Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-04

the matter, Jared little better. l must
have had sunstroke or something, she
told me, and brought bandages and eau
de Colongne. I flung them away in a
rage and went out of the house. must
be doing something, / felt, and hailed
a cab and drove to Thrapstow's lodg-
ings.
MIR. Thrapstow wasn't coming home
that night, his landlady told me; she
thought he was away for little jaunt;
but she didn't know. He occupied the
ground-hoof of small house in Eccles-
ford street, Pimlico-two rooms open
ing into each other. | told the woman
I would sit down and write a letter.
She knew me well enough, as | had fire.
quently visited Thrapstow, and she left
me to myself Then / began to over
haul everything, to try to find out some
clue to his whereabouts. A few letters
were on the chimney-piece; they were
only circulars from tradesmen. In the
fireplace was a considerable quantity OF
charred finder. He had evidently been
burning papers recently, and a quantity
of them. | turned the tender carefully
over, spreading it upon newspaper.
found nothing legible except one little
scrap of paper, which the fire had not
altogether reduced to powder, on which
| saw the name Isabel shining with me-
talic lustre. Then | went to the bed
room, and searched that. Here, too,
were evident preparations for flight
coats and other garments thrown hastily
into cupboards, boxes turned out, an odd
glove or two lying upon the dressing
table. carefully searched all the peck
cts for letters or other documents, but [
ha lpf N
all receptacles an instance of Charles
thoughtfulness for others, in the midst
of his rascality.
Living upon the wash-stand was a
card, which was blank on one side, but
on the other had the name of the
photographer printed upon it. The card
was wet, as if it had been soaked in
water; and near the upper end of it was
round irregular cut, which did not
quite penetrate the card. 1t had evil
IDENTIFY once had photograph fastened
on it; accordingly, the card had been
wetted, to facilitate the removal of the
photograph, whilst the face of the por-
trait had evidently been cut out, in or
der to place it a locket or something
similar
1t struck me at once that the photo
Graph about which a man on the eve OF
! fight would take so much trouble must
! be a person very dear to him probably
! his sweetheart. Although bad been in
| innate with Thrapstow, he had always
| been very reserved as to his own friends
and associates, and / had no clue to
| guide me to any of them except the
| photographers card.
Re-entering the cab, drove off to the
photographers. There was no number
! or distinguishing mark upon the card,
and the chances seemed faint that he
would be able to tell me anything about
| it. Indeed, at first, when the man
found that l wasn't q customer, he
seemed little inclined to trouble himself
about the matter. The promise of a
fee, however, made him more reasonable
and he offered to let me see his books,
that | might search for the name
wanted to find 1t was unlikely that
the photograph had been done for
Thrapstow; if it had there would pro-
badly appear in the books only the use
less record of his address, already known
to me. Then the man shook his head.
IF didn't know the name it was no use
looking; the card was nothing, he said,
he sent hundreds out every month.
What information could he possibly give
me then? Then / tried to describe the
personal appearance of Thrapstow.
But again he shook his head. 1T he
hadn't taken his likeness he would not
be likely to remember him, hardly even
then, so many people passed through his
hands. - .-.-..
All this time he had been carelessly
holding the card in his fingers, glancing
at it now and then, and suddenly an
IL To q ,.il. q
bit. /" he said. and went into his dark
chamber, and presently. emerged, smell
ing strongly of chemicals. '.Look
here he said triumphantiy. | looked,
and saw a very faint ghostly impression
of a photograph '.Its printed itself
through said the man-'they viii
sometimes-a and / have brought it to
light Eyes, / know the original of
that. Again he dived into a closet, and
brought out negative with a number
and label to it. Then he turned to his
book, and wrote down an address fof
me--Mrs. Maidmont, Larkspur Road,
Noting Hill. .,.......
Away | went to Larkspur Road.
Mrs Madmont's house was small,
comfortable residence, with bright win
dows, verandas, gorgeous window-boxes,
and striped sun-blinds. Mrs. Made
mont was at home, said a very neat,
prettv-looking maid; and | sent in my
card, with a message: son most i'm
portant business The maid came back
to say that her mistress did not recog-
nize the name, but would | walk in
was shown into a pretty drawing room
on the first floor. An elderly lady rose
to greet me with old-fashioned courtesy,
at the same time with a good deal of un-
easy curiosity visible in her face, This
was not the original of the photograph,
who was young and charming. girl.
Madame" said rapidly, II believe
that my friend Charles Thrapstow Is
well known to you; now, it is of the
utmost importance that.I should ascer-
tain where he is at this moment" y. 2. =
''Stay y said the old lady. You are
laboring under a complete mistake, /
know nothing whateyerof the gentleman
whose name you mention a name l
never heard before.
Was she deceiying. me I did not
think so. $50 500. ...,.,. :.
perhaps Miss Maidmont may know, ..
| said, eagerly. '.,...
miss Maidmont is not likely to have
formed any acquaintance without her
mothers knowledge" said Mrs Maid
mont, with dignity. There seemed to
no alternative but for me to retreat with
apologies.
Il am very busy, you see. went on
the old lady, with q. wave of her hand,
and, indeed, the room, BOW looked
about me, / saw to be streWed with pre-
pafations to some festive event, ball,
perhaps, or, from wreath of orange
blossoms that saw peeping out of a
milliner's box, more likely wedding.
| was about to take my departure reluc-
family, when a charming young girl
bounded into the room; she was the orr
ginal of the photograph.
'"Oh mamma - she cried, '.here is a
letter from poor Charlie to say he can't
possibly come here tonight. Isn't it
provoking? And | want to consult him
about so many things"
"Well, my dear Isabel, said the old