The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-12-08

| on the market, and write sometimes
That was as easy as anything.
he end of it was that we all went
to cali on the chief OF police. felt
| chagrined. They chartered at a fear full
! rate, and then one said:
"He has been calling himself George
Marsh" Ny heart leaped.
Il am George Marsh. gentlemen"
| cried, for it seemed to come back to me
then, 'and | am a lawyer by profession,
| though given TO literature | live in the
| city of Boston, at the Winterset hotel"
The young man who spoke little but
looked at me hard said:
And how long have you lived in Bos-
ton, Mr. Marsh
oh" | answered, "not-not so long,
you know-not SO long Really. it
seemed to me that the time was of no
Importance just then. They spoke in
low tones, until my quiet acquaintance
said:
"Mr. Marsh, we are in very difficult
situation. We cannot get ont of it with
out your aid. beg you will not insist
on our at present informing you of the
| details. | want to ask you il, as very
| special favor, to help persons i'll deep
| distress, you are willing to join our
| party and accompany us to Philadelphia,
| free of expense, and at a reasonable COM
pensation for loss of time"
How long," ! asked, wondering what
was coming next.
Two or three days-perhaps,' he re-
Piled.
"Yes,' | agreed; Il will go if it will
| do you a service-bccause you seem to
be agitated to an extraordinary degree"
We started for Philadelphia with no
delay, and | found myself in company
| whose agreeable manners were tenn
| pered with respectful reticence. On
nearing our carriage at Camden station
l halted and said:
I insist that before going further | be
Gentlemen, you must excuse me II
insist that before going further be
| admitted to knowledge of Our errand."
| The slender youth seemed fit for re-
monstrance; but the other, whom l had
begun to like, interrupted:
"To be sure. Well, then, am Doctor
Wranglc-this Mr. Harold Martin, son
| of Mr.. Gerald Martin--"
MY double, l supposes" said.
"Yes,' replied the doctor, and won
dered what about his face reminded me
of that policeman
"As to our errand" he continued, "Mr.
Martin most mysteriously disappeared
three weeks ago. We are searching for
him, and we want you-a practical law
yer with plenty of leisure, to take up
the hunt as an entirely unprejudiced per
SON. The best detectives have failed,
| We have been seeking a man exactly
yes, may say exactly like you"
"You display astounding confidence in
a stranger" | suggested.
1--WE are desperate" replied he. Mrs.
| Martin is frantic with grief and appre-
| hension. VIII you allow us to put you
in entire charge of the search for a suf-
fcient period to make study OF the
| case?"
l got into the carriage.
At the door young Martin led the way
| past a pretty maid into house set with
obvious elegance. 1t occurred to me that
the missing Martin lived well when he
| was at home The doctor and waited.
Harold ran upstairs. ! heard door un-
| latch, and womans voice cried some
| thing indefinite Then Harold broke in ::
| Eyes, mother" he said; we've found
him"
The door closed. found the doctor
regarding me ntently
We'll sir" he remarked, as if expect
ing me to say something of Importance
Mrs. Martin was expecting me,
them" l inquired.
Expecting youa"
"Yes-or some one in my capacity"
Eyes The doctor led the way to-
ward what looked like library. We
needed you desperately
ITS very flattering to be in such de-
mand," | replied.
| aN-on,u he hetter than Inlworfhv the