Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-09-23
ooh, I Oaresny shall Grace Him
Easily EnOuxho

serious doubts-doubts which a more
careful observation of surroundings
and further questioning of the land
lady by no means tended to allay.
Then he showed his teeth.
Possibly you knew her by a differ
ent name.' he remarked gruffly, "but
you certainly let rooms here to a young
lady, of whom am in search. To save
further trouble let me tell you at once
that I am a detective, and that any
evasion on your part may have un-
pleasant consequences"
Women Of the Ratten stripe entertain
q very wholesome dread of the secret
police, for a variety of obvious rea-
sons.
"A young woman calling herself Miss
Clifford did occupy my drawing
rooms" she admitted with evident re-
luctance. "She left quite suddenly and
without notice nearly a fortnight ago.
have been expecting she would re-
turn if only to fetch her clothes and
portmanteail; but 1 have seen nothing
Of her sinca.''
"Have ycu no idea why she left thus
suddenly" demanded Josiah sternly.
NO." was the reply. "She and an
other young lady, also ledger, went
out together and Miss Clifford never
returned. That's all l know"
"Then I must see this other lodger,"
said Josiah promptly.
| Daisy FitZci:,rence was accordingly
| interviewed. She and Miss Clifford had
| dined with a friend at the Maison
Doree in Soho. She had left them to-
gether after dinner and had seen moth
ing of Miss Clifford since.
Did Miss Clifford's failure to re-
turn here strike you rs suspicious or
stranger" queried Josiah.
NO" answered Daisy, with hard
little laugh, II can't say it did. have
heard of that sort of thing before
1t was with some difficulty that Jo-
siah Skinner succeeded in persuading
irate Mrs. Baxter to hold her peace.
eve can do nothing more here at pres
ent,' he urged, land oul next inquiries
must be made in Soho"
| Little more was to be learned at the
Maison Doree. The head waiter told
them that he remembered the gentle
man who had been compelled to retire
to rest owing to sudden indisposition
shortly after dinner. The dark woman
had taken a hanson to Charing Cross.
Did he know the gertleman's name
and address who dined with the
ladies'? No: he knew him only by sight
as an occasional patron of the house.
He left early in the morning, and had
not since visited the establishment.
| Walters are discreet race.
$50 the end of all these inquiries is
that we get back to Charing Cross no
wiser than when we started" exclaim-
ed Mrs Baxter in bitter disappoint-
ment What is the use Of knowing
where Miss Zana has been? want to
find out where she is now"
"See here, Mrs. Baxter" replied the
detective gravely, what we have seen
and heard to-day means more to me,
than it probably does to you; and, to
tell you the truth, 1 don't like the look
of things at all"
"What do you mean?" faltered Mrs.
Baxter, alarmed at her companions
serious manner.
'Just this" explained Josiah. "Miss
Zana went into, or was inveigled into,
that house at Hammersmith, which,
from many unmistakable signs, am
| quite certain is Of a very shady de-
scription. How she allowed herself to
be persuaded into dining with gentle
man at the Maison Doree is quite unac-
countable But, depend upon it, her
cScS NClC OpCuCu w tuC CAloICASC VI
some foul treachery at that dinner, and
that is why she never revisited Ham-
mersmith, even to remove her belong
ings. She probably drove to Charing
Cross as being the locality with which
she was best acquainted"
poor lambw walled Mrs. Baxter.
ooh, sir, is there no hope of finding
her:' And the kind-hearted woman
fairly broke down.
YES" answered Josiah, "there is
a very good chance. too. Luckily we
know the date of this dinner and al
most the exact time when she must
have reached Charing Cross. She is
the sort Of girl to attract notice, and
the waiter gave me description Of
how she was dressed. l wish felt as
sure OF tracing Ernest Norton as I do
OF finding her"
Bother Ernest Nortonw snapped out
Mrs. Baxter. greatly treasured by the
detectives words. Hes at the bot
tom Of all the mischief. How soon do
you expect to have news Of her?'
impossible to say" was the reply.
Perhaps within q few hours, perhaps
not for days. Were I you, madam, I'd
return to Southampton. Ill telegraph
when have found her. No, thank you.