The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-15
FIVE MILLION POUNDS
BY T. wEMYss REID.

once, my poor fellow, and let me give you
back your liberty"
"Ah, DOCTOR" cried in zone the feeble
ness OF which startled even myself. show /
have longed for youl ] knew that you
would save me il you could
"My dear fellow, don't exhaust yourself, he
,aid still visibly agitated H placed his arm
round my waist, and drawins me gently out
Of that black prison in which had endured
70 much, led me into the main saloon of the
yacht The food of light dazzle my eyes;
The sound of human voices alter that long
spell of silence made all my nerves quiver.
There was a 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's" and as he spoke he laid
ne on one of the soft couches of the saloon.
AGood God how you have suffered Here,
sake this, +" and he almost forced a restora-
tive of some sort down my throat There
was some one standing beside him whom
aow recognized as Fosdyke He had look
If deep pity on his face---nay it was almost
ore of horror and incredulity. l saw the
ame expression on the face of the captain of
the yacht, and of steward, who were also
IN the saloon. They seemed quite overcome
1t the contemplation of the crime of which
had been the victim. cast my Eyes round
the beautiful apartment, and to my relief
saw that the hateful Flinter 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 go on board the yacht
"That note-have you got itP said Brank-
some, eagerly. He was manifestly resolved
to know the whole truth regarding my alb
iuction. I handed it to him.
"Ah, it is Flinter's handwriting. But,
captain, how came it that you never men
toned until this morning that Mr.. Fenton
had been on board the yacht on the morning
that we sailed'n He turned with naughty
look upon the captain, plain, matter-of-
fact seaman with a somewhat bloated face.
More thGll ever was I impressed by the sense
Of power which seemed to distinguish Brank-
some in all that he said and did.
"Why, SIR" returned the seaman in mani
fest embarrassment. 81 was told that the
gentleman had left the ship in one of the
shore boats, besides-well; to tell the whole
truth upon my honor, sir Mr. Flinter said l
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 he had been
aboard
"Pshawr cried Branksome, irnpatiently.
Il could almost believe that the whole of you
were in a conspiracy against Mr.. Fenton,
and against me also The chief steward
knew that Flinter was supplying food to Mr..
Fenton, and never said word to me, simply
because he had allowed himself to believe
that the poor fellow was i'll, and that for
some reason of his own he did not wish his
presence on board the ship to be known.
Why, great heavens! he might have been
kept prisoner forever so far as any of the
ships officers were concerned I 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
consequence asked if / was speaking of the
gentleman who came aboard the day we
sailed, God knows how long this outrage
might have continued"
DIR. Branksome spoke with warmth and
Indignation. The firm mouth was angrily
compressed, and his eyes. gave emphasis to
all he said. / felt that had found a pro-
tector and champion. At sign from him
the captain and steward left the saloon and
found myself alone with the doctor and
Fosdyke.
@I have hardly recovered from the shock
caused by the discovery Of your condition,
said the former "Indeed had no thought
when heard of your being in confinement
save instantly to release you. I have not,
therefore, had time as yet to get the whole
l. A.EL1 L
and abominable behavior OF course I 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, I think, Mr.
Fosdyke"
"Certainly" replied the lawyer II
should say that there never was a clearer
case of abduction in this world Mr. Fen
ton, if he chooses to prosecute may undoubt-
sdly send Mr.. Flinter to Jail for a couple Of
years at least
"May l ask" continued Bra nksome,
whether you are able to account to your
self in any way for this unheard of pro-
cedure!"
He looked earnestly at me, and evidently
awaited my reply with interest
IL have formed theory" / said "but do
presence of third person.
@Oh, pray consider Fosdyko 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
"Then shall tell you exactly what it is
that have thought during my long and
weary confinement believe that Mr. Maui
sverer is deeply offended because l have
ventured 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 moment
It was evident that the idea was one that
had not occurred to him before He shook
bis head slowly
Il cannot believe that the affair has been
brought about in the way you describe
Ny poor friend Mauleverer is, know, in a
very curious state of mind at present, and
be might do desperate things in one of those
dts 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
be 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 conduetw
81 Certainly not In all my personal
relations with MIR. Mauleverer, up to the
moment when he wrote the note in which
be dismissed me from his house, | have had
ever reason to feel that he was ons of the
kindest of men. But you know that both
you -and-Daisy have thought him
greatly changed of late.
@True, trEei and it is possible that. after
ALL he may have forgotten himse in the
way you supposed; though Il | think you
are mistaken.
aAs for Finer" continued, @mark nv
words, doctorl that man is villain who is
capable OF anything I should not care to
trust my life in his hands, and ii you are
wise you will cease all connection with him
as soon as possible.
Il don't wonder at your expression re-
piled Branksome. abut at the same time can
hardly think 50 badly OF Flinter as you nat
urally do. However, shall examine him
at once. and make him reveal lle whole
truth, whatever it MY be- /"
He was going TO leave the saloon for the
purpose of seeing the man from whom had
suffered so much, when l stopped him.
aFcrgive meip | said, 'but | 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 bs within
a mile Of Scarborough y
mo, we have not been standing still. 7 be re-
piled, with a smile. @We are at this moment
nearing the town Of Bodo, on the coast Of
Norway. You have been carried away up
into the Arctic regions during your painful
sojourn in the dukes punishment cell
He hurriedly left the saoon where Fos-
dyke remained with me. The lawyer ex-
planned that the trip to Bodo was business
sns. connected with one Of the numerous