The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-30


II must. = Mr.. Ransom had risen in
great excitement. HNothing can hide !
the fact that my bride left me on our
wedding day. 1t only remains now to
show that she did it under an influence
which robbed her Of her own will; an
influence from which she shrank even
while succumbing to it. l can show her
afraid of the result. I have perfect
confidence in her integrity he hest
tated, then added with strong convic.
ton" and in her love-
The detective hid his surprise. He
could not understand this confidence.
But then he knew nothing Of the mem
orles which lay back Of it.. Not to
him could this -grievously Inundated
crets of a courtship which had fixed his
heart on this one woman, and aroused
In him such trust that even this un-
called-for outrage to his pride and af-
fect1on had not been able to shake it.
Such SECRETS are sacred; but the ref1ec-
ton OF his trust was strong on his face
as he repeated:
49, Perfect confidence, Mr.. Gerridge.
Whatever may have drawn Mrs. Ran
som from my. side, it was not lack of
or undivided attachment to herself
>, The detective may not have been en-
t1rely convinced on the first point, but
he was discretion itself, and responded
quite cheerfully with an emphatic:
Very well. You still want me to
ind her. | will do my best, sir; but
hrsts cannot you help me with a sug-
There must be some clew to 90 sud-
den a freak on the part of a young and
beautiful woman, who, I have taken
pains to learn. has not only a clean
record but reputation for good sense.
The Fultons cannot supply it. She has
lived seemingly open and happy life
IN their house, and the mystery is as
great to them as to you. But you, as
her lover and now her husband, must
nave neen favored with condolences not
nkely to put us on the right track9
Some fact prior to the events of TODAY.
L mean; some fact connected with her
past life; before she went to live with
the Fultons?'
enc; Yet let me think; let me
think;' Mr.. Ransom dropped his face
1nCo MS hands and sat for moment
silent; When he looked up again. the
b aeeeStlve perceived that the affair was
concerned.
No. he repeated, this time with un.
m1stakab1e emphasis, "she has always
appeared buoyant and untrammeled.
months.'' 1'oA OLA
"Tell me her history so far as Won
I know it.. What do you know of her
IRE previous to your meeting herq''
~ was very. simple one. She had
born in a small village in Connecticu Tt
She was one of three children and The
only one who has survived: her sister
who was her twin, died when she was y
small child, and brother some I've
years ago. Her fortune was willed her,
as | have already told you, by q great
4ncie. IL Is entirely in her own hands.
LII an orphan early, she lived first
VIII ner brother, then when he died,
1 %etI oI ne re!aatlye after another, till
tons I know Of no secret in her iifa
no entanglement, not even of anv nrioy
engagements. Yet that man w;th, ~
! twisted jaw was not unknown tn ber
| ana It he is relative, as she said w.
s s99ouid have no difficulty in locatina
r;a IL have man on his track, Ger
TOO; mean, Of course. Bella Rurto lni -
1Ihey will report here up to 70 o ' ;J
F@9n1ght. 1t is now haif-past eleven
we should hear from one or the 9A othar
'fttAnd my wifeg" :.a.s'~. 81.
| o.d "A description Of the CLOTHING she
wore mas gone out. We NAV hear fron,
H. II: But | doubt if we do tonight = nm nm
LESS sne mas rejoined her maid or The
viii ~ mion a. scar; Somehow think she
W wati JOIN the girl. But it IS hard to tell
MI, MI Ransom could hardly control his
11mpatlence. HAnd I must sit heInlnss s
1 nereI = ne exclaimed. IT who have 0 so
Inc detective evidently thought the
OCCASION oas ;,e !, called for whatever comfort It
was IN his power to bestow. -
=, Yes,' said he. "For * is bere sho
WI seek you if she takes notion otiT '4 10
return; But woman is an unc .v4 10
quantlty,,,' he dryly added. Vail
rang; Mr.. Ransom leaped to answ a..
eut tne cal was only an anxious one
from the Fultons, who wanted 70 kn vuv
wna5 news. He answered as best he
to bis anu lily was 1Secrossing disconsolately
nall, and a man was ushered in WHOM,
GSHerr1 es!g Immediately introduced a.
runner-and with news! Mr.. Ran
SON. summoning up his courage. waitad
TOR the inevitable question and " ra,,i,,
they came quickly enough. pp'1'
found G1 the n msn,,yy you s0tf 7 Have you
" Yes. And the 1ady's been to SEQ
him HIM; that is, if the description Of her her
togs was correct. - ~ = :, Nv - :
'..He means Mrs. RANSOM, sx-
planned Gerridge. Then, as he marked
his client s struggle for composure. he
quietly asked, "a lady in a dark green
suit with yellowish furs and a blue veil
over her hat?' Wv -
That's the ticketl'' I'LL
The clothes worn BY the woman
who went out of the basement door,
Mr.. RANSOM -. = -
The latter turned sharply aside. The
shame of the. thing was becoming in
tolerable. ~ :. * - =
"And this woman wearing those vel
low furs and the blue veil visited the
Gerridge. 49, 81
Yes, sir.
ttWhenq''
m.tAbout six this afternoon @
At the hotel ST. Denis, where n
have since tracked him.
ssHow long did she stayan
About an hour
In the parlor Or
In the parlor. They had great deal
to say. More than one noticed them.
but no one heard ANYTHING. They talked