The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-16


left her fathers house. and it has been
suggested that one individual in particu-
lar might shed light on her mysterious
Disappearance, if we could only find
him.
"And who may be be-"
ga certain Arthur Durant. Do you
happen to know him, sir?"
Mr.. Keighley Gates deftly elected
half dozen rings of cigarette smoke
and then looked at me with curious
smile on his lips.
"Well, yes, d." he replied. "As
one time knew him intimately, but I
have not seen him for the last two or
three years Still l get an occasional
letter from him."
was oyerjoyed at this news. What
a lucky inspiration it was that had
prompted me to look up Mr.. Gates!
"Have you had letter recently?"
inquired.
"The last one would be about-let
me see"-and Mr.. Gates pondered for
a moment or two. "Yes, about four
months ago, as near as my memory
serves me-"
"And where was he then?"
"He wrote from Denver, and said he
was just moving on to Salt Lake City
and from there he intended going to
Frisco"
"Then at this moment San Francisco
might be likely spot to make inquiries
imp
Gates laughed.
''It certainly might be, but if you
knew Arthur Durant you would know
the utter impossibility of following his
movements by any known or unknown
method. AS he mentioned Frisco,
should think New York or Florida a
likely spot to find him in.''
This news considerably depressed me.
So much seemed to depend upon this
man, and yet from Gates account it
was apparently hopeless to expect that
he could be found in time.
"What would you advise US to do,
Mr.. Gates?''
"Make inquiries by all means in Salt
Lake City and Frisco, but don't build
any hopes in that direction. I ought to
have letter from him soon, and that
will put us on his track at once. think
| have his last epistle by me still. If 30,
the address will be useful. I'll look for
it now"
Gates unlocked drawer and looked
through soGe letters filed with extreme
care.
''I'm afraid destroyed it," he said,
at length, 81 now remember what [
kept it for, and as soon as the purpose
was fulfilled / burned it, never keep
old letters; it would not ct in with my
wandering life. -
This was disheartening. However, l
determined to find out something about
the man 1 wanted.
"You say you knew him intimately,
Mr.. Gates5'
"Y, / 57--tat is # living FOR
three on5a IN er With ia "iVts ne
tla II It to so FRS, le5 A,5aur
u.aL IN Allas amy ncaniain n
ORTIZ Carol a. III rad ga1a ep 4
10 insect soma mica mir as, ami 7 was
there 10 look at some gem deposits. We
both foregathered at little three
roomed wooden house, which 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 pay for working, and
SO three months Of daily intercourse
had passed before we could arrive at
our decision. You can get to know a
man very we'll in that time.
"Then saw nothing of him until I
ran up against him in the Strand about
three years ago. He seemed to be in
clover at that time. He told me he had
made his pile and was then engaged in
spending it. He had just taken hunt
ing box in sporting county, and he
asked me to stay with him. intended
doing SO, but never found the time.
saw him again after he had given it ups
He talked of travelling, but had nc
definite plans. Then heard from him
in Matabeleland and South Africa gen.
orally. He writes to me three or four
times in the twelvemonth, and the last
Mr.. Gates carefully closed up his
writing case and seated himself negli-
gently in an easy chair opposite me.
Sand how is George bearing up?" he
went on. cit is terrible position for
him to be placed in. That unluoky
speech of mine has caused me endless
regret. But how could ! know what
was going to occur?"
"Oh, quite SO. don't see that any
blame attaches to you, Mr.. Gates. In
the very worst case you only accelerated
events, as Georges arrest would ineyita-
bly, have followed. He is bearing up al
we'll as we could expect, but, of course,
he feels his position acutely, and at the
present moment things look very black
against him. Ihope that if you can help
as at all in the defense you will do So"
If I can be Of the slightest use. you
may be certain of my services, /" he re-
piled. "But am afraid don't see in
what way shall be able to assist you
"Well, will tell you, Mr.. Gates.
You see We are firmly convinced of
Georges innocence. but perhaps ought
first to tell you am engaged to his sis
ter, which will account for the interest
I am taking in the case.
hDls II