The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-03-02

had head Alright.
"Yes, sent them," she said again en-
phatically. "Why do you suppose they
went to the hospital so early the mex;
morning."
81 suppose they had become suspi.
cious of me-"
Nonsense! What possible reason
could they have for beccAling sus-
picious of you? On the contrary, they
went after the key to those padloeks
on the window shutters. OF course
Martigny had it,"
For moment l was too nonplused
to speak. l could only stare at her.
"Well, was fool, wasn't II" de-
handed finally. ITO think that |
shouldn't have foreseen that! 1 was
so worked up over my discovery that
night that l couldn't think of anything
else. OF course, when they asked for
the key, the whole story came out"
Il shouldn't blame myself too severe
ly," laughed Miss Kendall as she
looked at nay rueful countenance. Il
myself think it's rather fortunate that
he's on the boat"
Fortunate! You don't mean that"
Precisely that. Suppose the Jour-
dams hadn't gone to him. He'd have
left the hospital anyway in two or
three days. He isn't the man to lie
inactive when he knew you were
searching for the fugitives. He'd have
returned then to his apartment next
to yours; your landlady would have
told him that you had sailed for Eu-
rope, and he had only to examine this
boats passenger list to discover your
name"
But. at any rate" 1 pointed out
che would still have been in America,
lie couldn'r nave caught u.s."
HE couldn't have caught you, but
cablegram would have passed you in
midocean warning his cOnfederates.
If they have time to conceal their pris-
oner, you'll never find her. Your only
hope is in catching them unprepared.
And there's another reason-since he's
on the boat, you've another opportuni-
ty. Why not go and have a talk with
him-that battle OF wits you were look
ing forward TOT"
I'D thought of that" I said, "but
I'm afraid couldn't play the part"
1.-THE partT'
"Of seeming not to suspect him. It's
too great risk"
1.-THE advantage would be on your
side" she pointed out. you could tell
him so many things which he already
suspect you know he knows. 1t sounds
terribly involved, doesn't it? But you
'Oh, yes; l understand"
"And then it would be the natural
thing for you to look him up as soon
as you learned he was i'll. To avoid
him will be to confess that you suspect
him."
But his name isn't on the passenger
list If hadn't happened to see him
IS he camo on board I'd probably not
have known It at ALL"
Perhaps he saw you at the same
time"
''Then the fats in the fire." l said
IF he knows I know he's on board.
hen he also knows that l suspect him.
If he doesn't know, why, there's 40
'eason for him to think that I'll find It |
)ut, unless he appears in the cabin, |
which doesn't seem probable"
Perhaps you're right" she admit |
ed. "Theres no use taking any I'M
Necessary risks. The thing appealed |
o me. | th!uk | should enjoy a half |
lour's talk with him, matching my |
Wits against his"
But yours are brighter than mine |
pointed cut. you've proved it pretty
lec.ually IN the last few minutes"
mo, l haven't. I've simply shown
rou that you overlooked one little
hing. And l think you're right about
he danger of going to Martigny. Our
irst duty is to Miss Holiday. We
must rescue her before he can warn
lis confederates to place her out Of our
each"
The unstudied way in which she said
our" filled me with an unreasoning
"But why should they bother with
prisoner at all? They didn't shrink
rom striking down her father"
"And they may not shrink from strik-
ng her down at a favorable moment"
he answered calmly. 1T will be cas-
er in France than in New York"
My hands were trembling at the
bought of it. If we should really be
90 late!
"But don't believe they'll go to such
Extremes, Mr.. Lester" continued my
81 believe you're going to
ind her and solve the mystery. My
heory doesn't solve 1t, you know; it
My makes it deeper. The mystery,
fter all, is: Who are these people?
Why did they kill Mr.. Holiday? Why
ave they abducted his daughter?
What is their plot"
YES" 1 assented. And again l had
moment of confused perplexity.
But after you find her." she asked,
what will you do with herT
do with her? WHY take her home |