned, and icli was giveu a district of the city, heir instructions were to find from bleb stable Miss Holladay had or>red a carriage on the morning of tiursday, April 3. They were to re rt nt tu<? otnce every day, noon nud 'enlug, until the search was finished, hey started away nt once, and 1 ivued to follow .then), when my eye as caught by the expression of our inior's face. "Mr. Itoyee is ill, sir!" I cried. "Look ; him!" He was leanlug forward heavily, iiis ce drawn and livid, his e3*es set, his inds plucking nt the arms of his lair. We sprang to him and led him > a coucli. I bathed his hands and ice in cold water, while Mr. Ctrabnm irrlediy summoned ft physician. The >ctor soon arrived and diagnosed the ise at a glance. "Nervous breakdown," he said terse- J . "You lawyers drive yourselves too trd. It's a wonder to u>e you don't 1 drop over. We'll have to look out this will end iu brnlu fever." He poured out u stimulant, which the rk man swallowed without protest, e seemed stronger in a few moments )d began talking incoherently to hintIf. We got him down to the doctor's irrlage and drove rapidly to ids. lodggs, where wfc put him to bed without -illj. "I think he'll pull through," obaerv- ! 1 the doctor after watching him for vbile. "I'll get a couple of nurses, id we'll give him every chance. Ilns ? any relatives here in New York?" "No; hla relatives are all in Ohio, ad they better be notified?" "Oh, I think not?not unless be gets orse. lie seems to bo naturally rong. I suppose he's been worrying ass -i" uliout something?" "Yes," I sai?l. "He has been greatly worried by one of bis eases," "Of course," he nodded. "If the human race had sense enough to stop worrying there'd be mighty little work for us doctors." "I'd like to call I)r. .Tenkiusou Into the ease," I said. "lie knows Mr. Iloyee and may be of help." "Certainly. I'll bo glad to consult with I)r. Jeukinsou." So Jeukinson was called nnd -continued the diagnosis. lie understood, of course, the cause of Mr. Iloycc's breakdown and turned to me when tlio consultation was ended nnd bis colleague had taken I1I3 departure. "Mr. Lester," he said, "I advise you to go home nnd get some rest. Put this ease out of your mind or you'll be right where Mr. Itoyce Is. lie had some more bad news, I suppose?" I told him of Miss Ilolladay's disappearance. lie poudered over It a moment with grave face. "11 lis strengthens m.v belief that she is suffering with dementia," be said. H'c sprung to him ami led him to a c<ntch. "Sudden aversion to relatives auil friends is one of its most common symptoms. Of course she must be found." "I'm going to find lietv" I assured him. with perhaps a little more confidence lhan I really felt. "Well, remember to call on me If 1 can help you. But, first of all, go home and sleet) for ten hours?twelve, If you can. Mind, no work before that ?no building of theories. You'll he so much the fresher tomorrow." I recognized the wisdom of this advice, but I had one thing to do first.. I took n cab aud drove to the nearest telegraph olflee. There I sent an lui- * perntlvo message to Brooks, the Holladay coachman, telling him to return to New York by the first tmiu and report to me at the otlice. That done, I gave the driver my address nud set tied back iu the seat. No building of theories, Jenkinsou had said; yet it was difficult to keep the brain Idle. Where was Frances , Ilollnday? Why had she fled? Was she really mentally deranged? Had the weight of the secret proved too great for her? Or had she merely fallen under the influence of the woman who was guilty? Supposing she was Insane, what should we do with her when wo found her? How could we control her? And, supposing she were not Insane, what legal right had ] we to Interfere with her? These and a hundred other questions crowded upon ] me till thought failed nnd I lay back confused, Indifferent. "Here we arc. sir," said the driver, ] jumping down from his seat and Jerking open the door. 1 paid him and went stumbling up the steps. I have no doubt be wa? grinning behind me. As I fumbled with my key some oho opened the door from the inside. "Why, Mistnir Lester!" exclaimed Martigny's voice. "What Is it? You have no Illness, I hope!" "No," I murmured, "I'm just dead tired," nnd I started blindly for the sinir. | ] "Let me assist you," and he took my arm mul helped me up, then went on | ahead, opened my door and lighted the ( gas. 1 "Thahlcs," I said as I dropped Into a , ehair. . i , He sat quietly down opposite me, I ( and, weary as I was, I was conscious J , of his keen eyes upon mo. "We heard from Miss Ilolladay this ' , morning." 