The Press., 1883-06-14
Issued Every Thursday Evening
"Good morning, Chief. Is there any
 news ?" asked Howard. ti5

"Good morning, Chief. Is there any news ?" asked Howard
 'T'm sorry to tell you there is none, , said the chief, reluctantly.
 l ]. Howard groaned aloud. 'sIs there moth. 1 ing more that we can do? I cannot give her up, and know she is not dead" said Howard, earnestly. '1'@
 "Well, said the chief, "there is but one chance more that I can see. This case has baffled the most expert men on the force. There seems to be absolutely no clue to get hold of no thread which we can grasp to unravel the mystery And there is only one man in the United States whom be- heve capable of succeedidg where every one else has failed. s>> ... .. T "And who is that ?" asked Howard. eagerly. .--- ....... ,'''~ =,
 'tBurt Staples, private detective. He has been out of the city, and only returned last evening"" ,s,,. :4'-, 5se ', V
 ,""Win you give me his address ?'' E.. "Yes; or better, will call him." said the chief, rising, and giving signal. In few moments there entered the of flee 8 man of thirty five or forty years of age, small in stature, and of prepossessing appearance, who greeted the chief famil- 1arly, and was introduced to Howard as Mr.. Staples, the chief adding, '.Mr. Shel- don has little business in your line, Sta- pies, which he will explain.'' Howard immediately gave him the facts of Mays disappearance as far as he knew them. Meagre as they were, the detective was not disheartened. "You are friend of the missing lady ?'' asked the detective. .t,o.. "She IS my promised wife" answered Howard. -, "Ah and very beautiful, is she not. with scores of disappointed lovers eager for revenge?"
 "Very lovely she certainly is, as you may judge for yourself, though I do not think she ever discarded a lover."
 "No?" said the detective, musingly. And has she no rivals who are interested Tn your afeetions?y In these little in- trlgues you will always find money. love or revenge at the root of the matter. Do I understand that there were no rivals, and that everybody was pleased with the ar rangement."
 "Great Heavens P exclaimed Howard, as terrible thought passed through his mind. 'It is not possible. will not be- heve 1t. How could I have been so blind ?" "Io what do you refer?" asked the de- tectlve, calmly. Startling disclosures were a turbed by them.
 "I hardly dare breathe my convictions" sad Howard. '"Ihey seem chimerical, and yet wonder the idea has not occur red to me before. No, regret am obliged to tell you, that every one was not pleased with the arrangement. My moth CT and sister opposed our marriage quite v1ndlctively,, but I cannot believe them cruel enough to take such measures as this to prevent it'' s.s a st(%t
 And are they the only ones of whom you have any knowledge as being enemies of the missing lady ?" asked the detective
 "The only ones," answered Howard, sorrowfully. @5 --. a. .--s-Sl
 "Who was the last person who saw the lady previous to her disappearance.
 "A Mrs. Gray, friend of Miss Mabel Channing and her sister, and who is at present in close attendance on Miss Helen Charming, who is very i'll, answered How ard. F. q, .,,.., ,D.f..,. ....,,.,f.E ..,,. 7.
 'Yes," said the defective, thoughtfully. ''I don't think we shall find much trouble i'll restoring to your lady love. But. when once found, let me give you piece of ad- vlce-don't give her enemies chance to triumph the second time I will see you this evening, when I hope to have news for you." s..y GAIA -s-:- .4.s
 So saying, the detective left the office, proceeding to No. 7 Ashley-st., where he asked for Mrs. Gray, and was received by that lady i'll her own room. ". -'-' --.- '
 In the course of the interview Mrs. Gray admitted that Mrs. Sheldon had called up on May, using very unkind language, and even threatening to shut Howard in mad house if she could not put stop to the intimacy in any other way. The detectives next move was to obtain surreptihously Q fair knowledge of the inner-workings of the Sheldon household, which he accom- plished by adroitly questioning one of the servants, and before evening his compre- henslve mind had conceived bird's-eye view of how the mysterious disappearance had been SC. successfully conducted. x
 Two weeks more had passed, and May was not found. Even Burt Staples face wore baf1ed look, though he was by, no means discouraged. If May was alive and he believed she was, he was bound to find her if he had to search every square inch of the United States and Europe to do so.
 He had managed to introduce lady de- tective into the Sheldon mansion as cham bermaid, and awaited developments. a&
 ..'T CHAPTER XIV. @y$
 But Helen was not to die. Slowly and