The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-02-15
cit is a difficult thing to be certain Of

- 1t is a d1nculG thing 20 Do C6rtaiu W
any mans conduct where a woman is
concerned, Captain Brett. | have known
men who had always been the very soul
of honor throw up all their traditions
and come cropper when the pettlcoa5
appeared 1 wouldn't stake my life On
any mans line Of action then, but my
firm belief is that if Durant could not
have got the lady straight and above
board he would have left her. He is not
the man to do anything dirty or under
hand. No, sir, and Gates rose and
stood over me, looking me straight in
the face, "no, sir. Arthur Durant is
not man of that sort. He is straight as
a die, and I would trust him as trust
myself
"He certainly has very good friend
in you, Mr.. Gates" 1 remarked, for
Gates defense of his absent friend had
somewhat surprised me. had certainly
not given him credit of being capable of
so much chivalrous feeling for anybody.
Gates did not reply, but went on:
"And Durant could hardly be the
man you want, since he left the country
SO soon after the lady's disappearance.
He must have been az ardent lover,
whoever persuaded her to take tie step,
and would scarcely have tired of her so
soon. -
"There is certainly something in
that" remarked.
"But there would be no har1o done in
trying to find where Durant is, )" con-
tinued Mr. Gates. 81 have friends both
in Salt Lake City and in Frisco, and
can either write to them to make in
quiries or give you letters of introduc-
tion to them if you prefer to do so your
self.
"You are extremely kind" I replied,
'tand I cannot thank you enough for
your offer aad the information you have
given me. If you would be good enough
to write to your friends yourself on the
matter, shall be much indebted to you.
simply want to be put in communica-
tion with Mr.. Durant."
ST understand perfectly" said Mr..
Gates, "and I will write by the next
mail and ask for cable if Durant is
found.
thanked him warmly for his good
Offices and rose to go. And now notice
on what trivial things .our lives are
made to hinge. l had been rather struck
by some of the weapons displayed on
the walls, and as walked toward the
door made some remark about them.
Gates seemed pleased to shoW his curics
and gave me some interesting partlcu-
lars about them. was standing by the
drawer which Gates had opened to find
Durant's letter. 1t had jammed when
he tried to close it and he haG left it
half open. In the corner nearest me
happened to notice photograph on the
top of some papers. 1t struck my eye
quite casually, and somehow it awakened
recollectiens in my mind. glanced at
it again while my host was talking and
showing the weapons. 1t was the pic
ture of woman, and was certain l
had seen it before, but for the life CT
me I could not remember when or
where, and all the time I was talking
and listening to Gates my mind was
groping fer clew, but I could not find
one.
At last bade my host adieu and left
him. I was very well satisfied with my
afternoons s work, for felt sure that
Durant would be abie to help US and
wishful to do so, since be had undoubt-
edly been in lcve with Lady Florence.
was thinking of this while was max
ing my way out Of the hotel. l had Just
gained the pavement outside when sud
denly it flashed across me why the Pho
tograph in Mr.. Keighley Gates drawer
had attracted my attention.
I mad seen that photograph before,
and it was then in the Scotland Yard
album, over the name of Lady Florence
Mostyn
What did this mean?
Who could this other woman be?
Who had put her photograph in the
Scotland Yard album? And for what
purpose had it been done?
There was something very mysterious
here.