Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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::r &he ^ 1 Hollad jj CHAPTER XVI. MARTIGXY was lying back iu bis berth smoking a cigarette, and as I entered be motioned inc to a seat on the locker. "It was most kind of you to come," iie said, with bis old smile. lIt was only by accident I learned you were on board," I explained as I sat down. "You're getting better?" "I believe so: though this nbvslelan ? Is?whift- you call?an alarmist. Most of them are. Indeed. The more de.^pernte the Illness the more renowned the cure! Is It not so? lie has even forbidden me cigarettes, but I prefer to die than to <Vo without them. Will vou not have or "Thank jou," I suld, selected one and lighted It. "Your cigarettes are not to bo resisted. But if you are so 111 why did you attempt the voyage?" "A sudden call of business," he explained airily. "Unexpected, but?what 'you call?Imperative." "The doctor?It was he who mentioned your name to ine. It was not on tho sailing list"? "No." He was looking at me shnrp^ IjT. "I came on board at the last rao 1^-- ^ ><> i i He mo.'luneil ;j:c to ? sen* 1 moat?(he nee J \v -3 vcr* sudden, as I * have sold. I Imd not time to engage a I stateroom." | "That e:;;?lains It. Well, the doetor j told n o that you were bed fast." ' "Ves; since the voy ge began I have not left It." j I watched him as he went through the fa.iiilljir . >tion of lighting a second cigarette from the llrst one. In t' half light of the rahiu I had not at (' # fierce! etl how 11 he looked. "But you, Mistalr Lester." he saying. "How does it occur that ; ^ r_ also are going to Trance? I did - ^know y **.1 contemplated"? answered calmly, for I ' J ween utftt-llve question was Inevit and I even we!v *ed it. since It g fflne opportunity to get my guns goin A W'No; the last time I saw you 1 didn . ~ yontemplate It. hut a good deal has happened since then. Would you care V, " y* to hear V ' " 1 Oh, how I relished tantalising him! . I 'M should like vorv cvi-ci'ilincrlv to Bear," lie nssuroil me and shifted his Bositlon :uiittlc so that his face was in Bie slnuOTw. -'1110 beams of light trough the shutter mokes ir;< eyes to Burt," ho added. BSo he mistrusted himself: ?;o he was ^Bt finding the part an easy one either! ^Bc thought guvti^o new courage. jBYou may rentlHer." I began, "that ^k>ld you once BB if I ever u'ent to Hk on the Holladhy ease I'd try lirst ^Blnd the murderess, ^succeeded In ^Bg it the rery first day." ^Bl>!" he breathed. "And after the ^Bc had fulled! That was, indeed, HBrkable. Ilow did you accomplish W the merest chance; by grent good ^Bine. I was making a search of the ^Bich quarter, house by house, when. V 1 ^Blouston-street, I came to a restau^ t, the Cafe Jourdain. A bottle of Btcrieur set .lourdaln's tongue to wagv v Bg. 1 pretended I wanted a room. B> dropped a word, tlio merest hint, Bd in tlie end I got the whole story. "emus there was not only one worn>< B?there were two." *jmW"\onT A %"Yes, and a man whose name was ? " ketppy, or Bethune, or something like ' that.' But I didn't pay much attention '7 " v? ^Im. *Ie doesn't figure In the case. v./ didn't even go away with the woin-Men. The very day I set out on my ^^jB^jjlearrh he was picked up on the streets ^URBonaewhere suffering with apoplexy Vid taken to &. hospital, so nearly dead . \t It was a question whether he i recover,,.1^0 he's /out Of if. The ' ",4 lirdlfffii. tnlifl'ana limf tlfo vfofhen had i ^le<* *or ^'rance*" will pardon me," said my hear\ut In what way did you make # Im they were the women yon de I m mf** Jr TL'By the younger one's resemblance to | Us Jlolladay," 1 answered, lying with ^ A Mystery J Of Two I Continents ^ DJTvTON E. 1 SiEVENSCN- T J Copyright, 1903, by i / Henry Kelt tod \ Company 5 a glihness which surprised mysc.f. "The Jourdnlus maintained that a photograph of Miss Iloliaday was really one of their lodger." "Ah, yes," he said. "That was exceeding!}' clever. I should never have thought of that. That is worthy of M. Lecoq. And so you follow them to France; l ut surely you have sonic more definite address than that!" "No," I said. "It seems rather a wild goose chase, doesn't il? But you could advise me, Mr. Marti guy. Where would it be best for me to search for them?" lie did not answer for n moment, and I toofjtf^ntago of the opportunity to seleKSg bad cigarette ai d light it. I dared n<? remain unoccupied. "That," lie began slowly at last, "seems to me a most -alii?deeflcult affair. Mistalr Lester?to search for three people through all France. There seems little hope of success. Yet I should think it most likely that they have gone to Paris." 