Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-02-27

4 II.
a stable in some distant portion OF the
| city for the purpose of concealfng her
whereabouts, or had it been ordered
| for her by her maid, and was she real
| " the victim Of foul play? I put this
| question to Mr. Royce, but he seemed
quite unable to reach conclusion. As
| for myself, was certain that she had
| gone away Of her own accord and had
| deliberately planned her disappearance.
Why? Well, I began to suspect that
| we had not yet really touched the bot
tom of the mystery.
| We drove back to the Office and found
| Mr.. Graham there. I related to him
| the circumstances of our search and
submitted to him and to our junior one
| question for immediate settlement
! 'At the best. it's a delicate case"
pointed out Miss Holiday has plain
ly laid her plans very carefully to pre-
vent US following her. 1t may be diff
ficult to prove that she has not gone
away entirely of her own accord. She
| certainly has a perfect right to go
wherever she wishes without consult
ing US. Have we the right to follow
her against her evident desire?"
| For moment Mr.. Graham did not
answer, but sat tapping his desk with
| that deep line of perplexity between
| his eyebrows. Then he nodded en-
phatically.
Its our duty to follow her and find
her. he said. Its perfectly evident
to me that no girl in her right mind
would act as she has done. She had no
reason whatever for deceiving us-for
running away. We wouldn't have in
| terfered with her. Jenkinson's right
she's suffering with dementia. We
must see that she receives proper med
ical treatment"
''It might not be dementia," I sug-
| gested, 80 much as undue influence
on the part of the new maid, perhaps"
| 'Then it's our duty to rescue her
from that influence" rejoined Mr.. Gra-
ham, "and restore her to her normal
mentality"
| Even if we offend herT'
1--WE can't stop to think of that. Be
sides, she won't he offended when she
comes to herself. The question is how
to find her most speedily"
1.-THE police, probably, could do it
most speedily" I said, 'but since she
can be in no immediate danger of any
| kind I rather doubt whether it would
be wise to call in the police. Miss
Holiday would very properly resent
any more publicity
'But," objected Mr. Graham, eff we
don't call in the police, how are we to
find her? 1 recognize, of course, how
undesirable it is that she should be
subjected to any further notorieSy, but
is there any other way?"
| I glanced at Mr. Royce and saw that
he was seemingly sunk in apathy.
eff could be excused from the
office for a few days, SIR" 1 began
hesitatingiy, Il might be able to find
some trace of her. If I'm unsuccess-
ful, we might then call liz the author
| tiles"
Mr.. Royce frightened UP for mo-
| ment.
That's it." he said. "Let Lester
look into it,
I, Every WELL" assented Mr. Graham.
II agree to that: Of course any ex-
pense you may incur will be borne by
the office"
'Thank you, SIR" and 1 rose with
fast beating heart, for the adventure
appealed to me strongly. '11l begin
at once then. I should like assistance
in one thing. Could you let me have
three or four clerks to visit the va
rious stables of the city? 1t would
be best, think, to use our own people"
I Certainly" assented our senior in
stantly. "I'll call them in and we can
/, give them their instructions at once"
| So four clerks were summoned, and
each was given district of the city.
| Their instructions were to find from
| which stable Miss Holiday had Or
dered a carriage on the morning Of
I Thursday, April 8. They were to re-
port at the Office every day, noon and
| evening, until the search was finished.
| They started away at once, and I
| turned to follow them, when my eye
was caught by the expression Of our
J juniors face
Mr.. Royce is ill, sirv' cried. Look
! at himv'
| He was leaning forward heavily, his
face drawn and livid, his eyes set, his
hands plucking at the arms Of his
chair. We sprang to him and led him
to a couch. I bathed his hands and
face in cold water, while Mr.. Graham
hurriedly summoned physician. The
doctor soon arrived and diagnosed the
| case at glance.
Nervous breakdown" he said terse-
! ly. "You lawyers drive yourselves too
hard. It's a wonder to me you don't
all drop over. Well have to look out
or this will end in brain fever"
| He poured out stimulant, which the
sick man swallowed without protest.
He seemed stronger in a few moments
and began talking incoherently to him.