Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. 6 Vos,?? ‘¢-You told me you did not know him?’’ «¢mmhat was merely a precautionary denial. ’’ ‘¢ Ah, I see; so Mr. Silver was your relative?’? 6&6 Yes. 3) ** What relation were you to him?’ ** He was my first cousin. ”’ ** Indeed !”’ ‘¢ Yes; and he had no other relatives. ’’ ‘¢ He had no other relatives?”’ ¢¢ No.’ 3 ‘‘ That is strange. ”’ ‘‘Tt is not strange a man should have only one rela- ‘tive. ”’ ‘* But it is strange he should tell me one thing and you another. ”’ ‘* Did he tell you he had other relatives?’’ ** Yes, he did.”’ ** What relatives?’ ‘* A wife and a daughter.’’ ** He told you he had a wife and daughter?” 2S OBS | | ** He told you so?” é< Yes. 7’ *€ Well, upon my word, I did not know my poor relative had become so crazy as that.’ ‘“* ‘Was he a crazy man?”’ é¢ Yes. 33 ‘* He did not appear so; and he told me a pretty straight story. ”’ : ‘* What story did he tell you?”’ §* JT will give it in outline only. ”’ ** Please do.”’ ** He said he was married to a beautiful girl—a govern- ess in a relative’s family. ”’ ‘* He told you that?’ ** Yes; and he said that after his marriage his relatives managed to separate him from his wife, and that later on a child was born; and still later on he stole his own child. ”’ ‘* He stole his own child!’’ ejaculated Mr. Stevens. €6 Yes. 33 ** Well, he was crazy.” ‘<The story is not true, eh?’’ ** It is all the fanciful dream of a madman. ”’ °° Is that sor’’ 66 Yes. 33 ** Well, as I said, he did not talk like a madman.” ‘‘ He was as mad as a March hare; but go on with your story.”” ‘He told me his relatives were anxious to secure his fortune. ”’ ‘* Nonsense! he had no fortune.’’ “If you base your idea of his madness on that ground, you are mistaken. ”’ 66 H ow??? “* He did have a fortune. ”” ** He did???” ¢é Yes. 33 “* How do you know??’’ ** He furnished me ample proof.” _** And the fortune is in the trunk?’’ ** T have reason to believe that it is, and the trunk must be found.’ ‘* If he was married, why did he not send for his wife?’’ “He said he did not know whether she were living or not.’’ ** Did he say when he had last heard from his wife?’’ 5 16a ‘¢ And when was that?’’ ‘¢ He said the last time he heard from her she was in a lunatic asylum.” The man Stevens turned deadly pale as he muttered, in a hoarse voice: ‘* He ought to have been there himself.’’ ‘¢T do not think so,’’ said the detective. ‘¢ He told you he had a daughter?’ 66 Yes. 33 ** Where was she?”? ‘* He knew where she was. ”” ** He did, ehf’’ ‘“* Yes; and he said it was his purpose to have his wife and daughter secure possession of all his wealth. ”’ ‘‘ Why didn’t he send for his daughter?’’ ‘* He did.” ‘* He did send for her?’’ ~~ 6B.” _ ** Did she come to him?f’’ ** He expected her that day.”’ _ ** He did!’ exclaimed Stevens, in an agitated tone. 3 &é Yes.’? _ “* Did she come?’’ ‘*T think she did.”’ ** But how about the trunk??? ‘* J was to secure the trunk and hold it for his daugh- ter.”’ ‘* How would you know his daughter??? ‘* ‘That was all arranged, and she was to come to me.” ‘* Did she come?’’ &t No. 33 °* Why not?” °° T do not know. ’’ ‘* And you did not secure the trunk??? 66 No. 33 °° Why not?’ ‘*T was called away the day it was to be secured, and when I came back the trunk was gone.” ‘* And you expect me to believe this story?’’ €é No. 33 ** Then why did you tell it?” ‘* Because you asked me to tell it.” ‘* And you do not expect me to believe it?” 66 No.’ ‘* Why not?” ‘* Simply because I do not care whether you believe it or not. ’’ ‘* And you have not found the daughter?’? ‘* IT have not. *’ ‘* You expect to find her?”’ é¢ Yes. 33 *¢ ‘When?’’ ‘* In good time.’’ ** How about the wife?” ** She is living.” — ** She is living??? ce Yes. a? ‘* Have you seen her?” é¢ Yes; 33 ‘ She is still in the asylum?’’ 86 No. I? ** Where is she?” °° Safe.7? — . ‘* How did she get out of the asylum?” ** i got her out.” ‘* And this woman represents herself as Mr. Silvers wife?”