Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-01-05


YEARLY into Felix Chaudron's face
Don't Joke with me. Felix: I'm too
tired and worried for any such fool.
ishness"
But Felix Chaudron was even more
serious and weary than he.
God knows I wish il were a Joke.
we've had the entire police force Of
the city looking for her all day. They
can't even find the cabman that took
her 20 the house-if she ever went to
that house. And. do YOU know. I
would begin TO doubt it myself if it
were not for Miss Cameron. Some
times I think it must be a joke until
I 60 home and see nay mother trying
her best 20 keep that poor girl from
going crazy"
Joe Balfour listened In stolid amaze
ment - dryas-dust. matter-of fact
amazement He was clever enough
at catching a legal proposition. but
somehow DE did not graprle this.
Wait a minute. Felix. now teu me
that all over again. ] don't seem TO
get 10 into my head"
Il couldn't either. az frst-It took
me a long time 7 don't believe am
certain about 10 now: &c seems so
strange for such a thing 90 happen
right here az home. 10 people you
know"
He slipped his coffee slowly: Joe's
coffee got cold.
Chaudron went on and gave In de-
tail every incident that had transpired
from the moment he entered the
Hotel Louis De- everything
that Anita had told him. everything
that he police had learned. 70 did
not take long there was SO very little
OF &c.
Now. you know au that anybody
knows he said. finally, and set down
HIS cup.
Joe did not move. his face did not
EEht up with corurchcns "But
I don't know thne." he said.
Neither do NEITHER does any
body"
"But The pohcee the detccuycs2"
"Not thing Except for what
those TWO girls say ve have not boon
able to end solitary trace of Mrs
Ashton since She seq foot in New
Orleans. Hcr trunk came to-day. but
the bag that sho had last nirht has
disappeared. We can't oven prove
that she ever reached the citv-oxcont
by the young ladies' Her trunk is
standinr down there in chat hotel
right now. lts the only tangible OWE
Geucc wc haVc-staul.ue thcrc like
"a rravcetone. Kind OBJ cresome-
makes d. fellow shiter to book go IT,"
where is that hotel2" Joe asked
what sort of place is itg never
heard OF &c."
Down on Valo.s street. just below
Espauaio. 10 is uot hotel at am
merely an apartment house. they ront
rooms to Carnival visitors. People ro
down there because 10 U.s. SD QUA .nt
and olifash.onol-iots of antique
furniture and curos. AN that sort OF
thing"
Doe thouelt q long time: he wanted
Co ask Cd question. hut dared not in
spite of h.ms,-f De Kept thuk.r~ of
Dukes pale and hasear5 face. AMI tr.
Intense hate with which ho said. "I
wish that old woman were in he'll. sud
/ bad tho receipt for her."
After awhile he Ola ask hcsitattD-
ly- "po you think She has be.r ,,,,-
dereI9'
THAT seems hardly possfbla. h,~,
was uo reason for anrbofy II, I'm
her. If She had been ki1o5 rtero
would have been some si.n off 10
somewhere. But she couI5r't l.s,.. ,.',.
up in The night and sfravol se.,,.
her baggage would he tbera pI.er ir
can thi1k OF anvtbine r1ot $40
might possibly have dome w. con-.
seem to ger start ON cam, cot,t
hold OF 40 anywhere .rt. .,,l ,.,-,-
don't agree as to where they Left her.
neither one is certain. VET rbev hotb
are sure that She went ro tb,t bo.,s.
and went to bed in room, y,llch
they decrlbo perfectly. RYt as ,ol1
you. there is NOT O. room i'm the bo,,s..
answering to their Dissertation %
Joe may have b.ev Slow about conn,
matters. but bee was thorourb ana IN
trying his cases DEE never lem an i,cl,
OF ground uuevoIored behind him
He leaned forward and ,sl,eI C,,,o..
ton after Question-incisive nointed