The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-04-12
||$ Bound by a Spell $|
CHAPTER XXII.--(Continued.)

ions. Then | heard the curtain fall
l was just going to leave. when Mr.
Montgomery came up to me again, dress
ed for the street
II cant find it now, Sins. | will bring
II home with me and you can do it to-
morrow"
Nexed and annoyed at this trif'ing, !
ran round to the front of the house
But to re-enter the pit was impossible.
The people were crowding out in one
dense stream; so | was obliged to stand
aside until my companions should ap-
pear or until the passage was sufh-
ciently cleared for Iue to go back to
seek them
| had not stood there many seconds
before | saw Mrs. Wilson forcing her
self through the crowd. and looking wild
ly about her She caught sight of me in
an instant.
Where is Clara?" she cried gasping
for breath. 81 have lost her In the
crowd. Some men pushed between US,
and separated her from me; and from
that moment | have lost sight OF her.
Look about you. She must be in the
street"
The audience were now dispensing in
all directions. Up and down. in and out
the crowd. here. there and everywhere,
i eagerly sought for her. but she was
nowhere to be seen. Mrs. Wilson, stand
ing in a doorway. trembling aud wiring
Ing her hands. soon collected small
crowd round her.
Had they seen young lady, In
black dress, with long golden hair?' she
never ceased asking.
At last a man suggested that the po
the door during the latter part OF the
performance was the most likely person
to have seen her
Yes. He had seen young person an
swering the description. She had been
one among the first Of the crowd to come
down the passage. She looked as il she
had lost some one. When she got into
the street young man touched her upon
the arm and said something, and she
walked away with him. Then hs lost
sight OF her
What was the man like?" | asked
"Oh. he was a youngish. smooth faced
fellow, with Il cap on" was the reply.
The very man who had beckoned me
ont Of the pit. 1t was a plot, then;
but by whom originated. and for what
purpose?
Take a cab; GO to Bow street police
station ut once. and | will follow you in
a few minutes" l said to Mrs. Wilson.
Back rushed t" the stage door. Had
Mr.. Montgomery left the theatcr? He
had followed out at my heels, was the
answer.
Suddenly I bethought me Of the public
house frequented by Josiah and Mr.
Montgomery. Away I ran thither. No;
they had not been there thnt evening.
Then l went down to Bow street, where
] found Mrs. Wilson. more dead than
alive, giving her deposition.
Are you quite certain that the young
lady has not gone off OF her own free
will?-some sweethearting ease. per-
haps--only for a little walk--met some
one she knew, and finding that she had
missed you, he has taken her home?'
suggested the functlonnry who was Tux
ing down the dispositions.
Pray disnbuse your mind Of such an
idea; the young lady in question has no
friends except those you see here
knows no others--associate with no
others
The solemn aarnestncss OF my tones
seemed to convince him OF his error, for
from that time he give us a more seri-
Gus attention.
"A description shall be sent to the diff
ferent heats and police stations. and you
had better issue bills, and II you care
10 go to the expense, advertise in the
daily papers. Ii we hear anything. we
will let you know. But you can make
your mind easy upon one point--at least.
think 40: wherever she is she has
gone with her own free will There's
no accounting for the vagaries Of girls
Both myself and Mrs Wilson felt very
angry mt the light and skeptical manner
in which subject so momentous to us
was treated: but the officer only smied
ut our warmth.
Mrs. Wilson expressed her iuteu'i"n
Of issuing bills early the next morning.
offering reward for her discovery.
There was nothing more to he done In
that place, for the cab was waiting,
and / persuaded her to return home i'm
mediately. She implored me 10 accom-
pany her No. | would search the neigh
bcrhood; | might chance TO get some
tidings
Finding that all her entreatirs were
in vain. the old lady reluctantly depart
ed alone.
Mr.. Jonathan was standing upon the
doorstep when the can drove up. Before
the cabman could desccud from the box.
he had the door open.
Where is she-where is Clara?' he
asked. seeing but one person within.
Too utterly terrified and bewildered to
think of the oddity OF such n question
from stranger whom she had never
seen before. Mrs Wilson could only gasp,
''She is gone-run away with"
Ten minutes afterwards, Mr. Jena
than jumped into the cab that had
brought her home, and which he ordered
10 stay. "To the Bow street police
station as fast as you can drive" he
cried.
All that night | wandered about In
frenzied state up and down the streets,
down by the river. l know not where.
1t came on to rain. and l was soaked
10 the skin. Still, hour after hour, lin
sered about the same spot; the dawn
broke and merged into broad daylight.
and the hustle Of the day began, yet still
j could NOT tear myself awav. the pass-