Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-14

when they first came, six weeks
ago. she was quite well. Then her
mother n position Of some sort Sc
cured and went away. She never left
her room after that. just sat there and
cried or ratified at the doors and win
dows Her brother was hcartbrokcn
about her. NO one else would he permit
to attend her. hut hope that she is
well now. poor child. for she is again
with her mother
Her mother came after her" I
asked.
"Oh. yes; ten days ago. and together
they drove away. BY this time they
are again in the good France"
I pretended to DO inspecting ward
robe. for I fclt sure my face would be.
tray me- At fash saw the whole
story. There was nothing more Nine.
Jourdain could tell me.
Yes" repeated. steadying my
voice. "the good France"
M. Bethune has himself been absent
Cor week." she added, "on affairs Of
would return, but he paid us to the
/ 18th"
nodded. "Yes--tomorrow--1 will
take possession then"
every we'll. monsieur" she assented.
II will have II in readiness"
For an instant hceitated Should I
use tho photograph? Was it necessary
How explain my possession of it? Did
I not already know all that Nine Jour.
dain could tell me: turned to the
stair.
"Thcn ] must he going" I said. ~
have some business affairs to arrange. Il
and we went down together.
The place was filling with motley
crowd Of diners. hut paused only to
then hurried away The fugitives had
taken the French line. of course. and
fastened on to the foot of Morton
street. where the French line pier Is
A ship was being loaded for the voy
nge out. and the pier was still open. 4
clerk directed me TO the sailing schcd
ule, and glance at it confirmed my
Thursday. April 3, La Savoie had sail
ed for ITavrc.
May SEQ La Savoies passenger
list" asked.
"certainly. sir" and he produced It.
I did not. Of course. expect to fine
Miss Holiday entered upon It: yet
felt that study of it might be repaid
and was not mistaken. A Mrs. G. I,
Folsom and two daughters had occi
pied tho cabinc de luxe. 43G. 43S. 40
On tie compnny's list which had beer
given me | saw bracketc1 after tn,
name of the youngest daughter the sin
gle word "lnvalidc"
LA Lorraine sails day after tOmor
row. ] believer" l asked.
Yes. sir"
"\nd is she full:"
"No. sir: it is little carly in the sea
son yet And he got down the list o
staterooms. showing me which wer
vacant. selected an outside doubl
one and deposited half the fare in ordc
to reserve it.
There was nothing more to be don
that night. for glance at my watcl
showed inc the latencss Of the hour
As | emerged from the pier suddenl.
found myself very weary AMI yer.
hungry. so l called cab and was driv
en- direct to my rooms. a bath and din
ncr set me up again. aud finally ! set
tied down with my pipe to arrange tn
events Of the day.
Certainly had progressed. hal
undoubtedly got on the track of tn
fugitivc>; | had found out all that
could reasonably hay" hoped to fin
out And yet my eXultAtion was shor
lived. Admitted that was on thei
track, how much nearer success had
got: l knew that they had sailed 70
France. but for what part of France
They would disembark at llavre. HOY
was l. reaching Havre two weeks late
to discover which direction they ha
taken? Suppose they had gone I
Paris, as seemed most probable. hoy
could l ever hope to find them there
Even II l did find them. would | b
in time to checkmate Martigny:
For Il time l paused. appalled, at til
magnitude Of the task that lay befor
me--in all France to find three people
But, after all, it might not be so grea
Most probably these women were froI
one of the towns Holiday and hi
wife had visited during their stay
France. Which towns they were |, {
course, had no means of knowing. W
fel, certain that some means of di
covering them would present itsel
That must he my work for the morrow
\ half hour passed and sat lost
speculation. watching the blue smOR
curling upward. striving vainly to pei
citrate the mystery. For ! was as ia
= as ever from Il solution of it. VIII
were these people? What was the
4 aim? How had they managed to wi
Miss Holiday over 10 their side,
e persuade her to accompany them.
! fee from her frlends--above all. froI
+ our junior partner? How had the
2 caused her change Of attitude towar
= him? Or had they really abducted hel
I Was there really danger of foul pla!
danger that she would fall Il victim q
3 well as her father? Who was Ma
tigny? And, above all, what was IL
l. plot? What did he hope to gain? Wilt
S was he striving for: What was tn
G great stake for which he riskcd :
much?
TO these questions ! could find I
reasonable answer. ] was still grOpin