Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-02-07

"A GIRL E GRIT.
BY MAJOR ARTHUR GRlFEITt1S
by r Co

II
ofomptitude with which these unscru-
pulous foes had got him into their tolls
was now amazed with the breadth,
the boldness of their scheme. 1t was
as clear to me as IL had seen 1T all In
print. To Seize, seouestrate, securely
holu their prisoner with heaven knows
what added i'll usagc-it might be
make away With him utterly-while his
| iouble, some clevorly set up second
SER, their puppct or confederate, per
sonated him, acted for him, making.
ducks and brakes OF his fortune, ac-
curing every red cent that was nova
Die and within reach, without fear of
interference or retribution, provided
only they kept fast hold of their prey.
How far was it in my power to meet
and Illustrate these felonious but as
tutely planned measures? At least /
had one or two threads, one or two
clues, in my hand.
belleNed that could exactly locate
the present place of Captain Woods
detention. l knew the very house or its
outbuildings in which he was impris-
oned. To get him out must be my next
JOB. III he We're once free, much mis-
chief, the worst certainly, might be
prevented. But whether he We're inn
Tie less Importance TO follow up his per-
secutors to ascertain what they were
doing and work to counteract and de-
feat them.
Three of them, at least, | had heard
OF, thanks TO my friend at the consul
late. two by name and clear identity.
The third should be discovered through
the other two.
MY next moves We're clearly and inn
peratively marked out for me-
AS passed along the Strand / called.
seph, so all was presumably without
change in the Strathallan road Next
to Charges street
Time was getting on. Close on 8 u.
M. and nothing done as Vet i'm Mr..
WOODS behalf. j was Impatient. eager
TO act for him, and yet l knew must
proceed regularly. The man Savory
had returned, and knew by his face
That he had drawn blank in Laburnum
street. or course no Mr. Wood was
there. did not require to be told that.
Savory was also satisfied now. a good
deal on the evidence of the collie dog
which he had taken With him.
Master Willie was nowhere on the
premises. Roy will answer for that. /
told him TO go look although the
woman OF the placc--it was a sort of
second rate lodging house-called him
dreadful dog and tried to stop him.
Roy,s teeth helped him to quest right
through the house"
Fine fellow. Well take him with
us To look for Mr.. Wood. Eth, Row,
He was like a Christian that dog,
for he made friends at ~lce, wagged
his tall and put his nose i'm my hand.
When Savory added on some gibberish
with 'ullooooloo, go search, Roy he
first howled and yelped, then ran up
and down the hall entry like a mad
thing.
Where are we going, sir?" asked
Savory growing respectful as he rec
ogniZed my authority.
TO Scotland Yard straight. They
wouldn't listen to me this morning.
Now perhaps What have you got
there"
Its a letter, sir brought by hand
half an hour ago for Mr.. Wood, marked
Very immediate.' Dye see? But--you
wouldn't surely.
This Was in alarmed protest as was
about to break the seal.
Wouldn't | though? Why, it's a
question of life and death with Captain
Wood. Anything and everything that
is likely to help us must be made use
81. | stand on that and here goes"
But just as | was about to open the
letter we We're Interrupted by the ar
rival of n tall. military looking gentle
man, With Il fierce face and a Very hec-
toring. overbearins manner. We We're
Standing in the hallway, the man Sa-
worry and /, for although he knew what
my business was he did not trust me
enough to let me so upstairs. The
front door was just ajar, lie inside and
l still on the stoop, when this high
falutin. nasterful sort of gentleman
came up and said to both of us:
Is this where Captain Wood lives?
Look sharp. l want to know"
There was a shortness in his tone and
manner which, being Il free born Amer
lean, could not stomach at all. He
might have been q slave driver talking
to black Africans, and looked at him
in a way to warn him not to raise NV
dander.
Come speak out. Which is the man
of the house? Is Captain Wood in? i
must see him at once. am Sir Charles
collinshan."
At this Savory bowed low. They are
u mean lickspittle lot, these Britishers.
when there's any talk of titles or big
toads in their pudtlles.
Yes, yes. Sir Charles; quite so. L
know you now. But Captain Mood is
not in
Where shall L find him? 1 must sec
him at once. 1t is a matter of duty.
Where is hep
That's just What we want to know,
| put in. ut puzzles us entirely. He
has got into some mess somewhere, and
we can't tell for certain what has hap
pened to him or where to find him.
And who the devil are you. pray?"
asked my gentleman insolently And
what in heavens name have you to do
! (t.,,, t.,i, A
lean. / perceive"
"Waal that's so, and what difference
does that make? Amt ] good enough
to know Captain Wood or for YOU TO
talk to?" He had pretty Well raised my
dander this time.
"Pshaw! I've nothing to say to YOU.
/ don't know you, and / don't want to
know you. and you may go to the devil
your own road as soon as you please
And, without waiting for more, he
brushed past me, pushing s.. III; aside.
and saying:
II must go up to his rooms. There
are some papers up there L want. Show
the way. please and he ran upstairs.
OF course | followed. l was as much
concerned about Captain Wood as he
was. Besides, / felt it due to myself.
respect and position as one of your
most trusted agents TO call this over
bearing Britishcr to account.
The new visitor General Sir Charles
Collingham, as l presently heard he
was called. was the first in the room.
and he went straight to the bureau or
escritoire mt which ] expect Captain
Wood did his writing business. The
general fell upon the papers and turned
them over with much haste and excite
Eaent. Then he turned to Sayory and
said in the same peremptory tone:
Where is the dispatch box from NV
Office. sent here last night? / don't sec
It, Fetch it ,vill yn,,?n