Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— aS oe Si _ 4 : — i. - = => ae ~~ 7 Ee ne ‘ Be - S . m ye - ; = e MANFRED’S QUEST. 10 °° It is irae I should have chanced to make an ap- peal to you.’ ‘*' There are other strange incidents connected with our meeting, madame. ’ ‘* What are they?’’ ‘© T can not tell you now, but I will tell you some day.” ** Will you answer me a question fairly, sir?”’ “* T will.” ‘* Were you following me?’’ ‘* T was not.” ‘* Was our meeting accidental?’’ ‘* Perfectly so. ’’ ‘* And you are really a detective?”’ éé i am.’ 3 ‘*'Then you will aid me?’’ “*T will. ’’ ‘* You will keep that fellow from me?’’ °° T will. ” ‘< Tf I can once escape him in New York, I can take care of myself. ’’ **T will see that you escape him.” ‘* He looks like a desperate man.” The woman was deeply agitated, and in a tremulous voice said: ‘‘ He is very persistent. . I will have trouble to escape.” — ‘*¢ No, you will not,’’ answered our hero, in. an assured voice, adding, ‘* He shall not proceed on the next train,’?? ‘¢ Yes, he does look Jike a villain, but we will take care | of him. ”’’ Here followed an interval of silence, but at length the lady said: ‘*T might need your services as an Officer. liberty to engage in a new enterprise!’’ ‘“‘Tam. At present my time is my own.’ ‘* Ts there a later train than this one that 1 runs to New York?’’ cee ibe ‘* One that stops at an intermediate station: ‘* Yes; there is a train that comes ee in about an hour and a quarter.’ ‘* Would it be convenient for you to leave the train at the next station and take the late train to the city?’’ ‘* Perfectly convenient. ”’ ‘We may lose that man with less trouble.” ** A good scheme. ”’ ‘* We can be all ready and leave the train suddenly. ’’ ** Yes, we can; I see that you have some experience. ”’ ‘‘ If you ever come to hear my history you will know why IT am so well experienced. ”’ ‘<I trust some day I will hear your story.” ** It is possible I may make a confidant of you very soon; the time has arrived when I need an adviser; it may be that I bal select you, if you are prepared to accept the Service. ” ‘** T know of no reason why I should not accept the serv- ice.” At this moment the train came to a halt, and the woman whispered: ** Be ready.’ ‘© T am ready.”’ 6é Yes.”? The train made but a short stop, and our hero and the mysterious veiled lady at the last moment left their seats and hurried to the platform; indeed the cars were moving when Manfred assisted the lady to alight. The train dashed on, when, in a low tone, the woman said : ** Tt is as I suspected. ’’ ‘* What has occurred?’’ ** That man has just leaped from the train.”’ The woman glanced in a certain direction, and the de- tective followed her glance. Are you at 999 Se i ee on é tai ae FO ee ae Oe NR tg AO eee PPT Ne ee ee ee acta ee a Ae ee een ee Ol ag —— ** How will you prevent his doing so?’ ‘* Leave that to me.”’ ** Oh, is it possible that you can leave him behind?” ** T assure you he shall not go on the next train.”’ Meantime the man had disappeared. . “* Have you plenty of nerve?” asked Manfred. °° T have.’’ **T have Rongat. of a scheme. for a few minutes.’ ‘* For what reason?” **'That man may come and address you.” **T dare not permit ne to do so.”’ ‘* You need: not fear.’ The woman glanced around furtively. There was ne one on the platform, and she said: -** Tf you leave a moment he may steal up and kill me.”* ‘* Is the matter so desperate?’’ ‘** Yes; I believe that already blood is on his hands. ’’ **T will guarantee you safety.’’ The woman fixed a keen glance from under her veil ow the detective. °* Are you really what you poems? she asked. **T am an honorable man.’ ** And you propose to leave when an assassin is lurking around??? ‘* You need not fear.’’ I will leave you alone CHAPTER VIII ** WILL you name your purpose?” ‘*T wish for a chance to speak to the man, an excuse for leaving him behind. ”’ The above conversation was passed within a few minate¢ after the departure of the train. ** T will trust you and do as you direct.’’ During all the time that our hero had been engaged in. talking to the strange lady, he had not seen her face; and yet a certain weird suspicion was running through. his: mind. It had occurred to him that there was a certain similarity in the tones of the voices of the two veiled ladies,. He did not deem it probable that the two were identical. ‘* You will understand that I shall call out some mis- leading words to you?’’ 66 Yes. 33 : ** You will answer accordingly?’’ -66¢ Yes. 33 ** I will go away just for an instant, and then come back and say something.’’ ** All right, I will understand.’ The detective stepped off the platform, but in a moment returned and called in a loud tone: ‘* Go into me sitting-room. I will have to leave you for half an hour.’ ** Where are you going?’’ ‘Out in the village. I will be back in time for the train. 7’ a CR : ——$ ————EEEE = z . _ ~ - ae ** Hurry back.” °° T will. ” The detective departed in the darkness, and a moment later a man came hurriedly from an opposite direction. He advanced along the pega and approached the velled lady. - . > ‘ . , a > Ne ee ee —— < _ ae _— = »* ; ~——_ —— +l att -_— —~ — - z = « a car a » : piel — = = # . ‘ a