Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-03-15

any hopes in that direction. ought to
have letter from him soon, and that
will put Us on his track at once. l think
l have his last epistle by me still. If go,
the address will be useful. I'll look for
1t now"
Gates unlocked drawer and looked
through some letters filed with extreme
care.
"I'm afraid I destroyed it," he said,
at length. II now remember what l
kept it for, and as soon as the purpose
was fulfilled I burned it. never keep
old letters; it would not fit in with my
wandering life"
This was disheartening. However,
determined to find out something about
the man / wanted.
"You say you knew him intimately,
MIR. Gates?"
"Yes, I did-that is, If living for
three months on end with him gives me
the right to do 80. I first met Arthur
Durant in the Allegheny mountains in
North Carolina. He had gone up there
to inspect some mica mines, and I was
there to look at some gem deposits. We
both foregathered at little three
roomed wooden house, whioh was more
drinking shanty than hotel, and as the
mica and gems were in adjacent strata
we did much of our work together. 1t
was longish job, because the stuff we
were after was undoubtedly there, and
what we had to decide was whether the
quantities would paS for working, and
so three months Of daily intercourse
had passed before we could arrive at
our decision. You can get to know q
man very we'll in that time.
"Then saw nothing Of him until I
ran ND against him in the Strand about
three years ago. He seemed to be in
clover at that time. He told me be had
made his pile and was then engaged in
spending it. He had just taken hunt
ing box in a sporting county, and he
asked me to stay with him. intended
doing so, but never found the time. I
saw him again after he had given 1t up.
He talked of travelling, but had no
definite plans. Then I heard from him
in Matabeleland and South Africa gen.
orally. He writes to me three or four
times in the twelvemonth, and the last
letter l had from him wac, as l said,
from Denver, about four months ago."
"When he was in the country, Mr.;
Gates, he paid marked attentions to
Lady Florence Mostyn, and, I believe,
asked the Duke of Lundy for his daugh-
ter's hand. The duke refused it, and
soon afterward Lady Florence disap-
peared.. From your knowledge of the
man, do you think it probable that Du-
rant was concerned in that? Do you
think he persuaded the lady to run away
with him, il fact?"
Mr.. Gates lay back in his chair and
reflected few minutes before replying.
Then he said slowly:
cit is a difficult thing to be certain Of
any mans conduct where 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 pettiooat
appeared. l 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
etood over me, looking me straight In
the face, "no, sir. Arthur Durant Is
not man of that Sort He is straight as
die, and I would trust him as trust
myself"
"He certainly has very good friend
in you, Mr.. Gates" remarked, for
Gates defense of his absent friend had
somewhat surprised me. Ihad certainly
not given him credit Of being capable Of
60 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 an ardent lover,
whoever persuaded her to take the step,
and would scarcely have tired Of her 30
soon."
"There is certainly something In
that" remarked.
"Rut there.would be no harm done In
irving to find where Durant is," con-
tinued Mr.. Gates II have friends both
in Salt Lake City and in Frisco, and
can either write to them to make In
ouiries or give you letters Of introduc-
ton to them if you prefer to do 60 your
SELF"
"You are extremely kind" ! replied,
land I cannot thank you enough for
your offer and 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.
I simply want to be put in communica-
tion with Mr.. Durant"
81 understand perfectly" said Mr..
Gates, "and I will write by the next
mail and ask for cable if Durant ia
found"
I thanked him warmly for his good
Offices and rose to go. And now notice
on what trivial things our lives are
made to hinge. / 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 bis curios
and gave me some interesting particu-
lars about them. I 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 had left 1t
half open. In the corner nearest me 1
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