The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-10-05
VANISHING OF MARY.

Abc NooiH DC hOuit Tor Tea.
Eta lovely evening for riding. think
they've gone around by the lake." said
Laura.
''she'a no business staying Of, I" Fred com;
planned. "she promised 10 show ne scne-
thing before dark, didn't she, JaekT''
'YoH don't suppose she's always ,hink.
ins Of you boys do youF' asked Cissy. seoin.
fully.
Mary was Mn. Blair's niece, who wss
spending some months with them.
kiRs o'clock came. Mrs. Blair walked
shout Hneasily; the boys eamped down to
wait, refusing to 50 TO bed uEiil May had
disclosed 10 them the promised secret.
Ten o'clock.
This begins 10 look ssr,aua." said SIR,
Blair
Perhaps she went at once to her room, {"
suggested Duncan.
"No, looked before dark, ssid cissy.
All prrtshse was thrown away; theyNere
openly anxious and went ia q body 10
search the houae.
I'm 80 and see Il saythiRg has been heard
Of Dick" said Duncan, when they gathered
again in the parlor.
Perhaps their buggy broke dewn Out In
the county somewhere" AIR. blair Said.
Duncan rushed away and ihsy waited ~.
leutly 10 20 minutes he was back, accom-
panied by an excited young nan.
Tel them what yon told me" he coin
maBdcd.
Il brought Miss Stanton bone about half.
past six," the other said. briefly.
Impossible" exclaimed Sir. Blair
II swear ! didl" be exclaimed, vehement.
ly. Il left tho herSs standing and walked TO
the door with her,"
They looked at each other blaukly; then
said Mrs. Blair. solcmnly: mot soul on
this place has ssen her since she left with
you al three"
''She might be-" be began.
We've booked the place over" Mr.. Dlah
interrupted.
All effort was useless. and az the crowd
Of searchcrs gathered toward evening Of
the next day there were many open OK.
prvSsi0ns Of opinion that there had been
foul play.
''it'sunaccountablc. unacrountablc'" nut
tered Mr.. Blair, walking the floor.
Jus, one person ean explain il, and
that's Dick Roberts" said Duncan, iercely.
II have told you ell | know, over and
over again. brought Misa Stanton safe
ly home last evening" Dick replied
but you haven't found a person who saw
you" Said Squire Woods.
1T was getting dusk, and ! suppose
peapls were at supper" Dick explained
You did not come in Of halfpast six
You were not home til nine last night"
Duncan asserted
Diek's white face grew whittier bat he said
nothing.
"Is that tucf demanded Mr.. Blair.
TT IA true that | was not al home I'LL
Gbou, nine" Dick replied
Where were your Squire Woods asked
Il cannot ten you--at present" Dick
kesitatSd bat !, had nothing 10 do with
Miss Stanton"
you were seen about arvcn, driving on
the Harris road with a woman" Duncan
went on. "Thc person could not aay whether
Il was Miss Stanton or not. Explain that"
Dick was silent.
Roberts," Mr.. Blair said. sternly. I'll
you can say anything In explanation you
had batter do IT,"
MIR Blsir-Iaurcl" Dick cried, suddenly
Does II seem to you possible that could
have harmtd Mary ! love her | asked
her 20 be my wife. / was 10 wait for ny
answer until abe bad returned 10 Der home
Do you think could harm her under such
circumstances
That yogr story" Duncan fncercd, IN
jealous fury. IL remains to be proved"
He'll have a chance 10 prove 1t II ht
can" said Squire Woods. Here comes the
officer 10 arrest him
Hut at this instant Wild shrieks we're
heard and Cissy dew In screaming: "Papal
Dickl Come come, Mary" and she turned
back, followed BY the crowd.
Down the hall she darted, through the
back entry into the old wing. where there
was a large ruom with closet the length
Of one aide. Into this Cissy Owed. she
is herr' Size is herel heard hcr'"
II seemed impossible; the closet was
empty. the plaster falling and paper hang
ms IN strips. the far end dark a. a dun.
geon.
Listen! Lstcnl" shricked Classy, herself
drowning all other noise
flushing her, Air. Blair listened mo.
mcni, then exclaimed: ITS true! She IL
here sumcw here"
lie struck a match. disclosing small
door, against which Dick flung himself fn.
riously, bursting 1t 10.
Ia a moment he dashed out into the ait
with Mary lying limp in his arms
Half an hour later she had recovered sui.
6ciently 10 tell her story
Il found that little DARK place a few day.
ago. vas making a secret Of Il 10 tease
the boys. because they never had found ii,
and they play in those old rooms 20 much
When Dick left me last night went there.
intending TO show Il to them: they were not
there, but ! thought heard them coming,
and ! called and then ran IN the little closet
and pushed the door to, aud somehow il
fastened 20 that | could not open II. At
first ! laughed at getting myself in such
prcdicsment | thought the boys would
come ia soon and | kncw what a Joke il
would be to them. But they didn't come
and I called for help. and my voice sounded
80 mufiied ! Erew frightened. fearing no
one would ever hear me. II seems to be
eslled uP almost alright. and bu, for the
rat holes believe shoald have smolhered.
"TlI have that old part torn down az
once" declared Mr.. Blair. I've been in.
tending to do 20 ever since | bought the
place last spring"
A woman came pushing hes way in.
Dick Roberts was with ms last Hight,"
she cried. MY sou lsoms Of you know what
habiia he has fallen into) came home 20
craEed With drink that could do nothing
ailh him. and had to so for help. met
Dick and he went home with me and stayed
uatil frank bad gone TO sleep. My boy is
sick to-day and ! have been kept at home.
eame as soon as beard. for asked Diek
to say nothing shout my trouble last even.
ina. am very glad that Miss stanton has
been found. ] think you might have known
Dirs Roberts better" and she departed ss
swiftly "a she haG cone.
-Oh. Dick. did they think Mary be
GAN.
II don't blaine them" Dick broke IN. lit
looked hard fer me"
But 10 thipk that anyone cunld suppose
that you would" She stopped and held
cut her hands Dick took them close and
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