The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-05-06
CHAPTER xx11.-(continued.,

uneasy at my absence from my compan'
Tons Then heard the curtain fall.
was lust going to leave, when Mr.,
Montgomery came up to me again, dress
cd for the street. t.-.
~ can't find it now, Silas: I will bring
Il home with me and you can do 1t to-
porrow."
Vexed and annoyed at this triaing, I
,on round to the front Of the house.
Rut to re-enter the pit was impossible.
The people were crowding out In one
dense stream; so l was obliged to stand
aside until my companions should ap-
near, or until the passage was sufa-
GENTLY cleared for nae to 60 back to
seek them.
had not stood there many seconds
before | saw Mrs. Wilson forcing her
self through the crowd, and looking wild
" about her. She caught sight Of me in
an instant.
where is Clara?" she cried, gasping
for breath. II have lost her in the
crowd. Some men pushed between US,
and separated her from me; and from
that moment l 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,
| eagerly sought for her, but she was
nowhere to be seen. Mrs. Wilson, stand
Ing in a doorway, trembling and wiring
Ing her hands, soon collected a small
crowd round her. a>,z ~
Had they seen a young lady, In a
black dress, with long golden hairT' she
never ceased asking.
At last a man suggested that the po-
lceman who had been standing about
the door during the latter part Of the
performance was the most likely person
to have seen her.
Eyes. He had seen young person an
Bwering 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 a young man touched her upon
the arm and said something, and she
walked away with him. Then he lost
sight Of her.
What was the man like?" l asked.
"Oh, he was youngish, smooth-faced
fellow, with a cap on" was the reply.
The very man who had beckoned me
out Of the pit. 1t was a plot, then;
but by whom originated, and for what
purpose?
Take cab; go to Bow street police
station at once, and l will follow you in
a few minutes" l said to Mrs. Wilson.
Back | rushed to the stage door. Had
MIR. Montgomery left the theater2 He
had followed out at my heels, was the
answer.
Suddenly l bethought me Of the public
house frequented by Josiah and Mr..
Montgomery. Away l ran thither. No;
they had not been there that 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 of OF her own free
Wlll!-some sweethearting case, per-
haps-only for a little walk-met some
one she knew, and finding that she had
missed you, he has taken her homer"
suggested the functionary who was tax
Ing down the dispositions.
Pray disabuse your mind of such an
idea' the young lady In question has no
tfends except those you see here
knows no others-associateS with no
others"
Inc solemn earnestness of my tones
seemed to convince him of his error, for
from that time he gave us q more seri-
Gus attention,
"A description shall be sent to the diff
terent heats and police stations, and you
uaa better issue bills, and IL you care
70 go TO the expense, advertise in the
oaiiy papers. II we hear anything, we
VIII let you know. But you can make
your mind easy upon one point-at least,
thlnk SO; wherever she is, she has
Sone with her own free will. There's
no accounting for the vagaries of girls"
both myself and Mrs. Wilson felt very
angry at the light and skeptical manner
IL winch a subject so momentous to US
was treated; but the officer only smiled
ct our warmth,
MRS. Wilson expressed her intention
OF Issuing bills early the next morning,
Unerlng a reward for her discovery.
Inere was nothing more to be done in
ulat place, for the cab was waiting,
anu l persuaded her to return home inn
neulately. She implored me to accom-
pdnV her No, l would search the neigh
Derhood; l might chance to get some
tidings. e~
FINDING that all her entreaties were
ed alone.
Mr.. jonathan was standing upon the
WSoorstep when the cab drove up. Before
Sne cabman could descend from the box.
0e mad the door open.
81 where is she-where Is Clara p he
"Sn At seeing but one person within.
~; 100 utterly terrified and bewildered to
s LINK OF the oddly of such a question
from stranger whom she had never
" zen before, Mrs. Wilson could only gasp,
H me is gone-run away with"
ha len minutes afterwards, Mr.. Jona-
hr"u jumped into the cab that had
tt 10 her home, and which he ordered
sto. stay ITO the Bow street police
rr a.on as fast as you can drive, )" he
.-,
A.
fren n mat night l wandered about in a
aoun state up and down the streets,
T. " on oy the river. / know not where.
to IAN lame on to rain, and was soaked
rerad SKIN Still, hour after hour, / lin
broI u about the same spot; the dawn
and A ., and merged into broad daylight,
I oa me hustle Of the day began, vet still