Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-10-18
CHAPTER XVII.
TIE MISSING HEIREsS.

upon 1ricnd. Evening came but she did
! not return. When Mr.. Palmcdo reached
his home his fret inquiry was for his daugh
ter. Tho housckceper feared her MASTER
and although extremely anxious herself
concerning JIucys crcabouts, she did not
Immediately inform Mr.. Palmcdo that there
were grounds for anxiety. She sent to the
house where Lucy had said she was going.
The servant returned with the information
that Miss Pumedo had not been at the
house that duy OF all. The housekccper did
not dare to keep tho news from Mr.. Pal
mcdo any longer. Entering tho library she
told him she W .s very much alarmed at Lu.
oy's long absence.
@"What time did my daughter go out?"
"This forenoon"
cat what hour did she say she would re.
turu?"
"Sho said she would be homo at two
o'clock at the very latest, as she expected
lady visitor"
..D "Did tho lady tsisitor come7'
Mr.. Palmedo proceeded up tho stairs to
his daughters room. There was stern and
troubled look upon his brow. lie found his
daughters clothing and jewc'ry oil in their
| usual places. II she had run away voluu.
tarily she went without her clothes upon her
person, and had made no preparations for
removing any portion Of the buIancc. Mr..
Palmcdo began to grow anxious. A mcm-
ory Of tho shadow assassin flashed across
his mind. IIe Immediately ordered his
carriage and visited every residence that his
daughter was in the hubit of frcqucntiug.
lie learned notidiugs of her. It was eleven
o'clock when he returned to his home. In
tho ball he met tho housckccpcr, and the
first words of the latter sent cod chill
through his heart.
"Have you found her, sir?" came the
question.
elias she not returned YETI" asked shc
father.
Again Mr.. Palmcdo entered bis carriage
This tmc he drove direct to police head
quarters. An alurm was sent to every
station to learn If any accident had befal.n
any lady in any of tho precincts. 1t had
been a day remarkable for no serious acc-
dents. Tho father, who was we'll known,
was referred to the detectives Office An
officer was deailcd to 90 with Mr.. palmedo
to his house. While in the carriage on the
road the detective asked good many qucs-
tions Mr.. Pumcdo's whole mind was fixed
upon Frank Mdgely. Whatever had hop
pcncd to his child he was rcody to swear
that her young suilor vas at the bottom of
it..
s'It is case of elopcmcnt," said tho de-
tective.
"Ncvcr" exclaimed the father.
"You will find tha. the result will confirm
my suspicions" said the detective in posi-.
| tive manner
They reached the house and tho officer at
his own request vas led by him to the mis-
| sing girls room. lie know better how to
Keeper was summoned when he asked the
strange question:
"Did Miss Palmolo change her dress
before she went ou:?"
The housckccprr flushed at what she
evidently considered an impcrtncnt question
for man to ask, but she answered.:
eyes sir"
"Will you point out tho dress she wore
this mornng?"
Sho did as desired. The detective went
through tho dress in quick order, but not
meeting with any success, said:
"Pleasc show mo the dress the young miss
wore yesterday evening""
The second dress was pointed out, when
the officer thrust his hand into tho pocket
ond drew forth little missivc. Stepping
beneath the gaslight, he glanced at tho cou.
tents of tho note. Instantly triumphant
smile played over his features, and, passing
tho note to the father, lie exclaimed in
satisfied tone:
"Thcrc, sir; what did I tell yon?"e
Mr.. Palmcdo, with features distorted with
various emotions, seized the note, and read
rs follows:
"To Lucy, IN 1lAsTE-Darling, I must
sec you to morrow Afternoon If YOU do not
meet me, you will hear of some terrible
calamity few hours after the hour fer tho
meeting has Passed. know that you have
promised your father rot to meet me, and I
shall never ask you again to disregard your
promise, but l must sec you just onoo. If
you DO not meet me, my blood will be upon
your head. 1t is not as though | were ask
ing you to continued meetings; / only want
to sec you this once, and will never trou-
bio you more. Remember, if you do not
meet nc, you may regret your refusal all
your life, and have orcr before your eyes my
maugled body. Oh, dear Que, do not drive
mo to such an alternative, but mcct me, and
l swear never to ask you to break your
promise to your father again. Yours,
FRANK.
=. S.--NIcot mo OF tho puoc mentioned
in my note Of yesterday and at tho samo
hour. Yours, EN-"
| Mr.. Pulmcdo's faco assumed torril 10
hue as hc read. When he had pcruscd tho
note to tho end, he said, in strange, con.
strained tones:
"Ihis note does not confirm your theory"
| "Why yes IL doos' - snid fbo dotoot;ro