Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-01-21
CHAPTER XII.
Je.inh Winds a Fresh Job

JOsRuh EfnUS n Fresh Job.
Meanwhile the Mystery of Ernest
Norton" as it came to be called in
newspaper paragraphs, had, SO far, de
lied the efforts of Scotland Yard and
OF Mr.. Josiah Skinner to unravel. The
missing porter had, indeed, been
traced 10 an unsavory den in Clerken-
we'll; but the evidence ELECTED from
him merely proved him to be a liar as
well rs n drunkard. Driven into n cor
ner, he had to confess that he had torn
up the telegram intrusted to him, and
had subsequently lied to the station
master TO save himself from reprimand
or dismissal.
WELL" remarked Josiah to a Scot.
land Yard confrere, "this absolves the
missing a from what looked like a
clear proof Of treachery, at all events.
AS he never got tl.c telegram, he could
not have known the girl was following
him, n SO, of course, he didn't NEE,
her.
That's So" assented the othe- one,
Wicks by Eame, "and it doesn't exact
ly favor the voluntary disappearance
theory"
NO" said Josiah, cit doesn't. In
Tact. | pretty well g..ve up that theory
when l found out he had been person
ated at the bank. There's a strong ia.
vor of foul play about the case now.
Dick"
Two cabmen had called at Exeter
street, each claiming to have driven Il
gentleman corresponding more or less
to the description given. But much
troublesome inquiry as to the subse-
quent movements and identity Of these
gentlemen merely proved them both to
be total strangers to Ernest Norton.
Assuming the latter to have reached
Waterloo, all further trace of him van
ished at that station as though the
earth had opened and swallowed him
up. The only possible conclusion at
which the detectives could arrive was
that he had not quilted the station at
all, but had proceeded by rail to some
destination unknown and, apparently,
undiscoverable.
AS for the man with the piercing
gray eyes, who had successfully hood
winked the bank manager, the chances
OF tracing him upon n more general de-
scrlption, were too remote to be seri-
ousiy entertained. The only reasonable
possibility Of ever obtaining a clue TO
his whereabouts seemed to lie In the
contingency that he might, sooner or
later, seek TO negotiate another draft.
Upon the whole, therefore. the case
bade Fair to take its place In the limbo
OF insoluble mysteries. Scotland Yard
shrugged Its shoulders, and Josiah
Skinner would probably have done the
same but for the arrival one day Mt his
Office OF a portly dame, who announced
herself as Mrs. Martha Baxter, of the
George Hotel. SOUTHAMPTON.
Il know from Miss Zana's letter."
said the worthy landlady. proceeding
straight TO business, "that YOU hay,
been helping her TO find that scalnp
deserted her. and the very las,
time she wrote she confessed that her
eyes had at length been opened TO the
real character. That is all very
well; and was glad to hear il. But
what has become OF the girl herseIfY
] have fretted and Worried about her
until could stand it no longer, and
J m come up to London to find her.
" here is she? She left the hotel In
street weeks ago. Where has
gone tor
I'm sure l don't know acknowi- |
edged Josiah. ut was no part Of nv |
to watch her movements. nj