Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-10-10
Alive or Dead?''
The. Strange Disappearance OF
Gerald Rathbone.
Gerald Rathbone.
~ guy THoRNE.


he said, as they came out into large
room hung with old Flemish tapestry
and full of people.
There is a little conservatory down
a corridor here" Megbie answered.
II expect we should be quite undis-
turbed there. Moreover, we could
smoke, and know that you are like
me, Sir William, cigarette smoker"
THAT will do very well, then"
Gouldesbrough answered, and they
walked away together. Every one
saw them go. Ladies nodded and
whispered, gentlemen whispered and
nodded to each other. The occasion
was perfectly well understood. Sir
William was telling Donald Megbie
BY supper time it would be all over
the rooms, and the Eastminster Ga
zette tomorrow afternoon would have
all the details.
"Megbie Is always chosen in affairs
Of this sort" That's Megbie, the
writing Johnny, who sort Of stage
manages all these things ''The
ubiquitous Donald has got him in his
6AAPs anu VIZ oAdA1 0OOA hAOV oil ll10
details" These were the remarks
made upon every side as the two nan
strolled through the rooms.
Then an incident that was much
commented on next day in society oc-
Cured quite suddenly. 1t created
quite little sensation and gave rise
to a great deal Of gossip.
CIV UTi1l;o,,, ,-d 16. NEo-lS.
to part Of the room where Lady
Poole and her daughter Marjorie were
standing talking to Gen. Mayne of the
war Office. Lady Poole saw the scient-
list.
"Ah, William!" she said, somewhat
loudly, and quite in her old manner Of
the days when Sir William and Mar
jorie were engaged. $50 here you are,
blazing with triumph. Every ones
talking Of you, and every one has been
asking Marjorie if she knows what it
is you've invented this time!"
Megbie, who knew both Lady Poole
and her daughter, but did not wish to
enter into conversation just at this
important moment, bowed, smiled at
the old lady and the girl, and stood a
little aside
Gouldesbrough took Lady Poole by
the hand and bent over it, saying
something in low voice to her And
once more society nodded and wills
pered as it saw the flush Of pleasure
in the lady's face and her gratifed
smile. Again society whispered and
nodded as it saw Marjorie Poole
shake hands with her ex-fiance and
marked the brightness Of her beautiful
eyes and saw the proud lips moving in
words Of friendship and congratula-
ton.
What Gouldesbrougn said in answer
to. Marjorie was this:
1t is so kind and good of you to be
pleased, Marjorie. Nothing is more
valuable to me than that. l am going
to have half IN hour with Donald
Megbie now. I find that it's best to
tell the general public something at
this stage. So I'm doing it through
Megbie. He's safe, you know, and he
understands one. But after that will
you let me take you in to have some
supper? Do, please, let me! It
would Just make everything splendid
be the final joy, you know!"
II should be very churlish to refuse
you anything tonight, William" she
answered sadly, but with great pride
for him in her voice Haven't you
done almost everything for me?
You've done what no other. living
man would Eave done. shall be very
glad and feel very proud If you will
come back here for me after you have
talked to Mr.. Megbie."'
Gouldesbrough went away with the
journalist. In five minutes every one
in Lord Malvin's house was saying
! that Marjorie Poole was engaged to
Sir William Gouldesbrough once more.
Marjorie watched the two men 20
away. Her heart was full OF pride
and pain. She rejoiced that all this
/ had come to the chival,ous gentleman
who had been her lover and nlighted
husband. She felt each incident OF
his growing triumph with intense sym.
i patty and pleasure. He had been so
| good to her! From the very first he
| had been splendid. If only she could
have loved him, how happy would her
| lot have been as mate and companion
to such a man as this! She was not
1 worldly, but she was Of the world and
knew It well. She realized most COM
pletely all the advantages, the subtle
= &c The
wife Of this great man. The love ot
/ power and dominion, the sense 81 3
high intellectual correspondence with
the finest brain of the day, the incense
OF lofty and chivalrous devotion
all these. yes, all these, would be for
/ the girl Sir William loved and waddad
She halt wondered il such devotion
as his had proved ought to 70 unre.
warded.
Was It right? Had any girl 4 rea,
excuse for making man like William
Gould esbrough unhappy? Gerald
Rathbone had faded utterly out Of life.
The greatest skill, the most active ana
prolonged inquiry. had failed to throw
the slightest light upon his disappear.
AncO: sssF a !. 4 ~