The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-23
CHAPTER VII.

some one who could explain thlS mys-
terry to him.
CHAPTER VII.
GREAT DAY AT POLICE HEADeUAR-
TIERS.
His success was but partial. The
rooms above were occupied, but only
by dodgers. who knew nothing more of
the signorina's departure than that it
had taken place early in the morning.
They had been told she was i'll, and
from her appearance had thought she
was dying or dead, but when the time
came, as they supposed, for a funeral,
behold! 4 storage wagon drove up and
took away her furniture, and after
ward, to their unbounded surprise,
there came carriage from the livery
stable, into which not only the strange
Portuguese woman stepped, but the
signorina herself, alive and well and
seemingly in excellent health, If not
spirits. They could not understand 1t
and could get no explanation from any
one, as the house was without a land
lady and none Of tht other dodgers
were any better informed than them
selves.
Me. Degraw suggested that perhaps
the girl who attended the front door
might be able to tell something, but
they assured him to the contrary, ex-
planning that she was not only stone
deaf but dumb, and that she only went
to the door when sent by some one.
1t was, therefore, evident, that he was
but wasting time in lingering about
the house, and once convinced Of this
he made haste to depart.
But when in the street sense Of his
helplessness came over him. An art
ist, unaccustomed to the practical side
of life, he knew nothing Of the expe-
dients which would have suggested
themselves to other men, and after
few more fruitless inquiries among
the neighbors he turned back to the
studio, a disappointed and disconsolate
man. The adorable young singer was
gone, and with her had fed the first
real dream of love that had ever dis
turbed the even tenor of his hitherto
careless existence.
He was brooding upon his adventure
and comforting himself with the
thought that the signorina had at least
gone away Of her own free will and
without the companionship Of Montelli
when friend came in. 1t was not
welcome interruption, but before many
minutes had passed he determined to
make use Of it by submitting his case
to this man Of the world, and learning
from him how he could hope to renew
an acQuaiD+ +ance which had been bro
ken off in this sudden and unceremo-
Nous fashion. Not that he meant to
mention names or give any Of the par
ticulars so dear to his heart, for
whether she was the prosecuted being
he thought her, in the tolls and subject
to the dominion Of the traitorous Por-
guese and the abominable Montelli, or
whether she was simple and capri
cious child, only anxious for change
and thinking nothing of him and his
feelings, he felt that she was equally
sacred to him and not to be discussed
except with one who knew her and es-
tcemed her rs much as he did himself.
1t was, therefore, with most aggra-
waiting vagueness that he spoke; a
1,y oh o1f &c
tale and caused the friend be had cho-
sen to consult to take on bantcring
tone, indescribably offensive to the
sensitive Degraw. But he did not
choose to reveal his feelings and ex-
pressed himself as duly gratifed when
his friend suggested first. IN adver-
| tsement in the Herald, and secondly,
an appeal to the police; an advertise
ment was, in this instance. so likely to
receive response, and it was invaria-
bly, so agreeable to consult the police
on personal matter. But when, after
more Dantering and on" or more Sar-
castle remarks his friend left, he
| asked himself what other advice he
could have expected. and wondered
he had not thought of the police him
self. For if, rs he most feared. the
| young girl had been lured away by
false representations, where else could
he look for more effective help both in
finding her and in securing for her the
safety her defenScless and fricndlcss
position demanded. Yct he rccoiled, as
most sensitive natures would. from
carrying her name into quarters asso-
c;ated so intimately with crime. and
might, indeed. have abandoned tho
whole matter rather than run the risk
of doing her further harm if he had not
remembered that an old friend Of his,
by the name Of Byrd. had. by force of
circumstances. unnecessary to mention
here. been drawn into the service of
the police and numbered among its
most useful detectives.
10 him he did not fear to CO. for hon.