1 remarked, unconsciously . . nuswering their question. I | lie did not reply for a moment, but j I had closed my eyes again, and I was too tired to open them and look at him. . I "All!" he said in 'a voice a little ( hoarse. "And she is well?" "So. She's disappeared." i "You mean"? i "I mean she's run away," I said, waking up a little. "Ami she has Informed you"? ] ?Alt WnS-A Inof 1+ Al.f V/ll, U\/? ?? O 1 C JHfl 1V/UU\1 11 \/U|? J She'a been gone ton days." ; i "And you are going to aoarcb for 1 her?" he questioned carelessly, after i another pause. "Yea. I'll t>egin In the morning." i Again there was a moment's alienee. 1 "Ah!" lie said, with a curious in- i tensity. "Ah!" Then he nrose and left mo to tumble incontinently into bed. ' i CHAPTER XI. TIRED nature asserted herself and took the full twelve hours, but I felt like another man when I left the house next morning, and I was eager to grapple ano\v witt^ the mystery. 1 found two ( reports awaiting me nt tlio oltlec. Mr. ltoyee b:ul passed a good niglit anil was better; the clerks who bail spent the afternoon before in visiting the Btables hail as yet discovered nothing, nud vjrtce continuing their search. I I^vCied up a time curd of the Long Islaf?"jvrailrond and found that Miss J IIo laiTny's coachman could not reach the city until 0:30; so I put cn n<y hat j ngaiu. sought a secluded table nt Wal- ' lack's, and over a cigar and stein of bock drew up u resume of the ease? to clear the atmosphere, as It were. It ran something like this: March 13? Thursday. ? Itolladay found murdered; daughter drives to Washington square. March 14, Friday.?Coroner's inquest: Miss Holladay released; mysterious note received. i March IS, Si<nday.?Holladay burled. March IS, Tuesday.?Will opened and probe, ted. March 2S. Friday.?Miss Holladay returns from drive, bringing row maid with her and discharges old one. March 39, Saturday.?Gives orders to open summer house. Aprli 1, Tuesday.?Asks for 5100,000. Aprl. 2. Wednesday.?Gets it. April 8, Thursday.?Leaves home, ostensibly for Belalr, In company with new maid. April 14. Monday.?Butler reports her disappearance; Royce taken 111; I begin my search. There I stopped. The lust entry brought me up to date. There was 1 nothing more to add. But It .seemed impossible that all the developments of this mystery should have taken only n month, l'or years, as it seemed to me, I had 1 bought of nothing else. I looked over tlio schedule again carefully. There was only one opening that 1 could see where it was possible 1 t> begin work with the hope of accomplishing anything. That was in (lie very first entry. Miss Ilolhulay had driven to Washington square; she had. I felt certain, visited her sister; 1 must discover the lodging of this woman. Perhaps l should also discover Frances Holladay there. In any event, I should i have a new point to work from. The police lmd been over dm ground, I knew. They had exhausted every re- < source hi the effort to locate Mr. Hoi- 1 laday's mysterious visitor and had I found not n trace of her. But that fact did not discourage me, for I hoped to start my search with Information which the police had not possessed. Brooks, the coachman, should he able lo tell mo? Uncalled suddenly to remembrance of him, I looked at my watch and saw that it was past his hour. I was pleas e? to una nun awaiting me when 1 opened the otllce door three minutes later. I had only n few questions to ask him. "When your mlstres4 left the carriage the day you drove h?.r to Wash- , ingcon cquare did you notice which street she took after she left the i square?" "Yes. sir; she went on down West Broadway." "On which side?" , "Th' left hand side, sir; th' eusl side." i "She must have crossed the street to , get to that side." "Yes, sir; she did. I noticed pertle'lar, for I thought it funny she shouldn't *ve let me drive hoi* on down th' street to wherever she was goln*. , 11*3 a dirty place along there, sir." "Yes, 1 know. When you drove her ] out on the 2Sili?the day site brought bneli the maid?where did she go?" J "To Washington square again, sir." "And left you waiting for her?" "Yes, sir; Just th' same." "And went down the same street?" J "Yes, sir; crossed to th' east side Just th' same as th' time before." "How long was she gone?" "Over au hour, sir; an hour an' a ' half, I r-lionUl say." "I>id you notice anything uuusual In * lier appearance when she came back?" ' "No, sir; she was woarin' a heavy veil. She had th' other woman with ' tier, an' she just said 'Home!' in a kind ' o' hoarse voice as I helped them into th' carriage." 