The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-23
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

letter had from him was, az T said,
from Denver, about four months ago"
"When he was In the country, Mr..
Gates, he paid marked attentions to
Lady Florence Mostyn, and, believe,
asked the Duke Of Lundy for his daugh.
tsr'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-
yant was concerned in THAR Do you
think he persuaded the lady TO run away
with him, In fact9' .--,-.,... .r.--...
Mr.. Gates lay back In his chair and
reflected q few minutes before replying.
Then he said slowly:
"It 10 . difficult thing to be certain Of
any mans conduct where q woman Ia
-ooncerned. 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. Iwouldn'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 ia
not man of that sort. He is straight as
a die, and would trust him as trust
myself"
"He certainly has very good friend
in you, Mr.. Gates" I remarked. for
Gates defense Of his absent friend had
somewhat surprised me. I had certainly
not given him credit of being capable Of
go 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 80
soon."
"There is certainly IOmething Ia
that" remarked.
"But there would be No harm 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 il you prefer to do so your
SELF"
"You are extremely kind" replied,
''and 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.
simply want to be put in communica-
tion with Mr.. Durant"
81 understand perfectly" said Mr..
Gates, land I will write by the next
mail and ask for cable il Durant is
found"
I thanked him warmly for his good
Offices and rose to 60. 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 his 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. It had jammed when
he tried to close it and be had 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
recollections in my mind. l glanced at
it again while my host was talking and
showing the weapons. 1t was the pic
ture of woman, and was certain /
had seen it before, but for the life Of
me I could not remember when or
where, and all the time was talking
and listening to Gates my mind was
cropping for a clew, but could not find
one.
At last babe my host adieu and left
him. was very well satisfied with my
afternoon work, for I felt sure that
Durant would be able to help us and
wishful to do so since he had undoubt-
eddy been in love with Lady Florence
Twas thinking of this while was max
ing my way out of the hotel. 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.
had seen that photograph before,
and it was then in the Scotland Yard
album, over the name of Lady Florence
Mostyn!
What did this meal?
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.
CHAPTER TX.
MORE ABOUT LADY FLORENCE MOsTYN.
returned to my hotel bordering over
the singular incident of the photograph,
and was told gentleman was waiting
: for me in my room. opened my door
and found some one was evidently max
ing himself very much at home there.
The room was hung with cigar smoke,
through which could discern pair OF
boots resting on the top of the table,
and beyond them their owner fast asleep
in an easy chair. A box of my cigars
Law open on the table.
I carefully scrutinized the gentleman