The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-11-06
CHAPTER VI.
Continued.

well Wv uoS SShOiN ~
terday at the Hotel DIES Trois Couron-
mes. They keep most retired, and
only go out in a covered carriage, to
the convent of the Beguines. The
younger lady weeps a good deal, and
often mentions the word father with
emotion. They have told their land
lord that they await the coming OF
the young lady's father"
This sounds more promising"
cried Glynn, all eager attention.
Were NJ. Lambert here he might
take the journey to Bruges, and
Identify them. Probably he is the
father they expect
II wish he were here. but, in his
absence, I will undertake the jour-
ney; l can identify Miss Lambert"
do you think her father will
thank you?"
T do. Can you doubt his agoniz-
ing impotence until he can get It'd
ings of his daughter?"
mo; but there is something in the
affair I cannot quite fathom."
There was a pause. II suppose"
resumed Glynn, there is no objec-
ton to my visiting the ladies your
agent describes?"
None; in the absence of the
father"
"Then I shall start at once Give
me { line of introduction to your
representative. I shall telegraph to
you the result Of my journey. No
doubt you will see M. Lambert back
tomorrow"
M. Claude wrote the desired let
ter, and armed with it, Glynn left
the bureau.
A rapid journey followed, a jour-
ney such as men make in bad dreams,
with a curious sense of acting under
some hideous malignant influence, a
depressing anticipation of coming
failure. Often in after-life the men,
DRY Of that journey came back as the
most painful experience of all he had
ever known for years-it haunted
him with thrills of horror. Little he
needed the quaint aspects Of the old
medieval town, though the picture
of the streets through which he was
conducted to the Hotel des Trois
Couronnes remained forever stamped
upon his memory.
His anticipations were fulfilled.
The ladies were both total strangers
to him; he had therefore nothing for
it but to apologize and retire.
Back in Paris, where Lambert had
not yet returned, and M. Claude re-
ceived him with cold ~displeasure. M.
Claude was growing impatient at the
unwonted failure of his emissaries.
1t was now six days since the disap-
pearance of Miss Lambert, and not
the faintest clue had been found by
which to trace her.
The keen-eyed chef de la surete
threw into the pursuit with all the
energy of his nature all the profess
sional pride that a high reputation
could inspire. There was not a town
of any importance in Europe where
his researches did not penetrate, and
yet the days rolled on, and not a trace
was to be found of the missing girl.
To Glynn the terrible darkness,
which seemed closing in deeper and
deeper with each succeeding day over
the fate of the fair girl he had
learned to love sc passionately, was
appalling. He chafed against his own
hopelessness, he exhausted himself in
conjectures and restless going to and
fro.
When Lambert came back from his
fruitless journey to M~arseilles, he
seemed sunk in a strange, sullen
apathy, nor did he accept Gyms
well-meant efforts to comfort and
sustain him with cordiality.
Il do not know where l may have
to go, or what l may have to do" he
said to Glynn. "Ill hang on here till
my time is up. and then I'll take a
room somewhere and just wait. You
are very good, Glynn; you could have
done no nor if you had been my
poor d%arling's affianced lover. l lit
tie knew you were a rich man, and
partner in a great firm when I { offered
you her poor little portion"
DO not speak of it," said Glynn,
with inexpressible emotion; but
treat me as a trusted friend. Tell me
what conjectures you have formed as
to her fate"
Il believe she is dead said Lam
bert in a broken voice and covering
his face. Had she been in life she
would have managed to communicate
with me. Now l have nothing left
to live for but revenge"
Have you any idea where to di-
rect your vengeance?"
Il cannot answer yes or no yet,
though if I'd answer any one it would
be you, Glynn.'
That means Yes" returned
Glynn.
Lambert did not reply. He seemed
sunk in gloomy, hard resignation to
a detested destiny, you shouldn't
wait on here, Glynn," he resumed,
after a minutes silence. you can
do no good-as they didn't find her
within the first week it will just be
a waiting game. Well hit OF the
truth just by accident, that will be
the way of it.
But Glynn could not tear himself
from Paris. How often he recalled
the circumstances under which he
had uttered these words to Elsie;
they were almost the last he had
spoken to her. He could almost hear
the soft, tremulous tones in which she
promised to listen to his reasons for