Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. éé T am. ’? | ** We evidently are looking for the same trunk.” **'So you say.”’ “©The trunk you describe is the one I am looking for, and also you name the same initial marks.’’ ** Is that so?” é¢ Yes. 33 ** Well??? ** That is an incident that certainly entitles me to be in- terested in the facts connected with your search for the same trunk.” ; ** ‘That may be so.”’ ** Tt is so; and you will confer a favor by telling me all the facts. ’’ ‘* Did you know Mr. Silver?’’ **I did not. ”’ ** You have heard of him?” - “* I read about a gentleman of that name who committed suicide. ” ** Who was murdered :”’ “* You know he was murdered?’’ “* T have reason to believe he was murdered. ” ** Do you suspect the assassin?’’ ; ¢é T do.’? ** Whom do you suspect?” **T am not a fool.”’ cé How?’’ “I will not name a@ man as a murderer on mere sus- picion.”’ | ** You say Mr. Silver sent you to search for the trunk the day before he was murdered ?”’ éé Yes. > BP ** Under what circumstances?” “*T am not bound to tell you.’? ‘‘ I will pay you five hundred dollars if you will tell me.” ‘* Tt is strange. ’’ ** What is strange?’’ | “That you should offer to pay me five hundred dollars for so trifling a service.’? “*T will do it.”’ ** No need.”’ ** And you will not tell me?’” “I will tell you; there is no secret about the matter. ” “* T am glad.’ *“*I received a note to call upon a Mr. Silver. lawyer—”’ ““Eh? You are a lawyer?’’ €¢ Yes. 33 “* Proceed. ”? “I did not know the gentleman, indeed had never heard of him, but as it appeared to be a business matter I called on him.” ** Where did you find him?’’ “* In a little farm-house at C——.” ** Proceed. ”’ ** The gentleman told me a strange romantic story.” ** What did he tell you?” ** The story has nothing to do with the trunk.’”’ ** Well, how about the trunk?’’ “* After the gentleman had told me his story, which as I said was a strange one, he said further that he had sent a trunk to New York. He gave me the checks of the trunk and said he desired me to secure it, and after I had secured it to open a letter which he gave me, and which he said contained his full instructions.” ** Did you open the letter?’? I am a ** Why not?” ‘*T am waiting to secure the trunk first.” ** You have the letter?’’ ** Certainly.” | A moment the man was silent, but at length said: ** This is indeed a strange story you tell me.’’ ‘* Yes; but the gentleman told me a stranger one.” ‘Have you any idea what you are to do with the trunk?” 6¢é Yes.’ ** What?” “* T am not at liberty to tell.” ** Have you any idea as to the contents of the trunk?” 6 Vos. 22 ** ‘What will you find when you open it?”’ **T only surmise.”’ ** What do you surmise?’’ - **T expect to find a will.’ ** What else??? ‘* A fortune.’? The inquirer appeared to be greatly excited and bewil- dered. He also showed signs of great nervousness ang eagerness. ** You say you are a lawyer?”’ €s Yes. ’? ** You were a stranger to Mr. Silver?” €¢ Yes.’? ** Are you a rich man?” ** That is an impertinent question.” ** Possibly not. ’’ ** I so consider it, ” oe Why?” °* ‘The fact is none of your business.”? °° Tt may be.” €¢ How??? ** I will make you a rich man if you are not.’* ** You will make me a rich man?” €¢ Yes. 33 ** Why will you make me a rich man?”’ “* Because you can be of service to me.”? “* IT can be of service to you?’’ éé Yes. 33 €¢é How???’ ‘* You can aid me to obtain possession of the trunk. ™ ** But I do not recognize your interest in the trunk,” ** T have an interest in it, sir.’? CHAPTER XX. THERE was an amused look upon the detective’s face. He was playing a deep game, and he was gratified with hie little scheme as far as he had gone.”’ “You and I can come to an understanding,’’ said the. man. ** What is your name, sir?f’’ ** My name is Stevens. ” ** Never heard of you, sir.”’ ** And what is your name?” ** My name is O’Grady.”’ ** Never heard of you, Mr. O’Grady.”’ ** We are quits on that score.’’ Pay Yes. 3 ‘* And now, Mr. O’Grady, we can talk plainly.” °*T like plain talk.’ ‘I wish to learn more of your adventure with Mr. Si-« ver, my relative. ’’ ‘* Your relative?”’ eyeye