The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-05
A Mystery
OF I w o
Continents
Dy
BURTON E.
STEVENSON,
Copyright. 1908, by
Henry Holt and
Company

one OF tnclF lOUEer.'
"Ah, yes" he said "That was cx-
ceedingly clever. should never have
thought Of that. That is worthy of NJ.
Lecoq. And so you follow them to
France: Tut surely you have some moro
definite address than that"
NO." ! said. "1t seems rather wild
goose chase, doesn't IL? But you could
advise me, Mr.. Martigny. Where would
it be best for me to search for thom!''
He did not answer for moment. and
I tooJM'yantagc of the opportunity TO
selessX ond cigarette ard light it.
1 dared nr, remain unoccuY.cd
That" he began slowly at last,
seems to me u mcst-ah! !-deeficult
affair. MiStair I.cstcr-to search for
three people through Ill France. There
seems little hope OF success. Yet l
should think it most likely that they
have gone TO Paris
l nodded. "Thut was my own the
ory." I agreed, but to find them in
Paris seems also impossible
"Not If one uses the police" he said.
But, my dear SIR l protested, Il
can't use the police. Miss HSiladay at
has simply chosen to go away without
informing u.s.
You will permit me to say then,
Mistair Lester" he observed, with just
touch or irony, ''that l fap to COM
prchend your anxiety concerning her."
l felt that 1 had made misstep;
that I had need to so carefully.
1T Is not quite so simple as that" l
explained. '"rhe last time we saw Miss
Holiday she told us that she was i'll
and intended to go to her country
home Cor rest. Instead of going
there she sailed for France without
Informing any one indeed, doing
everything she could to escape detec-
tion. That conduct seems so eccen-
trio that we feel in duty bound to in
vestigatc it; besides, two days before
she left she received from us hun
dred thousand dollars in cash."
L saw him move uneasily on his bed.
After oil this advantage of mine was
no small one.
"Ah," he said softly, and again,
"ah! Yes, that seems peculiar, yet per-
haps If you had waited for a letter.
Suppose we had waited and there
had been no letter-suppose, In conse-
quence of waiting, we should be too
later
"Too later Too late for what, Mis-
tair Lester? What Is it you fear for
her?"
II don't know" I answered, "but
something-something At least, we
could not assume the responsibility of
delay"
NO." he agreed, perhaps not. You
are doubtless quite right to investi-
gate. l wish you success. I wish that
l myself might aid you, there Is so
much Of interest in the case to me, but
fear that to be impossible"
And he breathed sigh, which was
doubtless genuine enough.
"Will you go to PARISH asked.
"Oh. no; not at once. At Havre l
shall meet my agent and transact my
,ffairs with him. Then I shall seek
'ome place Of quiet along the coast"
"Yes." said to myself, with leaping
heart, "Etretatw But dsred not
speak the word.
81 shall write to you," he added.
when 1 have settled. Where do you
stay Mt PARISH
1--WE haven't decided yet" said.
"We?" he repeated.
Didn't 1 tell you? Mr.. Royce, our
.unior partner, is with me-"
ut is no matter where. you stay"
he said. 81 shall write to you at the
poste restante. / should like both you
md your friend to be my guests before
'ou return to Amerric'."
There was courtesy cordiality in
his tone which almost disarmed me.
Such finished scoundrel!
1--WE shall be glad to accept" I au-
Fwered, knowing in my heart that the
Invitation would never be made.
/ was ready 10 go. / had accom-.
plished all could hope to accomplish
II had not already, disarmed his sus.
piciOns, could never do so.
"I am tiring you," said, starting up.
"NO," he protested, mo" But his
voice was almost inaudible.
"I will CO." I said "You must par.
don me. / hope you will soon be bet.
ter" and closed the door behind me
with his murmured thanks i'm my ears.
1t was not till after dinner that
found opportunity to relate to Miss
Ilemball the details of my talk with
Martigny.
"W'hy did you change your mind?"
she asked.
"The adventure temp,ed me. Those
are your own words. thought per-
haps might be able to throw Mar
tlgny Off the track"
And do you think You succeedcd?"
II don't know" / answered doubt
fully. "He may have seen clear
through me-"
"Oh, 1 don't believe him superhu-
man! believe you succeeded"
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