Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-04-07
CHAPTER XxII.-(Continued.)


uneasy at my absence from my compan-
ions. Then l heard the curtain fall
I was just going to leave, when Mr.
ed for the street.
II can't find it now, Silas; will bring
It home with me and you can do it to-
p,orrow."
Vexed and annoyed at this trifing, 1
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 I was obliged to stand
aside until my companions should ap-
pear, or until the passage was sufti-
ciently cleared for me to go back to
seek them.
l 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 I have lost sight of her.
Look about you. She must be i'll 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 and wiring
ing her hands, soon collected a small
crowd round her.
Had they seen a young lady. In a
black dress, with long golden hair? she
never ceased asking.
At last a man suggested that the po-
liceman 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
swering the description. She had been
one among the first of the crowd to come
down the passage. She looked as if 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 he lost
sight of her.
What was the man like?' asked.
"Oh, he was youngish, smooth-faced
fellow, with a cap on" was the reply.
The very man who had beckoned me
but by whom originated, and for what
purpose?
Take a 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
Mr.. Montgomery left the theater? He
had followed out at my heels, was the
answer.
Suddenly bethought me of the public
house frequented by Josiah and Mr..
Montgomery. Away I ran thither No;
they had not been there that evening.
Then / 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 case, per
haps-only for little walk-met some
one she knew, and finding that she had
missed you, he has taken her home 2?
suggested the functionary who was TAX
ing down the dispositions.
pray disabuse your mind of such an
idea; the young lady in question has nc
friends except those you see here
knows no others-associate with nc
Others"
The solemn earnestness of my tones
seemed to convince him of his error, fol
from that time he gave us a more seri
GUS attention.
"a description shall be sent to the diff
ferent heats and police stations, and yol
had better issue bills, and if you car'
to go to the expense, advertise Ill th'
daily papers If we hear anything, w
l1A nab
your mind easy upon one point-at least
I think so; wherever she is, she ha
gone with her own free will. There
no accounting for the vagaries of girls.
Both myself and Mrs. Wilson felt YER
angry at the light and skeptical mamie
In which a subject SO momentous to u
was treated; but the officer only smiie
at our warmth.
Mrs Wilson expressed her intentio
of issuing bills early the. next morning
offering a reward for her discovery
There was nothing more to be done i
that place, for the cab was waiting
and l persuaded her to return home in
mediately. She implored me TO accom-
pany her No, l would search the neigh
bcrhood; l might chance to get som
tidings.
Finding that all her entreaties wer
in vain, the old lady reluctantly depar
ed alone.
Mr.. Jonathan was standing upon til
doorstep when the cab drove up. Befo1
the cabman could descend from the ho,
he had the door open.
''Where is she-where is ClaraP"
asked, seeing but one person within.
Too utterly terrified and bewifdered
think Of. the oddity Of such a questio
from a stranger whom she had new,
seen before, Mrs. Wilson could only gas
'.She is gone-run away with"
Ten minutes afterwards, Mr. Jon
than jumped into the cab that hs
brought her home, and which he ordere
to stay. "To the Bow street poll,
station as fast as you can drive"
cried.
All that night / wandered about in
frenzied state up and down the street
down by the river, know not wher
1t came on to rain, aud I was soak,
to the skin. Still, hour after hour, Ii
gered about the same spot; the dav
broke and merged into broad dayligl