Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-09


thero had declared his man would find
Mr. Dunn and Elsie. But two days (
passed and still no sign Of SUCCESS came 70 me
IRON town, and my own Efforts 70 ffiee1 tl,s
party from The Elms met with no better result. :
Mo word had as vet come u the carstslter and
his w1te ami none Of the yillsQeFs whom 4 apos-J
TONED discreetly seemed 10 have seefi Or heard
ANYTHING which could give me an idea Of the
road the missing motor ears had taken fsk
That this flight had any imnieaia " fb1peettcn
with Mr. Dunn's financial affairs did not be-
come apparent, TO all appeafsanees hid name
still stood high in the circles where he had Ill
ways ruled; and to take small INSTANCE only,
had reason to know Brown the builders
cheque had been met on representation.
IL was not till the fourth day that my honrH
q suspsnse we're ended. to be replaced by n hme
Of terror and swift action that seemed like some
wild and horrible nightmare. a 94t Va
l was called to my window that fourth day by
the hurried gallop. Of horseEalong thelroad out
side, and looking out saw the rider pull his ami
NAL on to its launches at my gate.
He flung himself to The ground, and throwing
the reins over One Of the shrubs at the side, he
hurried up the path. Seeing a, that he had a
packet In his hand, and knowing that news had
come at last, descended with beating heart to y
meet him.
He was boy chat knew well by sight. usual
" employed on odd jobs about the station, and
he was breathless and red in the face now, from
the speed with which he had ridden 81 liN4tsfs
"a package for you, Mr.. Blackwood," he said,
t1Corne. from Burley, Hampshire The guard of
the 415 told to send it on to you as quick
as ever was possible. He said his Instructions
was that it might be matter of life and death,
$50 III got on the milers mare and come along
4 took the packet "a matter Of life and
DEATH Heaven grant the words were spoken
rashlyi With trembling fingers I gave him a
coin, and telling him to go to the servants qnsfr y
tters for some refreshments, .hastened to my
/ study and closed the door, ssf
| For moment after was alone / stood look
ing at the little package, literally afraid to open
it.. Then | tore the thick brown paper apart
and read the letter that first tumbled out; for
the packet contained two.
Itt was from Mrs. Cathcart. ts F"'
ssSSir,," it ran''Ihe worst that 1 expected has
come about, and helpless and lost turn to you.
IL you fail me, may you never know another hap
py moment in this world or the next. But you =.
won't fail me, or you wouldn't be the man she
loves When you read this start instantly by
the first train which goes to Burley in the New
Forest, Hampshire. If train does not leave
IN an hour engage a special; bribe the porters,
bribe the guards, do anything, spend any money,
but leave at once"
put down the letter unfinished and taking
up time table examined it. The nearest sta /
ton to Burley Holmsley Junction, three
miles away, and the next train started in an
hour. rang the bell, ordered the dogcart round9
and turned back to the letter. as Z
L You will wonder why write to you like this, 4
why expect you to do what ask you. win
tell you. My name is not Cathcart; it is Bolton.
as you thought. ] am Elsie's mother and she is
being .murdered. But she can yet be saved If 1.
you dome at once. Now will you come? told a
YOU Itwas writing a long letter to you. I have
written it. 1t is in the parcel with this. Read
ftias you come to Burley; it will tell you more
than j ever thought to tell human being; but 4
don't read it now" 81 4 FL, s.ea
Putting the letter and the package in my
pocket, I ran upstairs, pushed few things into
a bag, took hat and coat, and sprahg into the q
dogcaft. quarter of an hour before the train 3
was due, was at the station, and few min !.
utes later was my way to holmsley juno
ton But in that few minutes had written
and dispatched a note to Joseph Legrand, extc
planning what had happened and telling him to-
follow me at once. ag 've3 ttisa| :
The carriage into which had sprang was IA a
Arst class one, and empty. By arrangement with
the guard who knew me well, contriyed that I I
should have it to myself for the hour or SO which.
the Journey would take, and as the train steamed
out of the station on its way to Hampshires /
broke the seal of the second letter sdf