Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-04-10

NOT ala ne look In vain.
The marquis had shaken off all the |
doubts and fears that assailed him,
and, aroused to a realization OF the
desperate situation that faced them,
was again the peerless comrade who
had stood by Barrajo when they fought
for the Golden Fleece.
Captain" he said, sternly, depend
on me to remedy this thing. IL 1t took
my life, would freely give 1t to bring
your wife back to your arms, for love
has redeemed me-"
II was splendid thing for the cap
tain, who found himself so over
whelmed by the distressing condition
of affairs, that he had comrade wide
awake to the Importance Of speedy ac-
ton.
Deep down in his heart the marquis
cursed his folly for ever having been
friendly in the least with one pos
sessed of such tigerish, tropical tenn
permanent, and groaned to think of evil
Detailing Fedora through such q
source.
Shorn of all outside consideration
then, the captains story was of the
hackneyed type - unsuspicious people
may be deceived by the most ancient of
specious tales, so that there is little
need of originality. even in these mod
ern days, in the matter of decoying a
woman from under her own roof.
The paper which Livermore had
picked up in the hall explained much,
for strange to say, it contained writing
that in some respects resembled his
own-at least under the supposed con-
ditions he might have been the author
of the message:
WAS injured in collision with an
other cab Send this good Samaritan
sister to bring you to me. Come i'm
mediately. God alone knows how Sc
rious il may be. Maurice"
When the marquis read it he NUT
tered under his breath.
Perhaps the good Samaritan sister
was Juanita herself in deep disguise
and with the most sinister of motives
in her heart
Come, we must go to your house
without delay. The start must be made
from there. On the way we can col
lect ourselves and make some prepare
ton for the work"
This was his way of starting in, ant
as they left the hotel the marquis beck
oned to a gentlemanly looking yount
fellow who, while appearing to b.
somewhat of a swell, was in reality ;
detective serving as his bodyguard.
A four-wheeler was next in order
, | house. --s7--. intain,
| The marquis asked few question
and then allowed the man from Scot
|: land Yard to take charge of the case
, He drove at once to the railway sta
ton and made inquiries at the book
, ing office.
Luckily the captain lad a photo
graph Of his wife along with him
snatched from the mantel at home b,
suggestion Of his one-time deadly en-
envy, but now devoted friend.
The clerk Tecollected the party well
1t consisted Of two ladies, who ap
peared sick or suffering in some way
couple Of attendants. honest-lookinl
fellows, and the woman who seemed t.
have charge of them all-he had sup,
posed her to be housekeeper or com.
panion.
Thus they knew those they sought
had gone on to Dover. It was a great
triumph for the detective, and their
faith in him arose accordingly.
Still the situation was lugubrious
enough, since there was no train until
morning.
That meant four or five hours
wasted.
The captain grew red in the face with
congested anger and threatened to
have an apoplectic fit, but the MARQUIS
upon learning that only a question OF
pounds, shillings and pence kept them
from reaching Dover, put his hand into
his pocket and made immediate ar
rangements for motor and one first
class carriage.
In ten minutes they were leaving the
station, and long ere the city limits
had been reached found themselves
whirling along at furious speed.
1t was agreed by all that Fedora
while in the cab must have been drug
ged in some way, to prevent her call
ing for heip-doubtless her cruel can
tor had made all preparations for this
and had no difficulty in Supplying her
mind while she still reta ned the use
! Of her limbs.
The booking agent had noticed the
vacant expression on her face and del
icately limited that at the time he had
a vague suspicion the TWO ladies might
be affected in their minds and were
being taken to some private sanitarium
near the coast.
Twoi
A strange, cold SILVER went through
the marquis as a dreadful Thought
flashed home.
He remembered how he had met In
anita on the stairs; how she had oues-
toned him about the demure minia-
ture painter; how she had bitterly ex-
claimed that the little girl of his for
mer acquaintance had now grown up
into charming little woman. Good
heavensl Could IL be possible that her