Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-18

explained to Frank Doughton the ex
traordinary disappearance of the
owner of Moor Cottage,
"she must be in the house." said
Frank.
They went back and resumed their
search. Upstairs was a bedroom, and
adjoining Il bathroom. On the
ground floor were two rooms: the
study he had Quilted and smaller
room beautifully decorated and con-
tanning a piano. But the search was
Ruthless: Lady Constance Dex had
disappeared as tho the earth had op-
ened and swallowed her up. There
was no sign Of a trap In the whole
of the little building, and r. B. was
baffled.
1T is a scientific axiom" he said.
addressing Ella with 81 thoughtful,
CLINT in his eye, that matter, must oc-
cupy space, therefore Lady Constance
| Dex must be in existence, she can
not have evaporated into thin air, and
I am not going to leave this place un-
| til | find her"
Ella was thinking deeply and frown-
| ing at the untidiness Or the table.
DO you remember that locket
which you found on one OF the dead
men in Brakely Square, he asfted
| suddenly.
T. b. nodded. He put his hsrd in
his waistcoat pocket. -;A- nc mad car
| ried that locket ever since the night
of its discovery.
Let us have n look at the inscrip-
ton again." said Ella.
They drew up chairs to the table
and examined the little circular label
which they had found in the battered
| interior.
Nor Cot.
God Say the keng.'
Ella shook his head helplessly.
II am perfectly sure there Is a so
luton here" he said DO you see
those words on top? Nor Cot:
stands for Moor Cottage"
by Jove, so it does" said T. B..
picking up the locket that never
struck me before. 1t was the secret
of Moor Cottage which this man dis
covered and with which he was try
Ing to blackmail our friend. So far
cerned that is beyond my understand
ing"
There is meaning to IT," said
Ella. "and it Is not a cryptogram
either. You see how he has forgotten
to put the e in save? And he has
spelt king keng'."
They waited before the house
whilst Brown drove to the rectory
and then on to the town. jeremiah
anticipation. That his sister had dis
appeared did not seem to strike him
as a matter for surprise, tho he per
mitted himself to say that 1t WAS a
very remarkable occurrence.
II have always warned Constance
not to be here alone, and l should
never have forgiven myself II Brown
had not been on the spot" he said
Can you offer any explanation p
The rector shook his head He wal
totally ignorant Of the arrangements
of the house. had never, so he said
put foot in 1t in his life. This was
perfectly, true, for he was an incuri-
Gus man who did not greatly bother
himself about the affairs Of other
people. The local. police arrived in
half an hour, headed by the chief in
spector, who happened to be in the
station when the report was brought
in,
II suppose had better take this
young man to the station" he said
indicating Frank.
| >lyod u o.l~,I.,. -
do you gain by arresting him? As Z
matter of fact there Is no evidence
whatever which would implicate Mr.
Doughton, and I am quite prepared
to give you my own guarantee to pro.
duce him whenever you may require
him.
The best thing you can do is to
get back to town." he said kindly t
that young man: you need a little
sleep. 1t Is not a pleasant prelude tc
your marriage. BY the way, that /.
denly.
Frank nodded.
II wonder If that has anything K
do with your kidnapping" said T. B
thoughtfully. us there any person
who is anxious that this marriag<
should not come about?"
Frank hesitated.
II hardly like to accuse a man." HI
said, but Poltavo-"
"Poltavo?" repeated T. B. quickly.
'Yes," said Frank; "he has som,
views on the question OF Miss Gray
He spoke reluctantly. for he wa
loath to introduce Doris name int
the argument.
"Poltavo would have a good rea
son." unused T. B. Smith. Tell m,
what happened in the car.
Briefly Frank related the circum
stances which had led up to his cap
ture.
when I found myself in thei
hands," he said, Il decided to pla!
possum for while. The car wa
!. moving at incredible speed, remem
bering your stringent traffic regula
tions,'-he smiled,-"and I knew tina
any attempt to escape on my par
would result in serious Injury to my
self. They made no bones about thei
intentions. Before we were clear O
London they had pulled the blinds
and one of them had switched on tn,
electric lamp. They were boil
masked. and were, think, foreigners
One sat opposite to me. all thru tn
night, a revolver on his, knees, ant
he did not make any disguise Of hi
intention of employing his weapon i
I gave the slightest trouble"
Il could not tell, because Of tn
lowered blinds, which direction W,
were taking, but presently we strucl
the country and thew lef down opo n