Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-10-24

terday, quite suddenly!
| CHAPTER yXIV.
Berthn's Despair.
1t was just the answer Hantlin had
expected, yet he was none the less dis
appointed. But not the CULVER of an
eyelash displayed his feelings. With
well-affected carelessness, he said:
I'm sorry to have missed him. l
had business with the gentleman even
more important to him than to me.
But perhaps you can give me some i'll
formation that will enable me to find
him?''
"Well, no; sorry can't ohlige YOU"
returned the clerk, in a confidential
tone. "Fact u.s., the gentleman's de-
parture was sEspiciously sudden; but,
as his bill was paid up all right OF
course, no one had right to object.
But just had the curiosity to look on
his trunks myself, and there wasn't a
scrap Of address on 'em; and the car
riage-a very elegant one-was driven
by an Italian who either didn't UNDER
stand English or didn't choose to. AS
last chance, I asked the marquis
where we should send letters, Or any,
| thing of that sort, in case they ar
rived; but he just said: Never mind
all that; possibly he'd be back within
| a week-and to keep everything until
called for So you see that's absolute
| ly all I could find out on the subject"
Hantlin thanked the obliging clerk,
whose curiosity at least proved to him
that the italian had been warned to
rake a sudden departure, and, as he
turned away, he remarked, casually:>
'Some lady in the secret, no doubt.
Locks little mysterious"
"Just so,'' returned the clerk, with a
Paul Pry alacrity. "That's what I
thought myself, for saw him in con-
versation with a young woman but q
short while before he packed his
trunks-and he packed them himself,
| too.''
| "What?" exclaimed Hantlin, in at.
fected surprise. "Did the young lady
| actually follow him to the hotel?"
swell, to my way of thinking, She
looked more like the 1ady's maid, and
| they SPOKE in French; she was pow
erfully Misunderstanding girl; eyes
| black as night and flashing like dia-
n.onds, and a lovely figure, but ypale as
marble,
| HaEtlin turned sharply away, as he
recognized Leonce from this descrip-
| ton; and then, with a polite word OF
| thanks, walked rapidly across the
| street.
'Wretched girl! How she loves him!"
he thought. "Where is she now?
With him, no doubt. Villain! monster!
But I'll have him yet, if it costs me
my life. Oh, Lord how I love that
woman! I never thought I could be
overthrown like this. But every
mans time must come, I suppose, and
| I couldn't escape the general fate"
| AS he hurried rapidly forward, he
would have brushed against Mrs. Mar
| tin, lad not that lady stepped reso-
lutely in front of him and placed her
hand on his shoulder. She had been
watching for him when he left Mrs
Grayson. but at some distance from
the house; and when he came out he
had taken an opposite direction so rap
idly that she found it impossible to
overtake him. She followed, however,
and just managed to keep him in sight
until he entered the hotel, and then
she had to wait again, but at some dis
tance, as before, because she was de-
sirous not to attract attention. And
again he disappointed her by starting
off at rapid pace in ar opposite di-
rection.
1t was useless to hope to overtake
him. SO she whisked around the corner,
in the hope Of intersecting his way, and
and, just managed to head him off as
he turned into the next block.
II have been trying to meet you, Mr..
Hantlin," she said, directly. "On leav-
ing my poor brothers hous this morn
ing, ] felt that I must try to learn
whether you had yet got any clue to
the murderer and, considering my re-
lationship and my natural anxiety, I
hope you will not refuse to answer
me-"
MADAM" replied the detective, IT
have every right to refuse any inform
alton on such subjects except to- my
chief; but 1 appreciate your feelings,
and am anxious to satisfy you as far
as may. Trusting that you will be
entirely secret on the subject, I win
say that T have a clue
"Ah! you have spoken with Mrs.
GraysoE, then?" asked Mrs. Martin,
eagerly.
She was determined, on general prin-
ciples, to learn all she could abou,.
information.
II will only say that have learned
more from Mrs. Grayson than she has
from me-" he answered.