The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-04-06

1
accompany him from the house., and
where had they gone?
These thoughts flashed through
Brett's head with bewildering rapid
ity, but for an answer to them he
sought in vain. He paced up and
down the room, striving to find some
clew to this fresh mystery, and at
length, giving it up in despair, he stood
by the window, each moment fondly
hoping that the next would bring him
the sight of Mabel returning from a
bootless errand.
The minutes passed with awful slow.
ness. Five.o'clock struck, but she had
not arrived, and Brett turned hopelessly
away from the window.
At quarter past Mr.. Fenton came
in, and Brett at once told him what had
occurred and something of what he
feared. Il
"Good God, Duncan Who is there
who could wish to harm her?''
Heaven only knows, SIR" said
Brett. 81 have been trying in vain to
conjecture, but we must lose no more
time. l am going at once to give in
formation to the police, and think it
would be as we'll for you to break the
news to Mrs. Fenton. At present she
knows nothing"
Brett hurried off to Scotland Yard.
He had been frequent visitor there of
late, but the mission that brought him
this time was to him the most terrible
of them all. He returned with de-
tective, who took minute particulars
from Soames, the footman. about the
strange visitor and what he had said,
and who learned from Mabel's maid
what her mistress would be likely to be
wearing. Armed with these scant par
ticulars the man took his leave, with
the assurance that every power the law
possessed should be set in motion to
trace the missing one.
1t was terrible evening for that
house in De We're Gardens. The son was
a prisoner, awaiting his trial for MUIR
der; the daughter had been foully de-
ooyed. And who could tell of her fate?
Mr.. and Mrs. Fenton were in state
of utter prostration under the last ter
rible blow that had been dealt them,
and Brett was almost beside himself
with the knowledge Of his impotence to
help the woman whom he loved more
than life itself.
Brett passed sleepless night and by
o'clock next morning was again with
the police. Their inquiries had been in
vain. Every likely spot had been search
ed, all the hospitals had been visited,
! but without result, and the clew they
had was too slender to hope for much
success from it.
With weary heart Brett turned
away, determined to take step which
had occurred to him during the night.
1t was bold and probably a useless
one. In his calmer moments he would
have at once dismissed the idea, but he
had now worked himself up into ter
rible state of excitement and had resolv-
ed to leave no step untaken that might
| possibly lead to clew.
He walked straight to the Metropole
and asked for Mr.. Keighley Gates. He
found that gentleman at breakfast in
his dressing gown. He raised his eye
brows when he saw who his visitor was.
"You are an early caller, Captain
| Brett" said he.
81 must apologize, Mr.. Gates, for
coming at this hour, but I feared l
| might miss you if called later. The
fact is, Miss Fenton has been abducted.
Indeed! am sorry to hear it, but
you don't think have had hand in
the matter, do your
"Hardly, Mr.. Gates, but do think
you know the man who did it. have
every reason to believe it was the man
I met coming from you the last time I
called"
Really Which man was that?'
"The tall individual I spoke to you
about. He called himself DR.. Fitzgerald
when met him some weeks ago, but
you said he had given you another
name and that he had been on beg
ging errand. "
sAh, I remember the man."
"Can you tell me anything about
| him?''
"I'm afraid I cannot. I had never
seen him before"
"Can you tell me the name he gave
to your"
81 have even forgotten that"
Mr.. Gates gave these replies in an
| icily polite voice. Brett saw the inter
rogations did not please him, and he
himself was annoyed at his own want
of success. But he had got it into his
head that Mr.. Gates was withholding
| information he had it in his power to
give, and he grew reckless. He stared
| at Mr.. Gates incredulously.
'Do you doubt my words, Captain
Brett?'' said the other after an awkward
pause.
II do, Mr.. Gates You have deceived
me once and may be doing so now"
| Mr.. Gates bowed with an absolutely
expressionless face, got up and moved
toward the fireplace.
"Before I ring the bell for the serv-
ant to show you out, Captain Brett. per-
haps you would be kind enough to
specify the occasion on which l deceiv-
ed you.
"You told me you did not take Lady
Florence Mostyn's photograph from the
Scotland Yard album and Substitute an
other for it. I have the best reason for