The Red Cloud chief., 1906-01-12

saloon staircase.
How is Martigny, doctor?" I asked.
Worse. | fear" he answered hur-
riedly. Gle has just sent for me-"
(Which room has he?"
Hes In 375. an outside room OH the
upper deck"
] went forward to the smoking room
and looked over the colored plan of the
ship posted there. A moments inspec-
ton Of 1t showed me how easily Mar
tigny had eluded pursuit. He had only
to walk twenty feet, open n door and
get into bed again.
When l sat down mex morning be-
side Miss Kendall she closed her book
and turned to me with u very deter
mined air.
"Of course, Mr.. Lester" she began,
"if you think any harm can come from
telling me, l don't want you to say a
word, but l really think I'm entitled
to an explanation"
$50 do l." | agreed. you've proved
yourself a better guard than l.. I'd for
gotten all about Martigny. | was
thinking-well, of something very diff
ferent. | had no thought of danger
Nor had l." she said quickly. But
| CHANGED to look up and see that dark
figure bending over them, and | cried
out, really, before l had time to think"
1T was just that which saved them"
"Yes; but, oh, l could think after
ward! I'd only to close my eyes last
night to see him there yet, peering
down at us. waiting his opportunity.
And then, Of course, ! puzzled more or
less over the whole thing"
You shan't puzzle any more,' I said.
Then ! laid the case before her, step by
step. She listened with clasped hands
and Intent face, not speaking till l
had finished. Then she leaned back In
her chair with II long sigh.
why, it's horrible!' she breathed.
But you haven't given me your ex-
PLANTATION yet, Mr.. Lester"
II haven't any explanation" ! said
helplessly. "I've built up half a dozen
theories, but they've all been knocked
to pieces. one after the other. l don't
know what to think, unless Miss Hol-
laday is a victim Of hypnotism or de-
mentia Of some kind
sometimes she's nice and ut other
times she's horrid. 1t recalls DIR. Jekyll
and Mr.. Hyde doesn't it,"
yes, 1t does. Only, as l say, such an
explanation seems absurd"
There's one theory which might ex-
plain it-part Of It. Perhaps 1t wasn't
Miss Holiday ut all who returned
maid. Perhaps It was the other wom
an, and the barred windows were real
ly to keep Miss Holiday a prisoner"
but she wasn't there" l protested.
1--WE saw her when we gave her the
money"
Eyes, in a darkened room, with a
bandagc about her forehead, so hoarse
she could scarcely speak"
l stopped a moment to consider.
Remember. that would explain
something which admits OF no other
reasonable explanation" went on my
cOmpanion-''thc barred windows and
the behavior of the prisoner"
ut would explain that. certainly" ]
admitted. though mt first thought the
theory did not appeal to me. "You be-
lieve, then, that Miss Holiday was
forcibly abducted?"
Undoubtedly. IF her mind was 60
ing to give way at all ii would have
done so at once and not two weeks aft.
er the tragedy"
But If she had brooded over It," !
objected.
"She wasn't brooding-at least she
had ceased to brood. You have Mr..
Royce's word and the buffers word
that she was getting better, brighter
quite like her old self again. Why
should she relapse!"
II don't know" / said helplessly.
THAT affair last night has upset me Sc
that | can't think clearly. feel that
| was careless-that | wasn't doing my
duty"
81 shouldn't worry about 1t; though,
of course" she added a little severely,
you've realized by this time that you
alone are to blame for Martigny's pres
n on the boat"
But | had to go TO the JOurdains,'
/ protested, land | couldn't help their
going to him. To have asked them not
TO go would have made them suspect
me ut once"
"Oh, yes; but at least you needn't
have sent them. They might not have
gone at a%ll-certainly they wouldD'i
.mve gone so promptly-if you hadn''
sent them"
sent them" | repeated, and starec
at her in amazement, doubling If
had heard Alright.