The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-15
CHAPTER K.
TERRIBLE NEWS


CHAPTER K
TERRIBLE NEWS
Although 1 had all along believed this to
be the true account of the outrage of which
had been the victim, it was not altogether
pleasant to have my suspicion confirmed
My oughts flew simultaneously to Daisy,
shut up in The hall with man who was
either a desperate criminal or insane.
"Doctor," I said earnestly, II have no wish
to punish Mr. NJ uleverer for the cruel trick
he has played upon me Even if there were
no other reason for sparing him, the fact
that he is Daisy's uncle would be sufficient
But I am terribly anxious about her. Has
she no friend with her at Great Lortons Is
it not dangerous for her to remain alone
with a man in Mauleverer's state OF miudi'
"She is not alone, replied Branksome 81
thought l had told you that her old friend
and companion, Mrs Cawtho1ne. who ac
companied her to England, al joined her
at the hall. Shs was visiting in Darby shire
at the time when Mr. Mauleverer was at
Scarborough"
l remembered to have heard Daisy speak
of this lady in the warmest terms of nffec-
tion, and | felt thankful that there was at
least one person near her of her own sex, in
whom she could confide
at is a sad business, | fear,D pursued
Branksome II have not told you yet Of al
that happened after you left us so suddenly
Tell me, my friend: did Mr. Mauleverer show
any symptoms of anger or even suspicion
while he was with you in the smoking room
that night when you stopped at the halll"
Certainly not. He was just as friendly
and as courteous in his manner as usual
"That is bad, fear-very bad Will you
believe that he had already discovered al
that time what had taken place in the gar
den between you and Daisy"
"How could he discover thatgn 1 cried
"Don't you understand Did you not see
Flinter leave the garden at the same time
that we did No, he said, raising his hand
to check my impetuous cry of anger, "it
would not be fair to bame F,inter for what
he did then Remember he is devoted body
and soul to the service of his master But
what feel is that Mauleverer,S concealnleni
of his anger while he sat with you in the
smoking room is very bad, because il looks
so much like the cunning of insanity And
that he was mad-really mad-when yol
left the hall I am prepared upon nv oatl
to aver. He would never otherwise have
treated Daisy as he did
Ishuddered. "Do you mean to say thai
there has been positive ilI-usage3"
aye, more than enough of il. OF course
you understand that the poor child is neither
starved nor beaten But there are mora
weapons which are still more cruel ant
terrible than these"
"Oh, how could You leave her to his
mercy" cried in an agony of pain e
cannot understand how any one could have
deserted her in such circumstances. Let us
go back to her at once"
MY good fellow, keep calm,' replied the
doctor, on whose face sympathy rather thar
indignation at my fiery language was ex
pressed "Do you suppose that if / could
have been of any service to the dear child !
would have left her as I didl | found, how.
ever, that my presence, for various reasons.
actually aggravated her sufferings; so | die
what couli. SUNNI ned Mrs Cawthornt
to her, and in obedience TO Mauleverer'
orders came up here to attend to his affairs.
but you say we are in the Arctic regions
what can be the affairs of Mr. Mauleverer in
this part of the worlds"
"Have you not heard of the discovery o
gold in Norway2 Our friend has very
large interest in what may turn out to bt
one of the most important properties of its
kind in the world
where are we at this moment" asked
"Within half an hour of Bodo, the place
where 1 am to see the agent of the mines
"You will put me ashore there" I said
sternly, for | was cut to the heart by the
thought of Daisy's situation. al must return
to England instantly"
u understand your wish; but pray, Mr.
Fenton, do not act rashly You will gel
back to England imagine, quite as soon by
sticking to the yacht as by adopting any
other mode of making the journey"
Thanks, said, ungraciously; but you
can hardly be surprised that should have
no desire to remain the guest of Mr. Maulev
erer for single hour after have the power
of leaving his too hospitable ship
He looked at me gravely.
"Well, he remarked, presently. III shall
not attempt to prevent the carrying out Of
what | feel is a natural impulse But now.
if you will excuse me, would sugg s. that
you change your attire. have asc ,rtainel
that Flinter did not do things by halves,
After you had been brought aboard the
yacht he sent ashore for your baggage, and
have just had it placed in one of the state
rooms"
upon my word, : said, Al shall remember
my obligations TO Mr. Flinter as long as
live, and some day hope | shall be able tc
repay them
Branksome made no reply I was con.
scious of the fact that although very indig.
nant at the treatment 10 which had been
subjected he was not inclined 10 take any
active part in my quarrel with Finter.
That being the case, | was resolved not to
reveal to him those darker suspicious which
entertained against the villain If | did
so it as just possible that the doctor might
let drop some incautious word which would
put Flinter on his guard That the latter
meditated murder-ether my murder, or
Daisy's, or perchance Mauleverer's-lnd that
he had thought of using poison for the pur-
pose, l was almost certain. | had not spent
ten long days in studying that sinister chap
ter in the medical work without having
formed theory of my own regarding it.
1t was certainly true that needed bsfore
everything else change of attire. Although
| had been able to indulge in unlimited abIu-
tions in my CELL had besn compelled to go
without any change of clothes for the whole
period Enraged as | was at the daring in
science Of FIinter, | could hardly find it in
my heart to rebuke this last instance Of it
when / found myself comfortably clad in
clean linen, and in more suitable attire
than that which had recently bern wearing.
heard the engines stop and the anchor
chains go ratiling through the hawss hole as
| was putting the finishing touches to my
toilet; and Immediately afterward Brank-
some appeared at the door of the suinptuous
little cabin whore had found my property,
and invited me to go on deck.
l was altogether unprepared for the scene
that now presented itself. All around, as ID
appeared to me at the first glance, were
great snow clad Mountains, glittering under
the cold sunshine in a dazzling robe of white
We were in a landlocked harbor, within half
a mile of little town, the roofs of which
were heavily laden with the slvery snow.
1t was only the water in the harbor, and the
winding channel which seemed to lead ia
the outer sea, that afforded any relief to the
glittering white which covered the whole
landscape. 1t was in very truth an Arctic
scene which / beheld. No wind was blow
Ing, ami was surprised 70 find that the
was by no means painfully
cold It was delightful once mora to be-
hold the outer world. Strange and barren
As was that land. longed fer the moment
when | should set foot upon it, and tind my
self free from the aecursed vessel which
had been my prison.
q am sending ashore for our lett, rs. said
Branksonle III you are really de. ermined
% leave the yacht at once you may 20 with
he boat; but if You viii allow M 70 ailvise
you, should certainly recommend YOU to
Itay on board till the letters have been re-
seived Who knows what news tsey my
yive us Of affairs at Great Lor;oa. Dc not
ct your natural and justifiable anger carry
Tou too fargS
Ivielded to fhe termination. and agreed To