1 nodded. "That was my own theory." I agreed, "hut to find thein in Paris seems also impossible." "Not If one uses the police," lie said. "But, my dear sir," I protested, "L can't use the police. Miss Lodadny at least has committed 110 crime, fcslie lias simply chosen to go away without informing us." "You will permit me to say then, Mistalr Lester," he observed, with just a touch or irony, "that I fay to comprehend your anxiety eouccrniug her." I felt that I had made a misstep; that I had need to go carefully. "It Is not quite so simple as that," 1 explained. "The last time we saw Miss Ilolladay she told us that she was ill and intended to go to her country home for a rc3t. Instead of going there she sailed for France without informing any one ? indeed, doing everything she could to escape detection. That conduct seems so eccentric that we feel in duty houud to Investigate it; besides, two days before she left she received from us a hundred thousand dollars in cash." I saw him move uneasily on his bed. After ail tills advantage of mine was no small one. "Ah," he said softly, and again, "ah! Yes. that seems peculiar, yet perhaps if you had waited for a letter"? "Suppose we had waited and there had been no letter-suppose, in consequence of waiting, we should he too late?" "Too late? Too late for what, Mistnlr Lester? What is it you fear for her?" "I don't know," I answered, "but something?something. At least, wo could not assume the responsibility of dolny." "So," he agreed, "perhaps not. You are doubtless quite right to Investigate. I wish you success. I wish that i injHtNi lingni ain you, mere is so much of Interest In the case to me, but I fear that to be impossible." Ami be breathed a sigh, which was doubtless genuine enough. "Will you go to Paris?" I asked. "Oh, no; not at once. At Havre I diall meet my ngent and transact my iffairs with him. Then I shall seek <ome place of quiet along the coast." "Yes," I said to myself, with leaping iieart, "Etretat!" But I dared not q>enk the word. "I shall write to you," he added, "when I have settled. Where do you day at Faris?" "We haven't decided yet," 1 said. "We?" he repented. "Didn't I tell you? Mr. Boyce, our . unlor partner, Is with me." "It is no matter where- you stay." he said. "I shall write to you at the poste restante. I should like both you md your friend to be my guests before ou return to Amer-rlc'." There was n courtesy, a cordiality in his tone which almost disarmed me. Such a finished scoundrel! "Wo shall be glad to accept," I answered, knowing in my heart that the Invitation would never bo made. I was ready to go. I had accomplished all 1 could hope to accomplish. If I bad not already.,disarmed his sua plclons, I could never do so. x "I am tiring you," I said, starting up. "No," ho protected, "no." But hie voice was almost inaudible. "I will go," I said. "You must pardon mo. I liopo you will soon bo better," nnd I closed the door behind me with his murmured thanks in iny ears. It was not till after dinner that 1 found opportunity to relate to Miss Koinball the details of my talk with Marttgny. "Why did you change your mind?" who asked. "Tim adventure tempted me. Those are your own words. I thought perhaps 1 might be able to throw Martlgny off the track." "And do you think you succeeded?" "I don't know," I answered doubtfully. "He may have seen clear through me." "Oh, I don't believe him superhuman! I believe you succeeded." "We shall know tomorrow." "Yes, and you must keep up the deception till the last moment. Remember, he will be watching you." "I'll do my best," I said. * "And don't make mountains out of molehills. You see, you've been dls VI ?J or f ?i IFc /o?Al sHsfc uny blocked by a uui- ', formed official. trustiug yourself needlessly. One 1 n^ustn't be too timid." s "Do you tliiuk I'm too timid?" 