San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-12
CHAPTER VII.

iCW kidSp.
CHAPTER VII.
When the maids returned. merry and
well satisfied with their evenings amuse-
ment, they found the hOusekeeper fast
asleep, and on the hall-table, after search
ing everywhere else when asked about it,
they found the missing key of DOrothy's
room.
Jane said she would put it in the bed
room-dOor as she passed, and supposed Miss
Ally had taken it TO play with.
When Jane reached the door she found II
wide-open, and the mOonlit window faced
her. Seeing no light in the room she said
TO herself:
Miss Ally will kick up a hullabalOO II
she wakes up In the dark. I'll light the gas
again without waking them"
She cautiously lighted match, and
turned on the gas, sensible as she did so
that something was amiss.
Directly the light famed up she screamed
out Justify.
Miss Snow lay at the foot Of the bed in
sensible in a pool of blood, flame-colOred
handkerchief beside her, and a lot of torn
lace about.
ordered and empty.
Where was the childs
Rushing off to call the others, Jane few
rather than ran to the housekeeper's-roOm
Upstairs they all fastened together,
crOwding into DorOthy's room.
All was as Jane had described, and poor
Dorothy, face downward, lay like one dead.
They lifted her and laid her on the bed,
still insensible, purple blood flowing from a
wound on her white forehead.
''She is deadr' said Jane distractedly.
God forbid" said old Agnes in a
shocked voice, and picking up the fame
cOlOred handkerchief, exclaimed In tone
of horror: "ChlOrOfOrm! the same sicken-
ing OdOr | smelt on the handkerchief put
over my face before going to sleep"
WHO could have stolen the child?' said
Jane, shocked beyond measure.
How can we tell?" said the cook, a stout
apple-cheeked woman with kind blue eyes.
Lets look to the poor girl. What will
master say? One Of you girls go for a doc
tor. Never mind the lonely road, you will
come to no i'll while doing an act Of charity.
Ii was two hours before the doctor came.
He looked grave, and said it was a bad case,
and the police ought TO be advised at once
OF the whole strange affair.
"ChlOrOfOTm has certainly been used, and
the whole affair evidently been planned. |
am sorry this poor girl has suffered so. |
fear she will be seriously i'll the shock must
have been terrible, and the injury to the
head is grave. Where is Mr.. PenfOld%'
"In London, SIR" said Jane.
He must be sent for at once; no one can
act in his stead, and delay is dangerous"
While he talked he strapped up Dorothy's
wound, bathed her face, and restored her to
consciousness.
Her fiji st words were, where is Allyn
When they did not answer she grew terri
bly, excited, and cried ont that Mr.. Penfold
had left her in her charge, and would never
forgive her.
The doctor gave her composing draught
babe old Agnes watch her, and then ques-
toned the maid as to the sad nights work.
Old Agnes cried bitterly when she saw
the shreds of lace and silk, which she at
once recognised as belonging to Alison.
DIR. Steel was man of quick common
sense and prompt action, so he drove
straight into Cardiff, put the police on the
track of the Lees, and wired tn Mr.. Penfold,
who came by express in an agony of
anxiety.
Old Agnes had stormy scene with him,
and when he looked in for second at Dor
othy, and saw her death-like face, he turned
faint with horror.
He had left her bright, blooming, happy,
and returned to find her on what might
prove her death-bed.
He got together all the evidence he could,
and rode off to see Dr.. Steel.
They were closeted together long time,
and when Mr. Penfold came out, his face
was white and his eyes haggard, for he had
heard that the circus people had left Cardiff
in the middle Of the night, and that Alison
and the child were not with them.
Someone answering TO her description had
started by the midnight mail to London.
Try TO console yourself with the thought
that the child will be kindly treated, Mr..
Penfold. You are sure to recover her in
time. Hire good detectives, and advertise,
Offering heavy reward. My opinion is the
lady will soon tire of her charge. You can
withhold her income till the child is re-
turned, and have the mother arrested for
kidnapping and the assault on Miss Snow"
Yes, l know all that. But look at the
disgrace and exposure. Oh, doctor, have
had to pay dearly for a boyish indiscretion r
Indeed you have. l pity you from my
soul, and will help you all cam"
IL know that, doctor. rely on your
friendship to keep all have told you secret.
What would you do about Dorothy"
Marry her directly she Is well enough to
travel, and chance the consequences. / hope
your second venture will be q happy one"
"Oh, am sure of that! 1t is only the
money l object to. hate to be called a
fortune-hunter. Besides, when the poor girl
hears of my story, she may be afraid to
marry me after such scene with that terri
BILE woman"
"If she loves you, she will only think Of
your happiness. Perfect love casteth out
fear shall see you again. Wire at once
to Scotland Yard; such an uncommon wO-
man as Alison Lee must soon be traced. 1t
Is reported that the circus folks talked Of
taking Continental tour. Another report
is that they go straight to.America.
TRY to hope for the best; things must
come right in time Goodbye, old man. See
that they keep our patient quiet"
Mr.. Penfold shut himself up in his study
alone He neither ate nor drank, Old
Agnes could hear him pacing the room
heavily, and once she heard him groan.
She wrung her old hands wretchedly, and
wiping her bleared eyes went up to sit by
Dorothy, who was tossing peeyishly from
side to side with flushed cheeks and dim
eyes.
Presently she heard her masters foot
steps, and he entered white and weary.
Bidding her leave him, he knelt down by
the bedside and pressed his lins uDon the