Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-20
q Serial Sturp.
FIVE MILLION POUNDS.
BY r. wEMYSS REID.
CHAPTER IX-CoNTINUED.
A STRANGE VOYAGE.


once, my poor fellow, and let me give you
back your libertyp
GAh, Doctor" cried, in tone the feeble
ness Of which startled even myself, chow I
have longed for you! I knew that you
would save me il you could"
@My dear fellow, don'texhaust yourself" he
said, still visibly agitated He placed his arm
round my waist, and drawing megently out
Of that black prison in which had endured
90 much, led me into the main saloon Of the
yacht The flood Of light dazzleI my eyes;
the sound Of human voices after that long
spell Of silence made all my nerves quiver.
There was mist before my sight, buzzing
In my ears, and sensation Of choking in my
throat
But Branksome was as skillful as he was
gentle and sympathetic.
@Lie down here;" and as he spoke he laid
me on one Of the soft couches Of the saloon.
@Good Giodl how you have suffered! Here,
take this" and he almost forced restora-
tive Of some sort down my throat There
was some one standing beside him whom
now recognized as Fosdyke He had look
of deep pity on his face-nay, it was almost
ore of horror and incredulity. I saw the
same expression on the face of the captain OF
the yacht, and Of steward, who were also
In the saloon. They seemed quite overcome
, at the contemplation Of the crime OF which l
had been the victim I cast my eyes round
the beautiful apartment, and to my relief
saw that the hateful F.inter was not among
those present
Very quickly recovered my strength and
composure so far as to be able to give Brank-
some and the solicitor an account Of all that
had happened to me since received the note
inviting me to 20 on board the yacht
aThat note-have you got it7' said Brank-
some. eagerly. He was manifestly resolved
to know the whole truth regarding my abb
duction. handed it to him.
GAh, it Is Flinter's hand dwriting. But,
captain, how came it that you never men
toned until this morning that MIR. Fenton
had been on board the yacht on the morning
that we saileda" He turned with naughty
look upon the captain, a plain, matter-of-
fact seaman with somewhat bloated face.
More than ever was impressed by the sense
Of power which seemed to distinguish Brank-
some in all that he said and did.
3Why. sir" returned the seaman in mani
fest embarrassment, u was told that the
gentleman had left tho ship In one Of the
shore boats, besides-well; to tell the whole
truth upon my honor, sir. Mr.. Flinter said
was not to mention anything about it to
you. He said as how this gentleman was no
longer friends with the master and that you
would be displeased if you knew be had been
aboard"
9Pshaw!" cried Branksome, impatiently.
eEtould almost believe that the whole Of you
were in conspiracy against Mr.. Fenton,
anil against me also The chief steward
knew that Flinter was supplying food to Mr..
Fenton, and never sal I q word to me, simply
because he had allowed himself to believe
that the poor fellow was III, and that for
some reason Of his own he did not wish his
presence on board the ship 10 be known.
Why. great heavens! he might have been
kept prisoner forever, so far as any of the
ships officers were concerned. never heard
of such stupidity. If had not accidentally
mentioned Mr.. Fenton's name to you, cap
tain, half an hour ago, and if you had not in
gentleman who came aboard the day we
sai!el, God knows how long this outrage
might have continued"
DR.. Branksome spoke with warmth and
indignation. The firm mouth was angrily
compressed, and his eyes gave emphasis to
all he said. felt that I had found pro-
tector and a champion. At sign from him
the captain and steward left the saloon and
found myself alone with the doctor and
Fosdyke.
u have hardly recovered from the shock
caused by the discovery of your condition" 7"
said the former. "Indeed had no thought
when heard of your being in confinement
save instantly to release you. have not,
therefore, had time as yet to get the whole
truth out Of Flinter as to his extraordinary
and abominable behavior OF course shall
do so, and you may depend upon my calling
him sternly to account for an outrage
which has brought him within the reach Of
the criminal law That is so, think, Mr..
Fosdyke"
Certainly" replied the lawyer. II
should say that there never was clearer
case Of abduction in this world. Mr.. Fem
ton. II he chooses to prosecute. may undoubt-
edly send Mr.. F1inter to Jail for a couple Of
years at least"
"May I ask" continued Bra nksome,
whether you are able to account to your.
self in any way fo.. this unheard Of pro.
cedure?"
He looked earnestly at me, and evidently
awaited my reply with interest
u have formed theory" said, "but do
not know that | ought to name it in the
presence of third person"
3Oh, pray consider Fosdyke as being on
the same footing as ourselves. So far as you
are concerned. he knows everything"
There was no mistaking the emphasis with
which the las. word was spoken.
GThop I chaIl foil vor, ovo cflu what 4,
that have thought during my long and
everer is deeply offended because I have
venturel to pay my addresses to his niece,
and anxious to get me, for time at least,
out of her way, has arranged this outrage
with Flinter"
Branksome looked puzzled for a moment.
1t was evident that the idea was one that
had not occurred to him before He shook
his head slowly.
brought about in the way you describe.
My poor friend Mauleverer is, know, in a
very curious state Of mind at present, and
he might do desperate things in one of those
fits Of desperate passion which have visited
him recently, and which, I think, are con-
nected with some obscure disease Of the
brain. But should be slow to suppose that
he could ever stoop to that which is neither
more nor less than actual crime You have
never yourself seen any reason to suppose
that he would be guilty of such conductl"
III Certainly not. In all my personal
relations with Mr. Mauleverer, up to the
moment when he wrote the note in which
he dismissed me from his house, l have had
every reason to feel that he was one of the
kindest Of men. But you know that both
YOU and-and-Daisy have thought him
greatly changed Of late"
@True, true! and it is possible that, after
all. he may have forgotten himself in the
way you supposed; though I still think you
are mistaken"
3As for Flinter," continued. mark my
words, doctor! that man is villain who is
capable Of anything I should not care to
trust my life in his hands, and if you are
wise you will cease all connection with him
as soon as possible"
II don't wonder at your expression" re-
piled Branksome. "but az the same time l can
hardly think so badly Of F.inter as you nat
urally do. However. shall examine him
at once. and make him reveal The whole
truth, whatever it may be. :"
He was going to leave the saloon for the
purpose Of seeing the man from whom had
suffered so much when stopped him
SForgive mel" said, "but I am quite in
the dark as to where we are. The yacht has
been at sea now for ten days, but tor all
know to the contrary we may still be within
a mile Of Scarborough"
mo, we have not bean standing still, he re-
nliad with q smile "Ne ara at this moment