1 That was all that he eoukl tell me, 1 and yet I felt that it would help me 1 greatly. In the first place, it narrowed 1 my investigations to the district lying lo the east of West Broadway, and I > knew that the I'rench quarter extended i rm 1 v n Kln<>L* fu'A it* 1 And, again. It gave me a point to insist en iu my Inquiries?I knew the date upon which the mysterious woman h:ul loft her lodging, or. at lea t. I knew Hint it must he one of two dates. The lodging had been vacated, then, either >u the 2#th of March or the it. of Apr 1. As n last resource I had the photograph. I was ready to begin my search nud dismissed Brooks, warning him 10 ?ny nothing to any one about the mystery. As I passed out the door to the pavement I happened to glance across the way, and there, iu the crowd of brokers who always line the street, 1 perceived Martigny. He was listening intently to one of the brokers, who was talking earnestly in ids ear?telling liim how to make his fortune, 1 suppose?and did not see me. For an Instant I was tempted to cross to him and get him out of danger. Then I smiled at the absurdity of the thought. It would take a clever innu to fleece Martigny, and I recalled his strong face, his masterful air. lie was no fo >1, no lamb ready for the shears. lie was perfectly able to look out for himself? to wield the shears with power and effect, if need be. I turned west toward Broadway, still, I suppose, thinking of him suhr>tm<l(<lniwlv f?^l* n fiitw mnnio.itj some Irreslstlblo Impulse caused me f to glance around, and there ho was 1 walking after me on the opposite side * of tliP street! Then In a flash 1 tin- ' ilerstood. He was following me! ' It Is difficult to describe the shock that ran through ine, that left me nttml>cd and helpless. For an lustnnt [ stumbled on, half dazed; then grnd- ' ually my self control came back and j with It a certain fierce Joy, a hot extil- ' tatlon. Here at last was something 1 lofiLalt?? tam^Je. a clew ready to u?y 1 iiand. If only I were clever enough to folio?.* It up; h ray of light 111 the darkness. I con Id feci my checks burning and my heart lenpiug at the thought. Hut what had been his part In the affair? For a moment I > roped blindly in the dark, but only fur a moment. Whatever liis shire in the tragedy, ho had plainly been left behind to watch m; to make su < t'r.r.t wu did not fol- I low the fugltlv . ; to warn them In ease of danger. 1 understood now his solicitude for Miss llolladay?"in her I take such an interest!" It was liu- j portant that he should know the mo- i mcnt we discovered her absence. And he had known; ho knew that I was even at this moment commencing the search for her. My checks reddened at the thought of my indlscreotiieas; yet he was a man to command confidence. Who would have suspected him? And an old proverb which lie had repeated one evening flashed through my mind. "Silly is the sheep who to the wolf herself confesses." I hod l mo slot ml I* witli Hint painful lltcrnlness characteristic of the beginner. Well. I had been the sheep and silly enough, heaven knows! I had reached Broadway, and at the corner I paused to look at a display of men's furnishings In a window. Far down the street on the other side, almost lo-;t In tlie hurrying crowd. Martigny was buying a paper of a uewsboy. He shook it out and looked quickly up and down its columns, like a man who is searching for some special Item of news. Perhaps be was a speculator: perhaps, after all. I was do. reiving myself in imagining that he was following me. I had no proof of it: it was the most natural thing in the world that he should he in this part of ilie town. I must test the theory liefore accepting it. It was time I grew wary of theories. I entered the store anil spent ten minutes looking at some neeklies. When I came out again Mnrtigny was lust getting down from a bootblack's chair across the street. II is back was toward mo, and I watched him get out Ids little purse and drop a dime into the bootblack's band. I went on up Broadway, loitering sometimes, sometimes walking straight ahead; always, away behind me, lost in the crowd, was my pursuer. It