Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-09-09
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O. " VAN II

every grade OF society; whose profess
sion 1t is to prey upon their fellow
creatures. both at home and abroad,
both upon land and sea: whose exist
cIce is known to the police, yet whose
art has hitherto shielded them from
punishment"
Madame, all this is very shocking"
said the half-stupcicd captain.
Monsieur, ii Is true. 1t was through
the agency of this fraternity Of evil
the abductions Of my daughter are in
both instances accomplished. And
ucw to return to the point from which
we started. To prove that no murder
has been committed. l have only to call
your attention TO the similarity of ar
tifice in the first abduction and the
last one. In both instances ii was an
abduction attempted to be disguised rs
a death-in the case of the infant, an
accidental death by drowning; In the
case of the bride, a murder by her
bridegroom
But. Madame, / do not understand
how it was that these wretches
spared the life of the child, or after
ward of the lady, when 1t was in their
power. Surely. 1t is but a short step
from such a crime as theirs to that Of
murderg'
Monsieur, I have heard that this
fraternity of the fiend stop at blood
shed-that rhe rules of their order for
bid ii except in defense of their own
lives. l do not know low this is. 1t is
only n rumor. Paris is full of rumors
concerning this dreaded. secret, yet
al~l-pcrvading baad. You sec, how
ever. Ivy what l have told you, that all
those seeming signs of assassination
were only arranged to deceive. Is
trea has been carried off. But for
them to accomplish this, they must
have confederates. who drugged the
wine of the bridal pair, and. after
ward, opened the doors to the abduct-
ors. Monsieur, now that we are on
the true track, believe me, we shall
find our lost one"
Heaven grant 1t, Madame. This
hope gives me more strength than all
the Doctors drugs. But-confeder-
ates in this house, a house full of old
and tried family servants"
And no strangers, Monsieur
"Eh. stop, LET rs see, Aye, to be
sure, there Is n French femme-de-
chambre. who came over with my lit
tie Daney from Paris. and also, n
chef-de-cuisine. that l was 50 foolish
as 10 engage in Washington"
Monsieur, one or the other is a
confederate of the kidnappers! have
both Detained said the lady. eagerly.
Madame, if you think that, Ill be
dashed II was going TO say, and | beg
your pardon for it,, IL l do not have
them both before me Immediately"
said the captain, violently ringing the
bell.
Ii was answered by Mandy.
send the French maid and the
French cook to me directly" said the
captain.
Please, marse, they've gone, sir"
said Mandy.
Gone" eclaimed the captain.
Its n confirmation" said the lady.
'Yes. sir, they are gone. After Marse
Fulke Greville was rested, they
lowed how they &C uldn't dtmean their
selves by staying in the sarvice OF
g~entlefOllls as got themselves muir
| dered, or took up for murder, and how
they'd rather lose their quarters wages
first. And so they told Miss Hit; and
they packed up and TUX themselves off
in the Busy Bee, as she passed the day
afore yes'day."
1T is a confirmation" said the lady.
oEce more. But where does the Busy
Bee go?'
ITO the City of Baltimore-one Of
our largest seaports."
''Then they have escaped us. SO,
now. let us turn our attention to the
one enterprise of recovering our lost
one. My attorney, Mr.. Dunbar, has
BUSH ess that requires his presence in
New York almost Immediately. He
will leave tomorrow, returning with
the carriage and horses that brought
us down. We will draw up advertise
ments and charge him with the duty
of having them inserted in all the
papers. We. Monsieur lie Captaine, had
better remain for a few days in the
neighborhood, and pursue u investi-
cations here. l can perhaps find fit
ting lodgings in Cornport."
Madame. yes, it is better that we
remain here for the present, not only
10 pursue our Investigations into this
mysterious affair upon the spot where
it occurred. but also to afford comfort
aad support 10 one who Is suffering at
one. under an unparalleled bereave-
ment and IN unjust accusation. | re-
fer to Fulke GreviIe. my nephew"
"And my son! You are right, Mon
sieur"
"Eut, Madame. I hope you will not
wound me by thinking Of any other
lodging while you remain in this neigh
bcrhcod, than that which shelters my
own gray heal. NV house is poor,
lady compared with your mansions in
Italy and France; yet it Is. perhaps,
more comfortable than any lodgings
you can find in Cornport. i am an I'M
fortunate wretch of an old bachelor,
1t is true; bur then. l have at the head
OF my household a lady of advanced
years and immaculate reputation.
Madame, l beseech you. therefore, to
do me the honor of making my house
your Eoine.'
II thank you, Monsieur lie Captaine.
1t only needed that | should know it
would be agreeable to yourself to
make 1t very pleasant to mer'
Gould Madame lie Marquise doubt
that?"
~And, Monsieur lie Captaine, will
leave you to repose for a few hours,
while l go and have a consultation
with my lawyer" said the lady, rising
and slightly curtsying as she withdrew
from the room.
H