1 de inaudcd. - - h But she 8iiw the llglP iu my eyes, I ? suppose, for she drew away, almost im- i perceptibly. ' 1< "Only in some tilings," she retorted, s rr^"cve!ilng passed and the Inst day \ came. We sighted land soon after 1 breakfast, the high white cliffs of Cape f .La Hague. I I was standing at the rail beside i Miss Kcmball. of our imminent goodby, when she f turned to me suddenly. "Don't forget Martlgny," she cau- i tloned. "Wouldn't you better 6oe 1dm c ngainV" "I thought I'd wait till we landed," I said, "thou I can help him off the boat and see him well away from the station. He's too ill to be very lively ou his feet." "Yes, and ho careful, lie mustn't suspect Etretut. And now we must suy goodby." "Indeed not!" I protested. "See, there go your mother and ltoyee. They're evidently expecting us to follow. We'll have to help you with your baggage." "Our baggage goes through to Paris." "At least, I must take you to the train." "You are risking everything!" she cried. "We can say goodby hero as well as on the platform." "I don't think so," I said. "I"have already said goodby to all my other friends." "But I refuse to be treated Just like nil the others." and 1 started with her down the gang plank. She looked at me from the corner of her eyes. "Do you know," she said deliberately, "I am beginning to fear that you nre obstinate." "I'm not at nil obstinate," 1 Objeetrwl dmnl., - ? II " w.. ? ui nnujjij tuiucimiuH lur my 1 rights." t "Your rights?" "My right to he with you as long as 1 1 can, for one." 1 "Are there others?" "Many others. Shall I enumerate t them?" "No," she said, "we haven't time. Here Is mother." 1 They were to take the company's special train to l*nrls, which was wait- 1 lng on the wharf 1200 feet away, anil we I slowly pushed our way toward It. In | the clamor and hurry and coufusion t wholly Latin there was no chance for t intelligent cou verse. Suddenly we found 1 our way blocked by a uniformed ottl- f clal, who demanded to see our licke's. "You can't come any farther, I'm afraid," said Mrs. Kemball, turning to i us. "We'll have to say goodby." And ' i she held out iter hand. "But we'll soon j see you both again In Paris. You have \ the address?" I < "Oh, yes!" I assured her. "Very well, then, we shall look for i you." And she shook hands with both { of us. For an Instant 1 felt another little hand In mine, a pair of blue eyes sinil- | cd up nt me In a way? I i vimmnj, .ill". ljesier, SHHI II VOIKU. ( "I shall ho all Impatience till wo meet [ again." "So shall I." And I brightened, j "Mnitre Fingvet V we inquired of tit* first passerby, and ho pointed vis to v. little house half hidden in vines. , A knock brought the notary himself \ to the door, u little dried up man, with keen face and eyes incredibly bright. My companion ex plained our errand in laborious French, supplemented by , much gesticulation ? It is wonderful how the hands cm help oue'to talk? , and atiz-: nine the little Frenchman j caught hlk -jcaning and hustled away to get his hat and coat, scouting a fat fee. Our first step was to ho an easy ( one, thanks to the severity and thoroughness of French administration, j hut I admit tlint I saw not what we i 1 .1- ? ?. . ... I niiuuiu uu turiuer, uucu wu iiiui venucu I the dntc of Miss Holladay's birth. Tlie notary unlocked the door, showed us into his oftlco nud set our chairs for us; then he got down his ri;;'<ter of births for 1870. It was not a l.irge j book, for the births at Etrctat are not overwhelming in number. | ' The name, I think you said, was Ilolladay?" he asked. "Hiram W. Ilolladay," nodded Mr. Itoyoe. % "And the date June 10?" "Yes; June 10." The little man ran his fluger rapidly down the page, then went back again I and read tho entries.oue by one more ' slowly, with o prtcker of perplexity about his lips. He turned the leaf, began farther back und read through tho im cg;im, rrntitr ne iini vrittcmug mm. Lt lust lie shut the bosk. '"Messieurs," he said quietly, "nj Uch birth Is recorded here. I have cxmined the record for the months of Kty. June and July." "But It must be there!" protested lV. ltoyeo. "Nevertheless it Is not here." "Could the child have beou here ' nd no record innde of it?" "Impossible, monsieur." J "For a large fee, perhaps," suggested ny companiou. "In Paris that may sometimes be posible. But in a small place like this I kould have heard of It." "Von have been here for that length f tiine, then?" "Oh, yea, monsieur," smiled the little nan. "For a much longer time than lint." Mr. Uoyce leaned forward toward iini. He was getting back all his old lower as a cross examiner. "M. T,,ingret," he began impressively. I am quite certain