The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-30

"Silence!" said M. Claude impress
sively. Feel along the floor in that
corner beyond the window
His subordinate obeyed, and dis
covered a small square Of chocolate,
a few crumbs of bread, and two pins.
These last were most carefully eG-
amined.
They are English" said the de-
tective. But that is easily account
ed for; the person or persons engaged
in the abduction evidently partook
of r~efreshment; nor is there any sign
leading to the supposition of violence.
The difficulty is to discover how they
managed to leave the house. At what
hour did you lock the door and put
out your light last night" to the
concierge.
In reply to his questions she stated
that the entrance door was always
locked at 10 o'clock, but that she
herself often sat up till IL. Last
night, feeling weary, she went to bed
at half-past 10. Before she slept the
bell rang and she pulled the Gordon.
M. Lambert's voice said who was
there and bid her goodnight. Twice
after, entrance was demanded by diff
ferent inmates; then, after what
seemed to her a long time, some one
rang the bell, and waking completely
she distinctly heard Miss Lambert's
voice. She did not sleep again for
what seemed to her more than an
hour, during which all was profound
ly quiet. She always rose before 3,
and after lighting her fire to prepare
the coffee of monsieur her husband,
she unlocked the great door and went
to fill her pail with water at a pump
which was in a court on which the
entrance opened at the far side of the
street, in order to wash the passage.
Can you see the chief entrance
from this court?"
But yes, certainly
And the pump, how is it situ'
ated?'
About the centre
81 shall inspect it," said NJ. Claude.
Having carefully wrapped up the
morsel of lace and ribbon, the square
of chocolate and the two pins, and
placed them in an inner pocket, M.
Claude led the way downstairs to the
court mentioned by the concierge, fol-
lowed by her, Lambert and Glynn.
The court, which was like a well:
being surrounded by lofty houses,
was exactly opposite the entrance;
and the pump, as stated, was IN the
centre, but with it's back toward the
doorway, so that any one using the
handle to raise the water would nat
urally turn his or her face from 1t.
especially as it was necessary to
watch the filling Of whatever vessel
was placed below the spout. After
looking carefully at the relative po'
sitions of the door and the pump. M.
Claude requested the concierge to NIL
a pail of water as she was in the habit
of doing. She obeyed; he stood be-
hind her during the operation, and at
the end observed, THE fugitives
walked through the open door while
you we're pumping; no force or chlor.
oform could have been used" The
concierge burst into tears. Gentle.
men," continued the chef de la surete,
II shall now proceed to Madame Da-
villiers', and the remainder of my In
quiries l wish to prosecute alone. M.
Lambert, do me the favor to call at
my office tomorrow morning about
10, and come unaccompanied."
And you can do no more to-day?'
asked poor Lambert.
Il consider that We have secured
a clue. l feel sure Of finding your
daughter; if not Immediately, at no
distant date"
AT no distant date" repeated the
father, as the chef de la surete left
the house, followed by the commits
saire. But in the meantime!-Oh,
God, Glynn, how can l live on such a
rack, and l don't know where to
turn"
1T is almost u%nbearable. Can you
remember nothing that might serve
as a clue to her extraordinary disap-
pearance?"
Nothing. If 1 don't. find her ]
have done with life"
II feel for you, Lambert, from the
bottom Of my soul. I'd give all l
possess to know that Elsie is safe!
you'll have an awful night of it.
Shall I stay with you?"
u am best alone" returned Lam
bert, looking sharply at him. i
didn't think you cared so much.
Thank ye-I am best alone"
To be Continued.