Year: 1879

"What is your opinion about the matter ?
I mean, what explanation of this mystery
have you arrived at in your own mind2"


"Oh I've come to the conclusion, long ago,
that the lady was made away WITH" was the
unhesitating rejoinder. eff she we're anywhere
above ground, I'm reasonably sure we should
have found her before this"


"But there is no imaginable motive, for
such a horrible deed. She had not an enemy
in the world" said Frank, whose blood ran
cold at the answer.


"It's not easy to discover motives for all
the wickedness that goes on in the world, sir.
Villains commit villainy for the mere pleasure
of the thing. In big city like this, there's
more of that sort of work goes on than any
one could believe, who didn't see as much of
it as we do. Sometimes it's found out-very
often, of course-but sometimes, again, it's SO
cleverly worked out that it don't come to
light until too late for any redress to be OBJ.
tanned. "Do you ever read the police re-
ports ?"


"Not l." said Frank. II have no taste for
such literature"


"It isn't very pretty reading butt just goes
to convince one what an amount Of rascality
can be carried on, by smart plotters, before
it's got scent of. This fellow, whoever he
was, who made off with Miss-Miss-RatL-
bone, amt it2 Yes, Rathbone-must have
been pretty sharp, and pretty bold, too. In
the FIRST place, bis plot was clever one he
must have been on steady lookout, to be
able to discover the exact time when he could
find her alone. Then he risked great deal
in trusting to that drivers promise Of secresy.
Though I've no doubt he had it settled how
to get out Of the way pretty quick, if he found
he'd let out about him. Rexford-t the
driver-swears he was no party to any evil
design; thought it was an elopement, and had
no suspicious. I rather think he speaks the
truth"


II have no doubt of it," said Frank. "He
seems an honest fellow"


"He has good character here. Besides,
it is not to be supposed that he would have
been let into the secret, on account Of the risk.
It's a most unlucky thing that he should have
decamped just when he would have been Of
most service to us. We were put on false
scent about him, by being told that he had
gone to British Columbia, and then that he
was dead. Besides, it was only on supposi.
ton that we tried to hunt him up we were
never certain, until he turned up here some
months later, that it was really he who had
been employed in the job. .


Here the detective took out his watch and
consulted it, which Frank accepted as hint
to leaye. s4Jta 5al 8 issf7a


II am sorry" said the latter, as he rose to
terminate the interview, "that you have not
been able to tell me anything satisfactory.
Perhaps, at another time, if you have no OBJ
lection, we may discuss the matter again"
swell, sir, I've no objection. lam sorry
to seem to hurry you now, but the fact is,
I've an important appointment at twelve
most complicated case; testimony Of consid-
erable weight to be taken-a murder case; /;
subject, young artist Of this city, found
shockingy mangled in his own bed. We
have bare suspicious Of the murderer, but
are on his tracks. I'm little behind my
time as it is, but it doesn't matter"


II am sorry to have detained you," said
Frank. . -.


ooh! it's of no consequence. / tell you
what I'll do, if you like; I'll send Stapleton
round to you when he comes back to the city,
and he'll give you full and particular &C.
count of all that we've done in this case Of
yours. That might be satisfaction"


Frank thanked him ; and having left his
card, With his present address on it, in Meigg's
charge, he, wished him good morning, and
went back to the hotel. m


.i..... ,,rt [To BE CONTINUED.