The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-11-12
TILE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER XVII.
" CHANCE.


The man Plowitz," said Inspector
Rosebush, ..shall be looked after"
do you think you win 30 able to
catch him?" / asked.
my doar sir," returned the in
spector, ..what we think we can do,
and what we manage to do. are not
precisely the same affairs. II human
ingenuity. combined with human com
UoA-ssn6<, can stop the career 81
Ilowits alias Blitz, It viii be brought
- close very speedily"
And Mary Toriescue-what o.
herp'
Inspector Roscbush smiled.
"M;ss Mary Fortescue, lie said.
Twill. If l am not mistaken. lie our
bait to catch our fish"
But | exclaimed. ..you have not
got the bait"
True" he replied; ..but, il the bait
can be procured, the f;sh shall be
caught. Till tomorrow morning, at,
say. eleven" be added. Then shall
be better able to make my meaning
palmer"
took the hint, and after Shaw and
had wished the worthy official good
night, we strolled up Whitehall. my
he'd bursting with conflicting ideas,
my heart full Of anxiety as to the fate
Of her who was my only thought in
this weary conflict Of crime. Shaw
was careful not to interrupt the silence,
which he evidently knew | was in
capable Of breaking. We had passed
the Grand Hotel, and were approach
ing Charing Cross railway-station.
when hanson blocked our progress
rs we attempted to cross the street.
The light Of gas-lamp fell right
across the occupant of the cab-a
female thickly yelled. Yet, as my eyes
fall upon her, Is the hanson went
swiftly on its way. l clutched Shaw by
the arm. and almost fell on the pave
ment. had recognized her. It was
tn. Basilisk Few could have known
Miss Beaufoy-I should not myself,
but that she recognized me. It was
the quick flash of her magnificent eyes
through the meshes of the veil, which
revealed to me that this woman in
black was none other than the i'm
perious mistress Of Hanover Lodge.
The attraction may have been mag
netic, it was certainly effective. I had
time to notice black bag with white
band on the roof Of the cab before it
was whirlcd away eastward.
What on earth is the matter?"
asked Shaw.
l could only gasp, "She--thc
Basilisk!' as pointed after the fleet
ing hanson.
My dear fellow" replied the doctor,
..you are letting your fancies run away
with you. At the present moment
both the amiable lady (whom you call
the Basilisk) and her excellent father
(our patron) are no doubt safe in the
hands Of the police. You have n.
more seen Miss Beaufoy than l have
clapped eyes on her parent
II tell you l am not mistaken
said almost ficrcely; '.that woman
was the Basilisk-she can tell nj,
where can find Mary Fortescue-sh'
can
.What you can't do" interrupted
Shaw, lis either to put me out 0
temper or to make me believe that thi
apparition was anything more rea
than the outcome Of y temporary
disordered brain. Come home wit
me-"
He hailed cab. into which I some
what sulkily stepped, for l knew thu
was right and that he was wrong
Shaw increased my irritation durin
the drive by persislcntly whistling tn
most vulgar Of music-hall tunes. Whe
mans nerves are disturbed, nothin
CRATES upon his sensibility more than
popular accompaniment to his woe;
felt could have strangled Shaw fo
his unmelodious "reminiscences; an
when he piped What cheer, 'Riah?
as we stopped at the gates of 81
Bartimeus's Home, l inwardly re
corded the fact that medical men ar
as callous to mental suffering, as the
are to physical pain.
As we descended from the vehicle
the sleepy porter came forward.
"A note for you, sir" he said, touch
ing his cap. as he gave an envelope t
Shaw. The doctor tore the cover open
read the missive, and handed it to me
while the clock Of neighboring churc
chimcd three.
This is what read:
"a friend tells DR. Shaw that he Shout,
say to Mister Coplestone the way II HaI
ritch, Miss B. have gone"
WHO left this?" / asked excitedly
"A elderly female, replied the por
ter; "about hour ago. She rung nj
hup," he added with an aggrieved ex
preston.
The way is Harritch!' I repeated
"What can that mean?"
ut MEANS" said Shaw, THAT WI
are on the track; it means that yor
have friend ut court; it means thai
Plowitz has attempted to carry of
Mary to Belgium BY way Of the Great
Eastern Railway"
..How do you know thatp" I asked.
..Thcre is o line of steamers from
Harwich to Antwerp" he replied
who is your informant?"
1T must be Mrs Hardy" I said"
..Yn. Can uuss her?"
IL think so. l must start at once. .
NO. said Shaw. ..wa:A. In the
first place. you can't get to. Har.
witch till the morning; in tho second
this mysterious cpistle was only lcf,
here nm hour ago; and in tho third. thu
the Antwerp boat leaves at night"
'.And now" asked-..and now d.
Jon believe saw Miss Beaufoy jus,
now?''
no" he said, "no, lido not. Moth
ing will convince me-"
As he was speaking. q hanson
dashed BY the ratings OF the hospital.
! recognized the bag on the roof Of the
cab. before l recognized the occupant.
As before n pas-lamn cast ita liUht IN