The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-04

wanted to wake her himself and see how
sho acted"
But you wcro not i'll her room nor
lathe breakfast room nj ociuck. =" Mr..
Barnes scrutiniAcd her closely. "Whero
were your" Tho girl turned crimson
and stammcrcd few words inaudibly
Come, tell mo where you wcro, " said
Mr.. Barnes sharply. "You were some
wlEcrc, you know. Where wero you?"
81 was in the down stairs hallway, "
sho said slowly.
Doing what?"
81 WAS talking to the policeman, " she
replied reluctantly
"Your boau?" suggested Mr.. Barnes
significantly.
"No, sir, Ho is my husband. " She
tossed her head dctiantly now that her
secret was divulgcd.
Your husband"' said Mr. Barnes,
slightly surprised. "Why, then, did you
hesitate to speak of him:"
'BCcauSC-bCCauSo '-Shc stammercd
once moro and seemed troublcd-"bo-
cause maybe if | had not been talking
to him Miss Nora wouldn't nave been
carried OF. Ho might have seon tho
thief -
Just So, said Mr.. Barnes, and q,
tho doctor was announced no allowed
the maid to go.
DIR. Donaldson appeared to be q gen
lal, elderly medical man of the Old
school-ono of those who bring an al,
mosphero of convalcscenco and hope into
sick chambers. Mr.. Gcdncv introduced
him to Mr.. Barnes, and no advanced
and shook the detective cordially by tho
hand.
81 an delighted, Mr. Barnes, that my
old friend Gcdncy has been sensible
enough to engage you to unravol this af-
fair rather than call in the police The
police are bunglcrs, who depend for sue
cess upon publicity and newspaper aid.
This affair can be managed without pub.
licity, eh? You have looked into the
matter: What DO you Think"
"That is precisely the question, doc.
tor, winch | was abOnt to ask you. Mr..
Godncy tells mo that you think somnam-
buliSm. "
Just so. But only said it might be
that Doctors you know, arc rs careful
as detectives in forming conclusions
You have heard that | was called in TO
see the dear little girl on Monday night?
MelI, round her III strange mood
| thinking 1T over, | have almost con
Vlnccd myself that what we took for
stubbornncss-sulks, | think I called it
was somnambulism-that in fact.
she was asleep when l saw her. That
would account for her not replving to
| questions anG Offering no resistance
| whom hpr M I'D Il -
put her to bed. Still, it is merely guess
1t Is possible that she arose in tho night
and wandered out of the honsc. only
| venture the suggestion as II vague clcw
for you to work from ~
What do you think Of this letter."
asked Mr. Barnes, handling him the
anonymous communication signed "M.
| E."
The doctor read it twice over and then
said:
Looks moro like sonnambulism than
ever. Don't you see? She must have
dressed herself in the night and wan
dcrcd off. Some one found her and has
taken her home and now tries to make
capital out Of it, Will you notice this?"
We have already inserted an advcr-
|
ney, asking for terms"
suppose that was tho wiscst
course" !" said the doctor, "and | hope
you will soon recover little Nora. /
trust, though, that Mr.. Barnes may be
ahiG TO save you paving out anything to
tho scomdrcl. Well, other people are
waiting for me, with which remark
Dr. Donaldson left the house.
Mr. Barnes promised Mr. Gedney to
ioSc no time i'll his search and was leav-
ing tho house, whcn at tho door, the
butler stopped him by saying:
'Ihcro's one thing perhaps, sir, that
1 ought to tell you, though It may not
amount to anything.
"What is it?" asked Mr.. Barnes.
well, sir us you know, the master
was out on Monday night. 1t was near
~ O'Clock when the doorbell rang,
which surprised me. | answered the
bell, and it was Mr.. Mitchell. "
MIR. Leroy Mitchell" asked tho de-
tective, much Interested
'Yes, sir. He comes here often
though not so late at night. Ie said he
was passing. and, seeing light in the
Library, thought he'd drop in and have
n cigar with the master. When told
him Mr.. Gcdney was not at home, ne
said it was Of no consequence, and
needn't mention that he had called"
''Did you tell Mr.. Gcdney of this vis-
it?"
'No, sir, though / did think it odd to
be asked to keep it secret" Tho but.
lcr uttered the last word in worry sug.
gestivo tone. but tho detective appeared
not to notice it.
"1'll just step back and speak word
with Mr.. Gedney," said Mr.. Barnes
after brief pause Finding that gen
tleman, hsaasked:
"By tho way, Mr.. Gedncy. when you
spoke to Mr.. Mitchell about this matter
what did ho think Of iti Did nc express
any opinion?"
"Yes. He said the doctor was most
likely correct, and that he thought that
Nora had merely wandered away in her
sleep; that she was not really abducted
at all. He told mo to cheer up and not
TO worry about the girl; that she would
soon be at home again Then he SCI me
to you, saying you could find her with
out difficulty"
''Ho has faith in my Abilities" NUT
tered tho detective, then added aloud, 81
will endeavor to deserve Mr.. Mitchell g
opinion" and once more Withdrew.
On his way home Mr.. Barnes rcvolved
an idea in his mind, trying to decide