Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. ———————————————————— CHAPTER X. ~' Tre detective had beaten the man down with the butt of his own pistol, and having, as stated, beaten him to insensi- bility, he stepped over his body and returned to the depot. He glanced round, but could see nothing of the veiled lady. ‘¢ Aha!’’ the detective muttered; ‘‘it is as I feared. Never mind, I can find her. ’’ | The detective searched around the station, when the sta- tion-master came to him and said: ** Are you monn for the legge ¢é Yes. 33 # ** She went away up the road wiking very rapidly.” ** How long since?” ‘¢ Not more than three minutes ago.’’ The detective dashed off in the direction indicated, and the station-master remarked: ‘‘ There’s something strange about this affair. ’’... The detective had gone but a short distance when he saw a form moving along the road in advance of him. It was the figure of a female. Our heroran forward, and ina moment overtook the veiled lady. ** Ah, you are seeking to escape me!”’ ‘¢ No, I am seeking to escape that man.’’ ‘* He can not harm you.”’ ‘¢ What did he tell you?’ ‘*T can not stop to inform you now, but we must get ~ away from here.’’ ‘¢ How can we? the train going south does not come along for an hour yet.’’ ‘‘ No, but the north-bound train is behind time; we might catch that. ’’ ‘¢ T wish to go to the city.”’ ‘¢-You are more particular, however, to escape from that man?’’ 6¢ I am.’ ‘¢ We will go north; come along quickly.” A moment the woman hesitated. ‘‘ Have I not proved myself able and willing to protect your”’ 6¢ Yes. 33 ‘hen, why do you hesitate?’ ’ ‘© T do not know what to do.” *¢ Come, come, or we will be too late.”’ ‘© Where will we go?’’ ‘* Anywhere to, get away from here.?? ‘© You appear as anxious as 1.”’ ‘¢- Yes, Iam anxious.” ‘¢ What have you done?”’ ‘¢ T will tell you when we get on the train; but remem- ber, whatever I have done has been done in your behalf.” The woman moved along toward the station. The pair reached it just in time. The delayed train came thunder- ing up to the station, and our hero, with the veiled lady, boarded it. The train stopped but a moment and moved away. ‘* Well, it is sae we caught the train.’ ‘* Where shall we go?’’ demanded the SFE «* We have plenty of time to decide.” In a low, tremulous voice, the lady asked: ** Have you killed him?’’ €¢ No. 39 ‘“T 4m glad.”’ ** And yet he would kill you.” : ‘¢ Nevertheless I would not have harm come to him.” ‘*'Then you have deceived me.” ** You said you did not know the man.’ **T do not.’’ ‘* Did you ever see him before?” ** Not until I discovered him following me.’’ ** Had you ever spoken to him?’’ ** Never, until to-night, when he assailed me. he tell you about me?’’ : ‘* Nothing; it was not necessary.’’ | The detective spoke in a significant tone, and the lady repeated : | ‘** It was not necessary?” éé No. 33 ‘¢ Why not?” ‘** Oh, I knew you would tell me all it was needful for me to know.” ‘‘ It is strange how we have met. ”’ ‘* Yes, it is strange—stranger than you think; and now, madame, answer me one word: Are you fearful of the con- sequences of acrime? Are you seeking to escape such con- sequences?”” ‘¢ Sir, I am an innocent and abused person.” ‘‘ You admitted that you escaped from an asylum. ”’ ‘‘ T did escape from a private lunatic asylum.” ‘¢ And you boarded this train at C——?’’ 6¢ i did. 33 ** So did that man?” 6¢ Yes. 7’ ‘* Where had you come from?’’ ‘* The village.”’ ‘* How long had you been in the village??? ** A few hours.” ‘* You were a stranger there?’’ cé Yes. 7’ ‘¢ What was you business there?’’ ‘‘ T can not tell you until I tell you my whole story.”* ‘* Will you tell me your whole story?’’ ‘*T must have time to consider.” ‘¢ Did you ever see me before to-night?” ‘* Never.” ** ‘You are sure?’’ **T am sure.”’ ‘¢ Did you ride down on this train about two weeks ago?” ‘*T did not.” ** You are sure?’ ** Certainly, I am.” ‘* Not on the night that Mr. Silver was murdered?”’ The woman uttered a suppressed cry. ‘* Hush!” warned the detective. ‘What do you mean?’’ asked the woman in a husky voice. -**T mean that you must confide 1 in me.’ ¢T will.” ‘¢ Remove your veil.’’ ‘* Not now.”’ ‘* Yes, now.” ‘*T must see your face.” ‘¢ You think you have seen my face before?” ‘© T will not say; remove yous veil. ”’ ‘* Others will see my face.’ ** And you do not desire that ees should?’” **T do not.’’ ‘¢ Why not?’’ ** You should know.’’ ‘TI can not see why I should.” ‘You heard what that man said?” *¢ What did he say?’’ ‘That I had escaped from an asylum.’’ ** No one will recognize you. ”’ What did