could no longer be doubted. lie was really following 1110, though lie did it so adroitly, with such consummate cunning, that I should never have seen him, never have suspected hint, hut for that fortunate intuition at the start. A hundred plans flashed through my brain. I had this advantage?he could not know that 1 suspected him. If I could only overmaster liim in emitting, wrest his secret from him-and then, as I remembered the strong face, the piercing eyes,- the perfect self control. I realized how little possible it was lliat I could accomplish tills. lie was my auusxJqr in diplomacy and deceit; (h? would not pause to assure the success of ht* Ye*, I could doubt no longer that there was a plot, whose depths 1 had not before even suspected, and I drew back from the thought with a little shiver. What was the plot? What intricate, dreadful crime was this which be was planning? The murder of the father, then, had been only the first stop. The abduction of Frances llolladav was tho second. What would the third be? IIow could we prerent his tekiug it V Suppose we should je unsuccessful? And, candidly. tvImt chance of success could wo have, lightng in the dark against this nccomJllshed scoundrel? lie had tho threads ill in his fingers; lie controlled the dtuation; we were struggling blindly, marled in a net of mystery from which there seemed n> escaping. My magination clothed him tvitih superhuman attributes. For a moment a wild desire possessed me to turn upon Him, to confront him, to accuse him, Lo confound him with the voty certainty of my knowledge, to surprise his secret, to trample him down! But the fr"U7.y passed. No, he must not discover that 1 suspected him. I must not, yield up that advantage. I might yet surprise him. mislead him, ?et a trap for him, get him t > say mo v than lie wished to say. That battle of wits would come later o.i this very ilght perhaps? but for lite moment I could 110 nothing better than carry out my first plan, yet be must not suspect he direction of my search. 1 must throw liitn off the track. Why, this was for all tho world Just like tho penny dreadfuls of my boyhood. And I suti.eil at the thought that I had become an actor in a drama fitted for a red and yellow cover! My plan was soon made. 1 crossed Broadway and turned into Cortlandt itroot, sauntering along it until the derated loomed ahead; I heard the roar )f an approaching train and stopped :o purchase some fruit at the corner itand. My pursuer was some distance tehind, closely inspecting tho brlc-a>rac in a peddler's cart. The train umblcd into the station, and. starling is though I had just perceived It, I lotmded up the stair, slammed my Icket into the chopper and dashed I r\ * - ?- " ivlv.-)o iiiu |Mi(iiwnn. Jl in* gllU I'll 111. 111*3 ear of the train held the gate open for no for nn instant ntid then clanged it diut. We were off with a Jerk. Ah 1 ooked back I saw Mnrtlgny rush out ipon the platform. lie stood staring ' ifter me for nn instant; then, with a | mdden grasping at his breast, stag- j jered and seemed to fall. A crowd closed about liim, the train whisked t around a corner, and I could see no more. Rut at any rate I was well free of liim, and I got off at Bleecker street, walked on to the square and began my search. My plan was very simple, beginning on the east side of West Broadway, It was my intention'to stop it every house nni inquire whether lodge.rs wer.o kept. Mi experience at ??f?w?^** ? ??i the lir.-l place was :i pretty fair sample <?f all the rest. A frowsy headed woman answered my knock. "Yon have rooms to lot?" I asked. "Oh, yes. monsieur," she answered, with nil expansive grin. "Step sis vuy." Wo fhounted ft dirty stair, and she threw open a door with a flourish meant to be impressive. "Zoso are ze rooms, monsieur; zoy are vcr" line." I looked around tliem with slinulated interest. smothering my disgust as well as I could. "IIow long have they been vacnut?" I asked. "Since only two days, monsieur. As you see, zoy are ver* flue rooms." That settled It. If they had been vaennt only two days, I bad no further Interest in them, and with some excuse I made my wa.v out. irlml tn from tliaL fetid atmosphere of garlic and onions. ,So I went from liouse to house, stumbling over dirty children, climbing grimy stairs,catching glimpses of crowded sweatshops, peering Into all sorts of holes called rooms by courtesy, inhaling a hundred stenches in as many minutes, gaining