San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-10-13
YES, had fainrng turn; she cried,

wondering now LHG ueICS Jlt liSllOi-
able Frank Holden knew anything about
this girl, and what he wanted to see her
for now joined il the conversation,
and stepping forward interrupted Lizzie,
and said, Excuse me, Mr.. Holden, but
as happened to be at Jordan & Marsh's
when Miss Mason tainted, perhaps / can
give yOu the information you desire"
He recognized he and thanked me,
though at the same time | could see
that he was annoyed at my presence.
The illness IS nothing to be alarmed
at or startled about, said. merely a
little fairtiIga tlcvcsulS OF shock:
she mast be much bev."r, rs she has gone
ut.
Yes. Of course. Excuse me if seem
inquisitive, but l am very much inter
ested in Miss Atason's welfare. May ask
what caused the shock"
why, certainly" | replied, growing
more and more surprised as the CONVEX
sation continued. SHE received u pack
age the contents of which seemed to
startle her"
Yes, know; it was sample of rib
bon"
How the devil did You l;nowit though?
thought to myself, but did nOtsay so.
Red ribbon, wasn't it," he continued.
But of course it was"
mo" replied. at was purple"
If had struck him blow in the face
he could not have Eeen more startled.
He turne! very pale and staggered like
drunken man. |. looked at him, too as
tonished to speak. "Purple:" he gasped;
then, without giving me time to speak,
he contirucd: There must be some
dreadful mistake: you say she went out?"
Miss Mason: Yes"
"Where did she go: Do you know"
Il was told she had goue to Maiden on
business by this girl here"
Good God! she'll kill herself if can't
get there first to stop her! Where can
get cab? Tell me quick"
Here's mine-you are welcome to it:
can | give You any assistance
"No, nothing: am the only one who
can save her. This is an awful sort of
marriage day for her though, poor girl. +"
Marriage day! Who was going to
marry her,
81 was" he cried, and jumping into
the cab ratified away up the street and
out of sight in moment.
was astnnished. am not generally
it takes too much eXertiOn. | looked
at the servant and saw that she was as
astonished as was, for she stared after
the carriage for moment and then
laughed. That was the difference be-
tween her establishment and mine. |
tried to thin; out some solution for the
mystery, and she, like all uncultivated
people, and the majority of women,
laughed at what she could not under
stand
Her laughter grated on me, and said
somewhat sharply: Il see nothing to
laugh at. Do YOU
The young gent used to be mighty
sweet on her a while ago, but he hain't
been near her for more'n three months,
and now jist because she amt at home
he gets riled," she replied and laughed
again.
walked away thinking and very much
puzzled was already becoming sus-
picious of the whole matter. Were all
these things that had happened coinci-
dences? | thought not. But if they
were not tn Il they depended on each
other, and how that was possible could
not understand. Could it be that l had
been used as a tool in this matter by
Miss OrmsAy, and that the package con-
tanned something mort than knew Of:
But what possible connection could there
be between the beautiful Miss OrInsby
and the little shop girl? Why should
Mr.. Holden be going to marry a girl
whom he had not seen for three months:
Why should she kill herself, and how
could he prevent it: And lastly, what
had the scrap of purple ribbon got to do
with the affair, anyhow? For there was
| no doubt i'll my mind that it was the link
that bound the whole mystery together.
The saying that If there is any mis-
| chief brewing there is always a woman
in the case, is trite enough to be sure;
and have invariably found lit be true.
Who was the woman:
Every indication so far pointed to but
one. and that was Miss Ormsby.
There was but one break in the chain
of the evidence that marked her out as
being at the bottom of the matter, and
that was the absence of any motive for
getting rid of the shop girl in Jordan &
| Marshs.
Evidently Unjust Try to find out what
| could from Miss Onnsby. That, how
ever, was 20 easy matter, for knew her
character well enough to know that |
could not make her tell me what she did
not choose to, though | BEGAN to have an