The Washington times., 1906-10-21

cenary motive. actuated him IN accept
ing his honorable and important Of
flee
What about the case itself?' in
quired Boyd bluutly.
1T appears that Dearborn's daugh-
ter. who is an only child. aud ne a
widower. was left with her aunt In
England when Dearborn came over
here. lie recently decided. however.
that he would send for her. both To
have her near him and in order that
she might take a supplementary edu-
cation course at Vassar."
II saw an item In the newspapers to
that effect. l think"
Yes; it was very generally pub
lished."
Go on
$50 the consul sent for her TO come
over here. She arrived this morning
on the Umbria. having made the voy-
age with London friends, who also
were travelling this way. Now, how
ever. she is not 10 be found"
Not to be found" echoed Boyd
Not hide nor hair OF her." cried
Belden. with more fervor than ele-
gance.
Perhaps she has gone away with
Not so. They left the steamer half
an hour after she did. Dearborn learn
ed that from one Of the vessels Off
GERS"
Then she may have lost her way,
Or"
mo. no-as you'll presently see" in
terrupted Beiden. Here We are at
Dearborn's office. He vii explain
more fully than / can"
He led the way into the consurs at
tractive rooms. from an inner one OF
which a tail. MISUNDERSTANDING man
In middle life hurriedly emerged.
obviously in a state or excitement and
distress not 20 be repressed, even In
the presence OF his secretary and sew
eral clerks occupying the outer office.
Thank God. Belden, you have re-
turned!" he cried, as he approached.
Us this your friend Mr.. BoydT'
Yes, Dearborn. Allow me to
"Oh, don't delay for introductions."
cried the Englishman, nevertheless
shaking Boyd warmly by the haHd.
The fact is, Mr.. Boyd. I am In a
state OF distraction which"
Which is, under the circumstances,
the worst possible state you can get
into" interposed Boyd, with ef-
fectivs quietude. 80 calm your
self. Mr.. Dearborn. and briefly
tell me all that you know about this
case. Then Will look into It at
once"
- thousand thanks" replied Dear.
born. with a nervous display Of ap-
probation. 'The facts are these: My
daughter arrived this morning on the
UmbTia- was expecting TO meet her
at the pier bat was Informed late last
night ty one OF the company's clerks,
10 whom I telephoned regarding the
hour of her arrival that the steamer
was detained In the outer harbor by
a dense fog. and would not make the
pier before noon today"
Go on. sir; follow you"
Therefore. as had very important
business in court this morning. ] did
not hasten TO nay office. and IL was
nearly II O'Clock when arrived there.
I at once telephoned TO learn II the
Umbria would soon be locked. and
was told that she had reached her pier
soon after 9 o'clock"
''Ahl / see"
Il then FASTENED to the pier. Mr..
Boyd. only TO find that my daughter,
a. well as the friends with whom she
steamer some time before. I soon
learned. however, that they had not
departed I'm company, br:t that Luella
had left with a man who had boarded
the steamer in search foT her"
''Who told you that?" demanded
BOYD. with brows beginning to knit.
An officer stationed at the gang
way. lie stated that gentleman had
asked leave to come on board. in or
der to bring of a lady passenger who
had no escort. and his request was
granted. Soon after. the same man
left the steamer with my daughter"
Did the gangway officer see them?"
Yes"
And recognized your daughter"
Yes. He is attached 10 the steamer,
ana is positive that the girl was
Luclla."
did YOU get "a description Of her
companion"
The officer stated that he was
well-dressed. dar0-eyed man of about
thiTty-nvc. with d mustache and short
pointed beard. Also that he appeared
very genuemanly, and betrayed no
perturbation natural 10 one engaged
IN evil"
"Humph." calculated Boyd con-
temptuOusly. such signs don't
amount 10 much ia cases in which
nerve is the chief requisite. Mr.
Dearborn, tins affair certainly has a
serious side You already have, I take
it, given me apout all the informa-
lion ynu possess bearing upon it,"
Il think so. Mr. Boyd. Yet
Pardon me" Boyd quietly inter-
posed. First answer lew questions
Tor me-"
AS many as you wish"
How old Is your daughter"
Nineteen"
DO YOU know whether her trunks
are still at the pier?'
They are. l looked them up and
saw them there"
AT what ume was the Umbria
doC5ed?"
Soon after . o'clock"
And At what time did you reach
the pier?"
Just before IL
Allowing for the ordinary confusion
and delays. then. it-is safe TO assume
that this outrage. if such it proves TO
be, was planned and executed within
Il