Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

All day and well into the night the detective under a new disguise hung around the baggage-room, but no young lady appeared, and at length Manfred returned to his home. Mrs. Silver awaited his return. ** Have you made any discoveries?” the lady demanded. “*T have.” Mrs. Silver at once became deeply agitated. ‘* What have you discovered?” ‘* Your daughter lives. ’’ ‘* My daughter lives. ’’ cé Yes. 23 ‘* How do you know? What have you discovered f’” ** She called for the trunk. ’’ ** When?” ** Yesterday. ”” CHAPTER XVII. MANFRED related all the circumstances attending his Visit to the baggage-room, and Mrs. Silver was deeply in- terested, and when the‘detective had concluded she said: ‘* Our theories are being confirmed.’’ 4 Yes. 33 ‘* Our enemies are seeking the trunk.” é¢ Yes. 39 ‘* We have it safe. ”’ €¢ Yes. 33 ‘** Can they trace it to our possession?’’” ** No; but suppose they did, I would not surrender it.’’ ‘* Suppose we find my child?” ‘¢ We will find her.” ‘© And then?’’ ‘*T have a theory. She will be able to prove her right to the trunk and its contents.’’ ‘‘'Then why should she hider’’ ‘She fears her enemies; it is evident she is friendless, but when I find her she will have a powerful friend, and matters will be easily settled.” ** We must find her!’’ “* We will.’’ ‘* How would it do to advertise?” ‘¢T will; but we must be very guarded lest others inter- pret our advertisement. Meantime, to-morrow I will work @ new lay.” ** Oh, but they may find my child.’’ **T think not.”’ ** How did she come in possession of the trunk, do you think?’’ ‘¢T think, as you suggested yesterday, she has been un- @er her father’s protection all the time, and suspecting danger or contemplating suicide, he sent for her and de- livered all his wealth to her. ”’ ‘*¢ And did not make a will?’’ ‘*Tf he did the will must be in your daughter’s posses- sion.”” ‘* The lawyer who attended to his business says he made a will.”’ éé Yes.’” ** Do you suppose it is true?”’ ‘** Do you know the lawyer?”’ €¢ No. 33 ‘* Never heard of him?’’ ‘‘ Never, until after my husband’s death, and all I know I read in the papers or learned during my investiga- tions at C—. < ‘*Do you suspect the lawyer was your husband’s friend, or a friend of your enemies?”’ ‘‘T do not know what to think. aa e w& EAE presecaoe omerene Se nee - nS —— os - 5 3 . Saal te Uae wor a et ot Ee re re ee « a “ —— _ in ai I ae ee mse mo Ban ane ene ere eee ani ei ee ae ei te a: 7 ee ‘ , . ; * - - - @ 4 ¥ * al * : . a \ rf MANFRED’S QUEST. ** T have an idea. ’? ** What is your idea?’’ °* ‘The lawyer is in with the other side.” ‘* It is possible; but why should he mention a will and not produce it?”’ ** It is all part of a conspiracy. He is working a deep game. He will wait to see his way clear, and at the last moment present a forged will.” ** It is indeed a deep game. ”’ “They mean to gain this property. ”’ ee ‘* You say your husband’s relative was a widow?” 6é Yes.’ ** ‘You say your husband’s relative was a widow?” 6é Y eg. bP ** What waz her relationship?’ ** A cousin. ”’ ** Had he other relatives? ’’ ** Not that I ever heard him mention.’’ ‘** ‘What was the cousin of the widow, his cousin?” ** Mrs. Brownell. ”’ ‘* How much family had she?” ** A son and daughter.”’ ‘* And the son now would be how old?’’ ** About thirty.” ‘** And the daughter?” ** About twenty-eight. ”’ ‘* Have you ever seen or heard of Mrs. Brownell since you were in the asylum?”’ ** Never.” ‘You do not know whether she is alive now or not?”? ** IT do not.”’ : _** How old would she be if living?” ‘* About fifty.’’ ** All right; to-morrow’! will work on a new “ lay.’ ”” Upon the following day, bright and early, under an en- tirely new disguise, the detective appeared at the baggage- room. Some hours passed, when a man entered the bag- gage-master’s office. Manfred recognized the man at a glance. He was the same fellow whom our hero had ‘‘ dropped out ’’ at the railroad station between C—-— and New York. The detective approached as the man addressed the bag- gageman. ‘¢ Well, sir,’’ said the fellow, ‘‘ where is my trunk! ‘“T told you the other day the trunk had been de- livered. ”’ ‘* And you remember what I said to you? se I do. 23 ‘*T shall have you arrested. ’’ ‘¢Go ahead and arrest me, and I will make it warm for you, mister!’’ ‘* You will make it warm for me?’ veces eo | Ft ‘* What do you mean?”’ ** Just what I say.’’ The detective had taken up a position where he could overhear all that was said. ‘* Please explain yourself. ”’ ‘‘] will explain soon enough when you have me arrested. 7” & The trunk claimant appeared a little disconcerted, but he said: ‘¢T will have that trunk or make trouble for you!’’ ‘‘Go ahead and make trouble as soon as you are a mmd to, sir, I am ready!’’ ‘‘ See here, my friend, I’d rather be on good terms with you.” b 599 533