Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-21
CHAPTER XIV.

to the upper deck. determined 10
have It ont with our enemy once
! for all. searched it over thoroughly.
looking in and under the boats and
/ behind tunnels and ventilators. but
could discover 10 sign Of any one.
When I got back TO the promenade
! little crowd had gathered. attracted by
the noise of the falling spar, which
dozen members of the crew were busy
hosting back into place.
! II do not see how those lashingS
could have worked loose said the Of
ticcr in charge
took look mt the lashngs. They
had not been cut. as expected to find
them. but had been united. Marigny
had doubtless worked at them while
we sat there talking
"Wcl. luckily. there's 10 damage
DONE observed Mr.. Royce. with AT
fcctel lightness, enough it was q closo
shave. If Miss Kendall hadn't called
to us the spar would have struck us
Mrs. Kendall closed her eyes with
giddy little gesture NJ the vision the
words called up. and the officer frown-
I'd in cha grin and pcrpleXity. lust then
the captain came up. and the two step
ped aside for consultation in voices
so low that only an excited word Of
French was now and then audible. |
turned 10 Miss Kembaii. who was lean
ing against the rail with white face
and eyes large with terror
"But 1t was not an accident. Mr.
4.
leaning over the spar"
| nodded II don't doubt 1t i'm the
least But don't tell your mother. 1t
will only alarm her needlessly. Wen
talk it over in the morning"
She said good night and led her moth
er away toward their staterOom. I
went at once in search Of the ships
doctor and met him at the foot Of the
saloon staircase.
"IIow is Martgny. doctor?" I asked.
Worse. fear" he answered hur-
riedly. lie has just sent for me-"
Which room has he?"
Hes in 30 an outside room on IN"
upper deck
went forward to the smoking room
ana looked over the colored plan OF the
ship posted there. A moments inspec-
iion of it showed mo how easily Mar
,igny had eluded pursuit. He had only
to walk twenty feet, open door and
get into bed again,
When I sat down next morning be-
side Miss Kendall she closed her book
and turned to me with very deter
mined air.
"Of course. Mr.. Lester" she began,
"if you think any harm can come from
telling me, I don't want You to say a
word. but l really think I'm entitled
to an explanation"
80 do l." | agreed. you've proved
yourself better guard than |. Id for
gotten all about Martigny. was
thinking-well. of something very diff
ferent. ! had no thought of danger
Nor had l." she said quickly. "Bul
I CHANGED to look up and see that darl
figure bending over them. and | CRIED
out. really. before had time to think.
1T was just that which saved them.
YES; but, oh, | could think after
ward! I'd only 10 close my eyes last
night to see him there yet. peerinl
down at us, waiting his opportunity
And then, OF course. puzzled more OF
less over the whole thing"
You shan't puzzle any more" ! said
Then laid the case before her. step by
step. She listened with clasped hands
and intent face, not speaking til
had finished Then she leaned back II
/, her chair with long sigh.
= "Why, it's horrible" she breathed
:, But you haven't given me your OK
PLANTATION yet, Mr.. Lester"
= Il haven't any explanation" ! sait
y helplessly. "I've built up half Il dozei
y theories, hut they've all been knocked
to pieces. one after the other. dom
= know what TO think. unless Miss Hol
laday is IA victim Of hypnotism or dc
. men,ia OF some kind"
= Sometimes she's nice and Mt Othe
> times she's hOrrid. 1t recalls DIR. Jekyl
'. and Mr.. Hyde doesn't iti'
Yes. 1t does. Only. as say. such al
y explanation seems absurd"
"There's one theory which might OK
plain it-part Of 1t. Perhaps 1t WASH
Miss Holiday at all who returne
from Washington square with the ne,
maid Perhaps it was the other won
- an, and the barred windows were rea
:. ly to keep Miss Holiday a prisoner"
:. but she wasn't there" l protested
- I'VE saw her when we gave her tn
," money"
+, "Yes, in u darkened room. with
= bandage about her forehead. SO hoars
she could scarcely speak"
!. ] stopped Il moment to consider.
. Remember, that would explai
something which admits Of no otbt
y, reasonable explanation" went on IN
~ companion-"the barred windows an
n. the behavior of the prisoner"
- ut would explain that. certainly"
~ admitted. though at Arst thought Ii
II theory did not appeal to me. "YOu b.
>" lieve, then. that Miss Holiday w
=. f0rcibly abducted1"