Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-09-27
WIT.

Although Carriston stated that he came TO
me for aid, and, IL may be, protection, he
manifested the greatest reluctance in follow
ing any advice / offered him. The obstinaey
of his refusal TO obtain the assistance of the
police placed me I'm a predicament. That
Madeline Rowan had really disappeared l
was, of course, compelled to believe. IL
might even be possible that she was kept
against her will in some place OF conceal
ment. In such n case IL behouved us 10 take
proper steps to trace her. Her welfare should
not depend upon the h~allucinatiOns and &C.
centric ideas of a man half out Of his senses
with love and grief. all but resolved, even
at the risk of FORGETTING Carriston's friend
ship, TO put the whole matter In the hands OF
the police, unless in the course of a day or
two we heard from the girl herself, or Carris-
ton suggested some better plan.
Cufiously enough, although refusing 10 be
guided by me, he made no suggestion on his
own recount. He was racked By fear and
suspen sc, yet his only idea of solving his diff
~ficulties seemed TO be that Of waiting. He
did nothing. lie simply waited, as IL he ex-
pected that nance would bring what he
should have been searching for high and
low.
Some days passed before | could get a
tardy consent that aid should be sought.
Even then he would not go TO the proper
quarter; but he allowed me TO summon 10
our councils a man who advertised himself
as being a private detective. This man, or
one OF his men, zane at our call, and heard
what was wanted of him. Carriston reluc-
family gave him one of Madeline's photo
graphs. He also told him that only by watch.
ing and spying on Ralph Carriston's every
action could he hope TO obtain the clew. /
did not much like the course adopted. nor
did i like the look of the man to whom the
inquiry was intrusted; but at any rate some
thing was being done.
A week passed without news from ON
agent CafristOn, In truth, did not seem e
expect any. / believe he only employed the
man in Difference TO my wishes. He moved
about the house in a disconsoiate fashion.
had not told him OF my interview with hi:
cousin, but had cautioned him OF the rare oc
casions upon which he went out OF doors Il
avoid speaking to strangers, and my servants
had strict instructions to prevent any one
coming in and taking my guest by surprise.
Fol | had during those days opened a con
hdentlal inquiry on my own account:
wanted TO learn something about this Mr
Ralph CaSristOn. So / asked a man wht
knew everybody to find out all about him.
He reported that Ralph CarristOn was
man well-knUwn about London. He wa
married and had a house in Dorsetshire; bui
the greater part OF his time was spent IN
town. Once he was supposed to be well-off
but now 1t was the general opinion that every
acre he owned was m0rtgaged, and that h'
was much pressed for money. But" my
informant said, there Is but one life between
him and the reversion 10 large estates, anC
that life is a poor one. | believe even nov
there is talk about tire man who stands In hi
way being mad. IL 81, Ralph Catrlston vii
get the management Of everything"
After this news felt 1t more than eve
needful to keep a watchful eye on my friend
SO far as i knew there had been no recur
renee Of the trance, and | began to hope tina
proper treatment would effect a complet,
cure, when, 10 my great alarm and annoy
ance, CarristOn, while sitting with me, sud
denly and without warning fell into the same
strange state of body and mind as previously
described. This time he was sitting in an
other part of the room. After watching hin
for a minute or two, and just as | was making
up my mind 10. arouse him and scOld hin
thoroughly for his folly, he sprung to his feet
and shouting, LET her go! Loose her,
say ~ rushed violently across the room-so
violently, that | had barely time to interpOs,
and prevent him from coming into contact
| with TIE opposite wall.
ITO ha continued