that IIirain W. lollnday and his wife were hero durug the mouths of May. June and July, 170, and that while they were here a laughter was born to them. Tliink .gain. Have you uo recollection of hem or of the event?" The little notary sat for some monents with knitted brows. At last he hcok his head. "That would he the helsrht of the sen- : ou, you see, monsieur," ho said apoloreticnlly. "There are a great many >cople here at that time, and I cannot mow all of tlicm. Nevertheless It ecmed to me for a moment that there vas about the name a certain fam 11arity?as of an old tune, you know, orgotten for years. Yet It must have >een my fancy merely, for I have no ?collectiou of the event you mention." There was one other chance, and I jave Mr. llaycc the clew. "M. Fingret," he asked, "arc you icqualute.l with a man of the name >f Pierre ltethune?" And again the uotary shook his head. "Or Jasper Martlgny?" "I never before heard either name." We sat silent a moment, in despair. IVas our trip to Etretat to be of no ivall? Where was my premonition tow? if we had lost the trail thus arly In the chase, what hope was here that we should ever run down he quarry? And how explain the 'act that no record had been made of Prances Ilolladay's birth? Why should tor parents have wished to conceal it? An hour hud passed, the shops wore opening and u bustle of life reached us hrough the open door. "The tirst train for three days Is ibout to arrive." snid the little notary. Again we fell silent. Mr. Itoyec got nit his purse and paid the fee. We nd come to an Impasse?a elospd way. *<e could go no farther. I could see that the notary was n-hungered for his roll and coffee. With a sigh, I arose to go. The notary stepped to the loar and looked up the street. "Ah," he said, "the train has arrived, nit it seems there were not many passengers. Here is one, though, who ia.s finished a long Journey." lie nodded to some one who ap iroaclied slowly, It seemed. He was jefore the door. He passed ou. It ivas Murtignyl "That is the innn!" I cried to Mr. itoyce. "That is Marttgny! Ask who le really is." He understood cn the Instant nu I *ulight the notary's arm. "M. Flugret, who Is that man?" The notary glanced at him, surprised >y his vehemence. "That." ho said, "is Victor Fnjolk le is just home from America." "And he lives here?" "Oh, surely?on the oliH's just above lie town, the llrst house. You cannot niss it, buried in a grove of fees. lie narrled the daughter of Mmo. Allx some years ago. lie was from Paris." "And his wife is living?" "Oh. surely she is living. She herself eturned from America but three .vecks ago, together with her mother md sister. The sister, they say, Is? veil"? And he finished with a signill nut gesture toward his hi ad. I saw my companion's face turn ivhite. I steadied myself with au efort. "And they are at home now?" "I believe so," said the notary, eying ilin with more and more astonishment. "They have been keeping close it home since their return. They will permit no one to see the? Invalid." "Come, we must go?' I cried. "He mist not get there before us!" 'That was nice of you, Miss Kemball." "Oh, I shall be anxious to hear how lou succeeded,'' she retorted. "You ivIH bring Miss Ilollnday to usV "If we find her, jes." "Then, again, goodby." She waved her hand, smiling, and svns lost in the crowd. "Come on, Ix?ster," said Mr. ltoyce's rolce. "There's uo use stand ng starng here." Suddenly 1 remcnJbered Martigny. "I'll be back In a minute." i called ind ran up the gang plank. "Has M. Martigny left the ship yet?" 1 Inquired ?f the first ste ward 1 met. "Martigny?" he repeated. "The sick gentleman in 373," I prompted. "Oh, yes," he said. "I do not know.' "Well, no matter. I'll find out mr JOlf." I mounted to the upper deck am] knocked ut the door of 375. There wat no response. After a moment I trldd [lie door, but It was locked. The win low, however, was partly open, and ihndlng my eyes with my hnuds, ) ,K?ered Inside. The stateroom wat ?mpty. A kind of panic seized me as I turned tway. Had he iudeed seen througl ny arthice? In attempting to blind dm had I merely uncovered my own >lau, or?nntl my cheeks burned nt tht thought ? wus he so well Intrenched -hat he. had no fe(ir of me? Were lilt V, t plaus so well Inld that It mattered not to him whitlier I went or what 1 di V I passed a moment of hear trend hij." uncertainty. I naw quite