Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-04-28

Zenith. who told me that Miss Stella
had suddenly left for New York the
evening before. with cousin who re-
sides here"
who is the cousin?"
Miss Zenith evaded that lnforma-
ton"
Has your daughter a cousin here.
Captain"
mo. She has an uncle. but no cou-
sin. | do not believe this statement:
L is a subterfuge employed TO deter
me. Mollie could not have told him
anything OF the kind for the reason
hat she knew better She not only
knows that she has no cousin here.
but she knew that at that moment
her sister was visiting friend in the
country; a Miss Letson, who lives at
Barton, twenty miles from Miners
vale. What we have since learned is
that Stella missed the train and told
the Lessons that she would walk
home. They could not dissuade her.
though they made every effort, and she
started. She has been traced some
thing more than half way: TO a point
where the road divides one branch
leading to Minersvale, the other TO a
I.
She disappeared at that point. She
could have reached that station and
have telegraphed TO him why she fail
ed TO meet him. She doubtless did 50
and under his Instructions waited
there for him and then accompanied
him 10 this city. She is infatuated
with him and / have 10 doubt that he
has induced her TO run away TO marry
him"
Good God, mani Can you be so
crazy? Have you conjured up such
ridiculous idea and acted upon il with
out searching the country along that
road? Officer. how soon will a train
start for Scranton?' said the adjutant
in great excitement
Did you employ no detective? Did
you test your theory by any effort 10
learn If she had telegraphed to this
gentleman or he TO herr"
NO"
who was with herr"
'She was alone
Had she any admirer who, know.
ing her preference for this gentleman,
may have become revengeful?"
No"
why did you not search the coun-
try?"
81 did. Accompanied by my daught-
er Carrie, | drove all night searching
along that road for her. If she had
been on or near that road we could
not have missed her."
What, then, led you to conclude
that she has eloped?"
"MOllie suggested IL and II az once
struck me as the only explanation.
Yet Mollie could not possibly have
believed it. for she had seen aim the
day before and positively knew that
he supposed her to have come to New
York. What is her nature? Do not
you think it at least possible that she
knows what has become OF her sis
ter?"
NO"
Ever since you telegraphed us
have been watching clis gentleman.
| know positively that he no. only ar.
rived alone but that he travelled with
out a companion all the way from
Scranton. | am confident that he tells
the truth aud that Miss Zenith did as
sure him that her sister had come 10
New York. You VII see here that he
believed and acted upnn what Miss
Zenith told him; for he has been ad-
vertising for Miss Stella" and the de-
tective handed to Captain Zenith a
paper containing the adjutant's ad-
vertisement and continued:
Now, having started the lieutenant
on wild goose chase Mollie started
you after him, knowing that her sister
had not come TO New York as she told
him she had. and that she had not
eloped with him as she suggested to
you. II she had no object in doing
these things she would not have done
them?"
We'll, what Is your idea?"
You must pardon my questions IL
they seem harsh; we must consider
every possible explanation or we are
likely to work in the dark and more
than likely almost certain. to go
wrong Had Miss Stella, possibly
any reason TO desire concealment?
Is it possible that she may have had
any shame to hide?"
Good heavens. man! Mol"
Great God! No! MOI"
Let that be concluded. 1t is, then,
my suspicion that Mollie knows what
has become OF her sister and has rea-
sons of her own for wishing to divert
attention from the right quarter You
will pardon me, Captain, for saying
this to her father; take for granted
that you wish to get on the right
scent?"
81 am now convinced that l have
been wrong. / beg your pardon, Lieu
tenant Jacquese. for my suspicious and
for my language. However, sir,
cannot think that Mollie knows where
Stella is"
do not think of me! Let us think
of Miss Stella! My God! What has
become of herr" said the adjutant.
"She may be living; she may be
dead. l think that Miss Zenith knows
what has become OF her in either
case" said the detective.
Man, Man! Do you intimate that
Mollie Is n sorosicide?'
I'm my opinion she knows where her
sister Is and is anxious to mislead
others in that respect.If the young
lady is living she is either in hiding
of her own will or she is concealed
against her will. Why, Is yet to be
learned: but in either case, Mollie
knows"
What is to be done?"
Trace Miss Stella on that road as
far as you can; suspect especially the
last person known to have seen her
and after that those who possibly may
have or who probably did see her; all
whom she might reasonably have been
expected to encounter on her way
home from the point at which your
clues fail"
Let us hasten back. We Will fol-
low this gentleman's suggestions,
said the adjutant. and II we do not
succeed at once we will telegraph for
him and secure his services on the
ground"
IL am completely baffied and ready
to adopt any course you advise" Cap
tain Zenith answered.