Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-10-04
d friend Was rrerarinr ror another out

iound there was nothing TO be gainedby
keeping watch, on the gentleman you ment
tioned, SIR, SO L went to Scotland and tried
back from there. As soon as | worked on
my lay j found ont all about il. The
Iady went from Calendar 10 Edinburgh, from
edinburgh to London, from London to FOlke-
stone, and from Folkest0ne TO Boulong."
L glanced at Carriston. All his calmness
seemed @ have returned. He was leaning
against the mantelpiece, and appeared quite
unmoyed by Mr.. Sharpe's clear statement as
TO tho route Madeline had taken.
vi course, coiiti'icd Mr.. Sharpe, II was
not quite certain ] was tracking the right
person, although her description correspond
ed WIN the likeness you gave me. But as
you are sure this article Of jewelry belonged
doubt"
',0fcoarse," | said, seeing that GARRISON
had no Intention Of speaking. Where did
you find it,"
at was left behind, in a bedroom Of one Of
the principal hotels IN Folkestone. / did 20
over to Boulong, but after that ] thought I
bad learnt all you would care 10 anuw."
There was something In the mGn's manner
which made me dread what was coming.
Again ! looked mt Carriston. His lips were
curved with contempt, but he still kept 81.
lence.
Bo n%@y 70, ssEs} pursued your injuries past
"for this reason, sir. / had learnt enough.
The theory ] had cOncocted was the right one
after al. The lady went ia Edinburgh alone,
right enough; but she didn't leave Edinburgh
alone, nor she didn't leaye london alone, nor
she dldnt stay ~ folkestone-where ! found
the pin-al0ne, nor she didn't 20 10 Boulong
alone. She was accompanied by a young
gentleman who called himself Mr.. Smith;
and what's more, she called herself Mrs.
Smith. Perhaps she was as they lived Ike
man and WIFE"
Whether the fellow was right or mistaken
this explanation OF Madeline's Disappearance
seemed TO give me what 1 cat only compare
TO a smack IN the fase. I stared atthe speak
or in speerhicss astObishmehL If the Ia e
he old SO glibly and circunsta ntially was
true, farewell, so far as | was concerned, u
belief In the love or purity OF women, Made.
Inc Rowan, that creature cta roets dream,
riSton tn ~ Whether wed or unwed mattered
title, with another mani And yet, she was
but q woman. CarTistOn-OT Carr, as she
only knew hinl-was In her eyes poor. The
companion OF her flight might have won her
with gold, Such things have been. Still
My rapid and wrongful meditations were
cut short in an unexpected way. Suddenly |
saw Nh. Sharpe dragged bodily out Of his
chair and thrown on Che floor, whilst Carr q
ton, standing over him, thrasbed the IN a
vigorously with his own ash stickAa conveI-
lent weapon, 50 convenient that 1 felt Mr..
Sh~arPeic0uld not have selected a stick more
appropriate for his own chastisement So
taIriSton seemed TO think, for be laid on
c%heerfully some eight T len good cutting
strokes,
Nevertheless, being a respectable doctor
and man OF peace, | was compelled to inter-
ferc. ] held CarristOn's arm whilst Mr..
Sharpe struggled to his feet, andaiter collect
ing his hat and his ~pocket-bOok, stood glar-
ing vengefully at his assailant, and rubbing
the while such OF the wealS on his back as he
professional fnicds, / could scarcely heib
laughinga at The mans appearance. / doubt
the possibility of any One looking heroic aft
er such e thrashing.
'1ll have the law for this" he growled.
VI amt paid TO be beaten by a mailman"
You're paid. TODD my work, not anoth-
cr's,' said Carriston. Go TO the man who
has oyer-brlbed you and sent YOU 90 tell me
your lies. Go 10 him, tell him that once more
he has failed, Outof my sight"
AS Carrist0n showed signs Of IecOrinpnc-
ing hostile operations, the man fed as far as
the doorway. There, being in comparative
safety. he TUNED with a malignant look.
you'll smart for this" he said, when
they lock you up as a having Ninntic III Try
and get a post a. keeper
/ was glad Is see that CarTiston paid no at
tenttoh TO this parting shaft. He turned bis
back scomfully and the fellow left the room
and the house,
Now are .yon convihcedT' Asked Canls-
ton turning b me,
'tOnyinccd or what? That his tale is un-
true or that he has been misled, | am quite
certain"
"Tush That Is not worth consideration.
Dom Won see that Ralph has done all this?
| sat that man 10 watch him; he found out
the espionage; subOmed my agent, or your
agent, | should say; sent him here with a
4 nm nod nm 4aIn nl tHau. .aG 20 hzltu,rn
that Madeline had deserted me-that was TO
drive me out Of my senses. My cousin is a
fool after all p
Without further proof I cannot believe
that your suspicious are correct" | said; but
| must own I spoke with some hesitation.
Proof A clever man like you ought 10
see ample proof In the fact Of that wretch
having twice called me a madman. 1 have
seen MN but once befOre-y0u know ii 1
then gave him any grounds for making such
an assertion. Tell me. from whom could me
have learnt the word except from nalpn car
ristOnY
| was bound, il only to save my own fepu,
tation Tor sagaclty, 70 confess that the point
noted by Cariiston had raised certain doubts
IN my mind Blu if Ralph Carriston really
was trying by some finely-wTought scheme 10
bring about what he desired. there was all
the more reason for great caution TO be eXer-
cised.
am SOITy you beat the fell0W, i Salu.
lie Will now swear right and left that you
are not in your senses"
"0f course he will. What do | carer
only remember this, Ii Is easier 10 get put
into an asylum than 10 get out of it,"
1t i not 50 very easy for a sane man like
myself TO be put in, especially when he is on
his guard. lhave looked up the law. There
must be q certificate signed by two doctors,
~strge0ns-or, L believe, apotlecaTies will do
who have seen the supposed lunatic alone
and together. I'll take very good care |
speak to no doctor save yourself, and keep
out ofthe way Of surgeons and apothecaries.'
ltquite cheered me to hear him speaking
so seisibly and collectedly about himself, but
| again impressed upon him the need of
great caution. Although 1 could not believe
That his cousin had taken Madeline away, |
was inclined to think, after the affair with
the spy, that, as Carriston averred, he aimed
at getting him, sane or insane, into a mad
house.
But after all these days we were not a step
nearer to the discovery Of Madeline's where
abouts. Carriston made no sign OF doing
anything to facilitate that discovery. Again
| urged him 10 iutrust the whole affair 20 the
police. Again he refused 10 do 81, ouing
That he was not quite ready. Ready for what
l wondered
"