Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-17
Mystery
Of T w O
Continents
BURTON E.
STEVENSON
Copyright. 1905. by
Henry Holt and
Company

through me mousse: II was III perfect
order. Miss Holladay's rooths were |
just, as she would naturally have left
them. Her fathers rooms, too, were
evidently undisturbed.
Here's one thing" 1 said, "that |
might help" and picked up photo
graph from the mantel You won't |
mind my using itY'
Mr.. Royce took it with trembling
hand and gazed at it for moment
at the dark eyes, the earnest mouth.
Then he handed it back to me.
NO" he answered, mot IL 1t will
really help. We must use every means
we can. Only
81 won't use it unless absolutely
have to-" assured him. "And when
I'm done with 1t I'LL destroy it."
Every WE'LL" he assented, and l put
it in my pocket.
There was nothing more to be dis
covered there, and we went away, aft
er warning the two men to say not q
word to any one concerning their mis-
tress' disappearance.
Plainly the first thing to be done
was to and the coachman who had
driven Miss Holiday and her maid
away from the house, and with this
end ill view we visited all the stables
In the neighborhood, but from none of
them had carriage been ordered by
her. Had she ordered it herself from
a stable iii some distant portion of the
city for the purpose Of concealing her
had ~ haop
for her by her maid, and was she real
~ the victim of foul play? 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, l. 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. related to him
the circumstances of our search and
submitted to him and to our Junior one
question for immediate settlement.
Sat the best, it's g 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
| icai treatment"
ut might not be dementia," 1 sug-
gested, $50 much as undue influence
on the part of the new maid, perhaps"
''rhen it's our duty to rescue her
from that influence" rejoined Mr.. Ora
ham, "and restore her to her normal
mentality"
Gwen If we offend herT'
1--WE can't stop to think of that. Be-
sides, she won't be offended when she
comes to herself. The question Is how
to find her most speedily"
1.-THE police, probably, could do it
i cot h,,f CIV cl,o
can be in no Immediate danger Of any
kind l 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, "if we
don't call in the police, how are we to
find her? l recognize, of course, how
undesirable It is that she should be
subjected to any further notorlety, but
is there any other way?'
glanced Mt Mr. Royce and saw that
he was seemingly sunk in apathy.
"If l could be excused from the
Office for u few days, sir" began
hcsitatingly, II might be able to find
some trace Of her. If Pm unsuccess-
sul, we might then call in the author
tiles"
Mr.. Royce frightened up for mo-
ment.
THAT'S it." he said. LET Lester
look into it."
Every WE'LL" asscnted Mr.. Graham.
II agree to that. OF course any ex-
pense you may incur will be borne by
the Office"
"Thank you, Sir" and rose with
fast beating heart, for the adventure
appealed to me strongly. "Pll begin
at once then. 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"
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 givon district of the city.
Their instructions were to find from
which stable Miss Holiday had or
dered Il carriage OH the morning Of
Thursday. April 3. They were to re
port at the Office every day, noon and
evening, until the search was finished
They started away at once, and
turned to follow them, when my eye
was caught by the expression of our
juniors face.
Mr.. Royce is i'll, sir!' cried "LooH
at him.
He WAS leaning forward heavily, his
face drawn and livid, his eyes set, his
hands pucking ut the arms Of LII:
chair. NE sprlng to him and led hin
to u couch. bathed his hands ant
, face i'll cold water, while Mr. Graham
, hurriedly summoned Il physician. The
doctor soon arrived and diagnosed thu
!. case at glance.
Nervous breakdown" he said terse
ly. You lawyers drive yourselves tot
. hard. It's Il wonder to Inc you dom
all drop over. Well have to look on
:, or this will end in brain fever"
He poured out stimulant, which til
sick man swallowed without protest