The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03

old lady persuaded him to drink a cup
of coffee she had kept warm, and, as she
gave it him, looked with silent compass
sion into his haggard face.
When day broke he had not again ap-
peared BY this time the household was
in ferfnent of open alarm. The boys
were retained from school, as it was felt
they might be needed for messages. Pier
pont undertook to visit all Marlposa $
pupils in the dim hope of fndins
through them some clew to her move
ments. though ii was well known sne
was on intimate terms with none OF
them. Soon after breakfast. Mrs. Willers
appeared. uneasy. and by the time the
now weeping Mrs. Garcia had told her
all. pale and deeply disturbed.
She repaired to the Trumpet ONCE
without loss OF time, and there acqualnt'
ed her chief with the story of Miss Mo
reau's disappearance. not neglecting to
mention the burglary of the night before.
knowledge of it's real import seemed to
indicate a sinister connection with sub
sequent events. Winslow did not disap-
point Mrs. Willers by pooh pooling the
would; young lady's disappearance for
twelve hours not being q subject for
such tragic CONSERVATION. He seemed
extremely worried--in fact, showed an
anxiety that struck the head of the wo--
mans page as almost odd. He assured
her that If Miss Moreau was not heard
from that day by midday he would Sc
cretly offer to the police department the
largest reward ever given in San Fran
cisco for any trace or tidings of her
Meantime, Barron, having assured
himself by visits to all the ticket offices
that she had not left the city on any
train, had finally taken his case to the
police 1t had been in their hands only
am hour or two when young Shackleton's
offer OF what. in even those extravagant
days, seemed an enormous reward was
communicated to the department. 1t put
life into the somewhat dormant energies
of the officers detailed on the case. Mari
posa had not been missing twenty four
hours when the search for her was
spreading over the face of the city.
where she had been so Insignificant
unit, in thorough and secret network
of investigation.
The day wore away with madding
slowness 10 the women In the house,
whose duty it was to sit and wait. To
Barron, whose anxiety had been intensi-,
fed by the torture of his deeper knowl-
edge of the girls strange circumstances,
existence seemed only bearable as 1t was
directed to finding her. He did not dare
now TO pause or think. Without stop
ping to eat or rest he continued his
search now with the detectives. now
alone. Several times in the course of the
day he reappeared at the Garcia house.
drawn thither by the hope that she might
have returned. The sonora. with the GU
riouS tranquility of the very old which
seems not to need the repairing pro-
cesses of sleep or food, was always to be
found sitting by the kitchen stove. upon
which some dish or drink simmered for
him. He rarely stopped TO take either
But returning in the early dusk. he was
grateful to find that she had a dry over
coat hanging before the fire for him. The
rain still fell in torrents. and the long
day spent at it's mercy had soaked him.
1t was between ten and eleven o'clock
at night that the old lady and her daugh-
ter-in-law. sitting before the stove. as
they had done the evening before. again
heard his step and key. This time there
was no pretense at expectation on either
side. His first glance inside the room
showed him the heavy detection of the
two faces turned toward him. They, on
their part. saw him pale and drawn. as
nothing No investigation of which they
were aware had brought in a grain of
comfort. He had heard worse than moth
ing, There had been talk at the police
station that evening of the finding of
George Harvey, suffering from concus-
sion of the brain. and the sudden depart
ure of Barry Essex, believed to be his
assailant.
This information added the last straw
to Barrons agony of apprehension. 1t
seemed as if plot had eliminated in
plicahle, in which the woman he loved
was in some mysterious way involved.
He was standing by the stove respond
ing to the somber queries of the women.
when the sound of feet on the porch
steps suddenly transfiXed them ALL
Young Mrs. Garcia screamed, while the
old lady sat with head bent sidewise lis
tening Before Barron could get TO the
another scream from the younger wo-
man, who, nevertheless. followed him
and stood peeping into the hall, clinginS
to the doorpost.
The opened door sent food of light
over three figures huddled in the glass
porch-tWo men, a detective and police
man. Barron already knew, and third.
a stranger to him. whose face against
the shadowy background looked fresh
and boyish
"Ah, Mr. Barron. we're lucky to strike
IA u. ID ~ el,.t
detective. I'VE think we've found the
lady"
Found her? Where? Have you got
her there?'
No; we're not certain yet if it's the
The man, as he spoke. entered the hall.
the policeman and the stranger following
him. Under the flare of the two gas jets
smoking rubber capes that ran rillets of
water on the floor. The third. revealed
in the full light. was boy of some four
teen or fifteen years we'll dressed and
with the air of gentleman.
This gentleman came to the station
half-hour ago" said the policeman. indi-
eating the stranger. with story of
finding a lady on his own grounds. and
we thought from his description ii was
the one you're looking for"
Barron directed on the youth a glance
that would have pried open the lips of
the Sphinx.
What does she look like? Where is
she?'
She's in our garden" said the boy.
under some trees. She looks tall and
has on black clothes. ard has dark red
hair and very white face"
Mrs. Garcia gave loud cry from the
ITS Marirosa. sure she screamed.
rs she alive?'
"Alive," echoed the youth. ooh. yes;
she's quite alive. but / don't know
whether she's exactly in her right mind.
She's sort of queer.
Barron had brushed past him into the
streaming night.
Come on" he shouted back. Good
Lord. come quick
At the foot of the zigZag stairs he saw
the two cleaning lights of a hack. With
the other men Gathering at his heels. he
dashed down the steps and was in 1T.
chatting and swearing, while they were
fumbling for the latch of the gate.
AS the boy. after giving the coachnan
an address, scrambled in beside him, he
said peremptorily:
when did you find her? Tell me
About two hours ago. MY dog found
her. live, ] and my mother on the
slope of Russian Hill. It's quite a big
place with lot of trees. / went down
TO get Jack Chats my dog) at the vets,