The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, December 22, 1905, Image 3
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..
/