Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-07-04
! Alive or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance OF
Gerald Ratfbone.
CHAPTER ii.-continued.
BY GUY THoRNE.

tain man that | am interested In. /
don't know him personally, though !,
know something about him want to
know him, and want to know every
thing ! can about him, too"
Il suppose" Charliewood answered,
that there Is no difficulty for you In
getting to know anybody you want
to-? He said 1t with slight sneer.
"Oh, OF course not" Sir William an
swered; but still in this case | want
you to get to know him first. You
can easily do this If you wish; you are
sure to have some mutual acquain-
tances. When you get to know him,
make yourself as pleasant as you can
be to hfc--and nobody can do that
more gracefully than yourself, my
dear boy. Become an intimate friend
IL possible, and let me know as much
as you can about his habits and OBJ
jects in life. don't want you to
spare any expense In this matter, if
1t is necessary to spend money, and Of
course you will draw upon me for all
you require"
Charliewood held up his cigar and
looked steadily at the crust of white
ash which was forming at the end
What's the mans name?" he asked,
without moving his eyes.
His NAME" said Sir William, light
~, Us Rathbone-a Mr.. Gerald Rath-
bone. He Is a barrister and has
chambers in the Temple A youngish
man, ! understand, of about seven-and-
twenty"
At the name Charliewoo6 gave mo-
mentary start. He allowed slight
smile to come upon his lips, and it
was not a pleasant smile.
Goldesbrough saw it, flushed little,
and moved uneasily, feeling that, al
though this man was his servant,
there were yet disadvantages in en-
ploying him, and that he also could
sting when he liked. 49,,
Directly Sir William had mentioned
the name Of the person on whose ac-
tons and life--not to put too fine a
point on THE was ordering his
henchman to become spy, Charlie
wood knew the reason. He realized
In an instant what was the nature OF
the interest Sir William Gouldes-
brough took in Mr.. Gerald Rathbone,
barrlster-at-law.
The famous scientist, long, it was
said In society, a man quite impervi-
GUS to the attractions OF the other sex
and the passion Of love, had but a few
months ago became engaged.
Wealthy as he was, distinguished,
handsome and attractive in his man
ner, there had not been wanting ladies'
who would have very gladly shared
and appropriated all three. Like any
other unmarried man in his desirable
position, the scientist had been some
what pursued in many drawing rooms.
OF late. however, the pursuit had
slackened. Matchmaking mothers
and unappropriated daughters seemed
to have realized that here was a cita-
del they could not storm. Six months
ago, therefore, society had been all the
more startled to hear Of Sir Williams
engagement to Miss Marjorie Poole,
the only daughter OF old Lady Poole,
of GIczen street. -. Z -
Marjorie Poole was the daughter Of
rather poor baronet who had died
some years before, the title going to a
cousin. Lady Poole was left with a
house in Curzon street and sufficient
income for her own life, but that was
all. And among all the women who
hunt society for husband for their
daughters, as a fisherman whips a
stream for trout, the dowager was one
OF the most conspicuous.
1t was said that she had angled for
Sir William with an alertness and
unwearying pursuit which was at last
crowned by success. More charitable
people, and especially those who knew
and liked Miss Poole, said that girl
would never have lent herself to any
scheme of her mothers unless she
had been genuinely fond of the man
to whom she was engaged There had
been much talk and speculation over
the engagement at first. a speculation
which had in Its turn died away, and
which during the last few weeks had
been again revived by certain Incl
dents.
Eustace charliewood, whose whole
life and business 1t was to gather and
retail gossip was very we'll aware of
the reason which made people once
more wag their heads, and hint this or
that about the Gouldesbrough engage
'sment.
Mr. Gerald Rathbone had appeared
upon the scene. a young barrister OF
good family but Of no particular for
tune Several times Mr.. Rathbone
had been seen skating with Miss Poole
at; Princes. At this or that dance
Sir w lillian Gould esbrough did not go
to dane athbone had danced a
good deal with Miss Poole. Many en-,
vious and lynx.like eyes had watched
them for some weeks. and men were
beginning to say In the clubs that
.syoung Rathbone Is going to put che
scientific johnny's nose out of joint.
It was this knowledge which caused
the little sneering smile to appear on
Charliewood's face. and it gave him
pleasure 10 detect the human weak
ness 6f jealousy Ii the inscrltable
man who held him 50 tightly ID his