clearly what u little, little chance of succe f we had. Hut I shoo'.: tlie feeling off, sought the lower doe!: and inquired again for Murt.guy. At In^t the ship".; doctor told me that he hr. I seen the sick man safely to a carriage and b:; l heard him order the driver to proceed to the Hotel Continental. "And frankly, Mr. Lester," added the doctor, "I ant glad to he so well rid of liiui. It is most fortunate that he did not die on the voyage." I turned away with a lighter heart, h'rom a dying man there could not be much to fear. So I hunted up Mr. j Uoyce and found him, finally, endeav- i orlug to extract some Information from a supercilious official. It was, It seemed, a somewhat complicated proceeding to get to Etretnt. In half an hour a train would leave for Bcuzeviile, where we must transfer to another line to Les Ifs. There a second trausfer would he necessary be- | fore we could reach our destination. | Ilow long would it take? Our Informant shruirsred his shoulder* wlih Uiio nonchalance. It was impossible to say. There had been n heavy storm i two days before, which had blown | down wires and damaged the little spur of track between I.es Ifs and the sea. | Amid this jumble of uncertainties i one definite fact remained a train was to leave iu half an hour, which we must take. So we hurried back to Ibo boat, and finally were shut into a compartment two minutes before the hour. Then, in that first moment of Inactivity, the fear of Martigny came back I upon inc. Had he rcallj* gone to the hotel? Had he deemed us not worth watching, or had he watched? Was ' tie on the train with us? Was he able lo follow? I looked out cautiously from the window, up and down the platform, but saw no sign of him, and in a moment more we rattled slowly away over the switches. | An hour's run brought us to Beuze- ' ville, where we were dumped out, together with our luggage, in a little frame station. .An official informed us that we must wait there three hours for the train for I.es Ifs. Bcyoud that he could not say. I "How far is I.es Ifs front here?" in- . quired my companion. I "About twelve kilometers, monsieur." "And from there to Etretat?" "Is twenty kilometers more." "Thirty-two kilometers altogether," said Mr. IU yce. "That's about twenty miles. Why ean't wo drive, Lester?" Certainly it seemed better than waiting on the uncertain railway, aud we set at once about the work of lindlng a vehicle. I could be of little use, since English was an unknown tongue at Ileuzoville, and even Mr. Itoyco's French was sorely taxed, but we sue ceeuen at inst in securing n horse ami light trap, together with u driver who claimed to know the rood. The road was smooth nnd level, and In nu hour and a half from Beuzeville wo reached Les Ifs, and here we stopped for a light supper. We had cause to congratulate ourselves that we had secured a vehicle at Bcuzevllle, for we learned that no train would start for Etret.it until morning. The dumago wrought by the storm of two da^s before had not yet been repaired. Luckily for us, the moon soon arose, so that we got forward without much difficulty, though slowly, and an hour before midnight we pulled up triumphantly before the Hotel Blanquct, the principal inn of Htretnt. [to nn continued.] Cuttlnir a Cameo. It Is said that the stone from which cameos are cut?onyx and sardonyxis so plentiful on the Uruguay river. In Brazil, that ships often take it away as ballast. Nevertheless perfect pieces of large size are costly, a piece suitable for a large portal costing as much as .$7C>. This stone is preferred for cameos because of its hardness and durability and is suitable for such work owing to the fact that it comes in layers of contrasting color, as black and white, black and cream or red and wliite. When the cut figure Is sunk into the stone Instead of being raised the cutting is called an intaglio. The cost of these gems is due to the time and skill required In the work. Formerly a small gem might occupy nn artist for n year or 111 but with modern appliances the work can lie done much more rapidly. Still the ancient work bears the palm for artistic excellence. The cutting is now done by holding the stone against a revolving drill whose soft steel face is covered with diamond dust. No steel Is hard enough to cut the stone. The utmost patience nnd caution and delicate handling arc required, as the slightest slip may