an Insight that sickened me into the squalid life of the quarter. Sometimes 1 began to hope that at last I was on the right track, but further Inquiry would prove my mistake. So the morning passed, and the afternoon. I had covered two blocks to no purpose, and I turned eastward to Broadway and took a car downtown to the office. My assistants had reported again?they had met with no better success than I. Mr. Graham noticed my dejected appearance and f-p ike a word of comfort. "I think you're on the right track, I.oster," he said. "But you can't hope to do much by yourself?it's too big a job. Wouldn't It be better to employ ball' a dozen private detectives and put them under your supervision? You could save yourself this nerve trying work and at the same lime gel over the ground much more rapidly. Besides, experienced men may be able to augI st something that you've overlooked." I had thought of that?I had wondered if I were making the best possible use of my opp irtunlties?and the suggestion tempted me. But something rose within me?pride, ambition, stubbornness, what you will?and 1 shook my head, determined to hang on. Besides, I had si ill before me that battie Of Wits widl M iHl"i?v I resolved to make the most of it. "Let me keep on by myself a day or two longer, sir," 1 said. "I believe I'll 'succeed yet. If I don't there will still i>e time to call iti outside help. I fancy I've made a beginning, and I want to tee what comes of it." lie shook me kindly by the band. "1 like your grit," he said approvingly, "iuul I've every confidence in you. It wasn't lack of contldenee that proini>_toJ the suggestion. Only don't -US ^ itoyce liars. He's better, by tuc wnJT but the doctor says that he must take a long vacation^? a thorough rest." I'm glad lie's better. I'll be careful," I assented, and left the ofliee. While i waited for a ear I bought a copy of the last edition of my paper, front force of lialdt more than anything, then, settling inyse'.l' in a seat si ill from force of habit?I turned to the financial column and looked it over. Tlieri? was nothing of special interest there and I turned back to the general jlews, glancing carelessly from item to Item. Mudduidy one o '.tight my eye which brought in? up with n shock. Tlio item rend: Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning a man ran up the steps of the Cortlandt street station of the Sixth avenue elevated In the effort to eatch an uptown train just putting out and dropped over on the platform with heart disease. An ambulance was called from the Hudson Street hospital and the man taken there. At noon it was said lie would recover. He was still too weak to talk, hut among oilier tliiiiEs a rani of the Cafe Jourdaln, f>l West Houston street, was found In his pockotbook. An Inquiry there developed the fact that his name Is Pierre IJethuno, that lie is recently from France and has 110 relatives in this country. Iii a moment I was out of tlio ear aiul running westward to the elevated. I felt that 1 held in my hand the address I needed. OH A PTE It XII. Fll'TY-l-'OlTt West Houston street. Just three blocks south of Washington square, was a uqirow four story and basement building of gray livlek with battered brown stone trimmings, at one time perhaps II fashionable residence, but with iis last vestige of glory long since departed. In the basement was a squalid cobbler's shop, and the restaurant occupied the lirst thior. Dirty lace curtains hung at the windows, screening the Interior from the street, but when 1 mounted the step to the door and entered 1 found the place typical of Its clnss. I sat down at one of the little square tables ami ordered a bottle of wine. It was M. dourdain himself who brought it?a little fat man, with trou Mors very tight mid u waisteoat very dazzling. The night trade had not yet begun in earnest, so he was for the moment at leisure, and ho consented to drink a glass of wine with me. 1 had ordered the "supovieur." ' You have lodgings to let, I suppose, on the floors above';" 1 questioned. lie squinted at me through his glass, trying with French shrewdness to read me before answering. "Why, yes, we have lodgings. Stlil, a man of monsieur's habit would scarcely wi If? '"the habit does not always gauge the purse," I pointed out. "That is true," lie smiled, sipping lilt wine. "Monsieur then wishes a lodging?" "1 should like to look at yours." "Y u nn e ml, monsieur." he exCuntiin. ' p: ?: f.. /