The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-05-28

weeks, and 1t was limited that he was
going the fast pace in vile resorts
There were whispers of love affair,
and l thought that very likely there
was something in that view. I'm not
sure l don't still think so. A week
ago his sister came to me in hyster;
les, saying that he had not been home
for two days and was not to be found
anywhere. She had searched high
and low, with all his friends helping
her, but to no purpose. Not a. word
could be heard of him. He had van
ished utterly, without leaving a trace
behind. After making still hunt on
my own, part, which resulted in moth.
ing, quietly, ceued in the police, who
found him at once. But the circum-
stances are such that it is impossible
to determine whether he was in hid.
ing or held by force. If the. former,
it is necessary l should know the rea-
son; if the latter, somebody should
be made to sweat for it. And l come
to you to learn the truth of the mat
ter, or to find if you have any way of
getting at it,"
isn't the matter of rather too
trivial an order to set the wheels Of
science whirling for?" DR.. Furnivall
remarked, dryly. a
Il see that 1 must make a confidant
of you," the lawyer said, gravely,
'The fact is" he continued hitch
ing his chair nearer, to the doctors
and sinking his voice almost to the
tone of whisper, ''the fact is there's
a woman in the case and she's old
enough to be his mother He has
made over $4,000 to her. Still worse.
he has realized on every piece Of
property he controlled, that could be
turned without consulting the trus-
tees, his sisters as we'll as his own,
and booked a passage for Europe in
steamer which sails tomorrow, Civ
ing false name. If his sister should
hear of this it would kill her. She is
very delicate, he is all she has in
the world"
who is the woman?"
"She is Mrs. Van Tromp, a wild.
ow, who
What, the New-Thought teacher, on
Marlborough street,"
"The very same. Do you know
herr"
It would scarcely be said Of DR..
Furniyall that he showed lack of in
terest now.
"Jove!" he exclaimed, jumping up
and rushing round for his hat and
coat, Science indeed! Well untwist
strange strand of the human mind
this time, assure you. Wen see
Banning at once"
He was ready for the street almost
instantly, and the two walked rapidly
towards the Banning place.
They found young Banning in the
library arranging some papers. He was
very pale, his face lined and heavy
with care, and his light eyes as he
turned them on his visitors held in
their depths a singular CLEAN, as Of
fear stoutly resisted, yet impossible
to overcome. AS soon as the greet
ings were done DR.. Furnivall, remov-
ing his heavy spectacles and holding
the young mans eye with his own,
said without ceremony:
''This was singular experience of
yours, Mr.. Banning. I know but lit
tie of the story, but the little indicates
something unique. How did it hap
pen?"
Mr.. Randall regarded. Banning Gu
riously. How would he take this ap'
parent meddling in his affairs by a
stranger? To his surprise he did not
resent it, seeming to consider it a
and was plainly nervous, but an.
swered, speaking at first slowly:
why. I went to this shady hotel
on business, and they detained me
there, hoping to scare me into giving
them a lot of money. They didn't
succeed, thanks to my sister and Mr..
Randall here, who found them out
and gave me a chance to-er-I-er-
What did you, ask met" "a.
His face as he went on, his eyes In