be fatal to the work. Currnn In the Coffee lluimr. | Joiiu I'liilpot Currnn, tlio famous Irish lawyer, ranks among tho wittiest men tlie Emerald Isle has ever produced. His wit, however, was sometimes turned against himself by the intended victim, the following story, taken from the volume of biographical reminiscences entitled "Mrs. Brooktlcld and Iler Circle," furnishing an amusing example of how Currnn was once outdone: A brisk young widow in some part of Ireland used to presido nt the table of a coffeehouse patronized by Currnn. Iler name was Honor, and one day there was some disputed churge. Currnn slyly* winked nt the friend who happeued to be dining with him and proposed "honor and honesty." "By all means," added the widow briskly, holding her glass to be filled, "let us drink to Mr. Curran'a absent frienda." A'.:** s.v..:.-*./ \ WWM??J?? * * Humor and Philosophy ? By DUNCAN M. SMITH 4- > PERT PARAGRAPHS. Rome actors say that I lie story thut the ?host walks is but n fairy tale. ' r * If is were not for the spice of deceit about them kouic people would l>o in- >2; tolerable. Generosity 13 v what (he law- tftiitfUtt breaker often tMlS ^ V. uses In his ell- H/1 r~^\'1j fiS deavor to square A hird in the \ fl 7 hand i? worth (/IJ ,7 (7 two In the shoot- [/ lug match. J?l When u man has an ax to grind It is the refinement of cruelty to get the one he means to use it on to turn the grindstone. Some matches may he made in heaven, but not the ones of commerce. They smell too strongly of sulphur. First rate chances invariably chase around after the fellow who can't use them. Neither party to the marriage eontract can decry the other without impeaching his own judgment. A lie is nbout the only. thing you can't chase down with an automobile. First Aid to the Bashful. The matrimonial bureau. Tattooed by those who think That young folks should be, oh, so good Nor at each other wink, May serve a useful purpose For lovers who are shy Atul quite afraid to ask a maid When looking in her eye. In theory it is easy To walk right up and say, "Dear Kmaline, will you be mine? If so. please name the day." In practice it is different. A fellow calls around. Hound lie will make the fateful break. And utters not a sound. But let him take his pencil To drop the girl a line: With eloquence that's quite Intense He'll swear she is divine; He'll he as bold and daring As heathen when they rage And will propose in verse and prose Three times on every page. That's wlicw the useful hurenn May stop In ?.s tlrst aid? Sond lior address by Jirst express When all the foes are paid.* Just gl^c him lior lo?uliOn In east or south or west \ And lot him know where mail shoultl\ _ ? go, And lie will do the rest. Its Foiling. *ND HIS NAt^T) IS ^ "Looks like a good mule." "Yes, hut it has one fault." "What's tl.ut 7" "lie can't teach it to back." "Too had! It's n poor inule that won't work both ways." The Reign of Craft. It Is gratifying to nolo that the people of the United States are taking graft by the left leg. swinging It vigorously around their heads three times and throwing it clear out Into the middle of thr> viror or nt loi.t tlml iK... are making a noble anil heroic effort in that direction. | To show that they nre in earnest ntany of our tuoro enterprising cities have some of their aldermen hid away in Jail, where the tempter in the form of a contractor cannot get at thorn and also as a polite warning to other alder ! men to wash all sticky stuff off their fingers before coming down to work in the morning. While 1 ho outlook is hopeful, It is admitted by students that It is a hnr.l : job to break the confirmed grafter of I the habit of grafting. A Jail sentence may do some good, hut the only dead sure way is to break his neck. Ignorance Is Bliss. ' When ho was in school he idled all of his time away." "l suppose lie Is sorry for it now." "I guess not. lie doesn't have to know nnything to hold his job." "No?" V "Didn't you know ho wns a critic?" V "Yes. but I didn't know you had writ- \ ten a play." w After the Feast. ? Tho turkey seeins quite ample when You pay for It in cash. But still you'd never Ruess It would StrlnR out so lonR in hash. Indian Style. "Can you tell me where there la a good doctor?" "Well, there is a dead one down !n the next block." Not Particular. "Does your clock keep good time?" | "Just any time that cornea along, goodiw^kd^ \ m.