Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. ** ] am ready to enter your service.” ‘**Good! We have not a moment tospare. Go to the aw=—- Hotel. Ask for Mrs. . She has some papers for | you to sign. When the papers are signed, hasten back ~ here. And—hold! here are twenty dollars. You must not ask the lady for any money, or accept any from her.” **T understand. ’’ ** You will hasten?’’ **T will. Where will I find you??? ** T.can wait for you here.” ** All right, sir; I will go at once.’ The old lawyer seized his hat and cane and hurried out, r happy man. It had been a long time since he had earned a twenty-dollar bill, and he did not stop to ask any ques- tions. The moment the old lawyer was gone, our: hero indulged alight laugh of satisfaction, and crossing the room, put his ear to the door of the adjoining room. He overheard some strange revelations and some singular disclosures that will be detailed as our narrative advances. An hour passed, and the old lawyer returned. ** Ah, you here?’’ 6¢é Yes. 33 Pa ** Why did you send me on a fool’s errand?” ** A fool’s errand, sir?” €6é Y es. 33 ‘*T reckon you are no » fool. “ “*T went to the hotel, and was informed that no such _ lady as you named was stopping there.’ ‘* But you got the name wrong. ”’ °° No, sir; you gave the name of $$ Vag 79 ** It was that name I presented. ”” ** And they told you she did not reside in the house??? €¢ Yer’? ** My friend, this is very strange.”’ ** You must have been deceived yourself, sir.’’ ** Must have been deceived, when I just left the hotel | and the lady to come here?’’ ** The what hotel?’’? demanded the old- lawyer. he detective mentioned the name of a different hotel from the one he had given to the old lawyer. ‘* The —— Hotel?”’ exclaimed the lawyer. - 3. Yes. 7’ ** You told me the Hotel.’ ** No, no; did you go there?” ge = % ey “** Hang it, you went to the wrong hotel!” “**I went to the hotel you named. ” ** No, you must have misunderstood me.”* ** I will go to the other hotel. ’’ “* No, it is too late; the lady has left town by this time, and your blunder will cause me considerable inconvenience; but it can not be helped now.’’ ** The mistake was not mine, sir.” ** We will not argue that question; you can keep the money, and I will come = see you to-morrow. I may have a good case for you.’ The detective departed. He had carried out his scheme and was well satisfied. Our hero went to his home and _ held a consultation with Mrs. Silver, and later on proceeded to the hotel where he was to meet Mr. Stevens. The latter was there in advance. ** You have come?’?. ** Yes, sir, I am here.”? ** Will you accompany me??? Entered according to Act of Congress, in the years 1886 and 1887, by GaorGE MuNRO, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. G ee OO ae “I will.” The two men left the hotel together, and as they proe ceeded along Mr. Stevens said: a i propose to convince you that you are being imposett upon.’ ‘*T am prepared to be convinced.”” The pair reached a private house situated in a pood neighborhood, and our hero was led into an elegantly furs nished parlor. ~ © You will wait here, sir.’ A few moments passed, and a lady entered the room. Lhe gas had been turned up and the moment the detect- ive’s eyes fell upon the lady he felt a thrill go through his frame. The detective had seen a photograph of Mr. Sil- ver, the latter was in the possession of the dead man’s wife. Manfred had desired to see the picture in order to aid himself in earrying out his scheme, and the moment his eyes fell upon the young lady that entered the room he was struck by a remarkable resemblance that she bore to the dead man’s picture. “* You are Mr. O’Grady?’’ said the young lady, in @ sweet voice. °° That is my name.’ **T am glad to meet you, sir.’’ ‘* And whom have I the pleasure of meeting?”? °* A wronged lady!” °° A wronged lady?”’ 66 Yes. 33 “© Who has wronged you?”’ ** ‘Two designing women; and you are aiding them.’”” CHAPTER XXIL THE detective was taken all aback; there was something strange and singular, and indeed startling, in his meeting with the young lady who in such a remarkable manner bore such a striking resemblance to the picture of Mrs. Silver. ‘* Will you please answer me directly who you are?’’ ‘**T am Miss May Silver. ’’ ** You are Miss May Silver?’’ é¢ T am. 33 ‘*'The daughter of the Mr. Silver who died a few weeks ago?’ gs £. RS) Anes ** When did you see your father last in life?’’ °° A year ago.’ ** Why were you not with him at the time of his death?”” °° T have been away.’ ** Where?’’ ** In Europe, at my father’s command.’’ ** And when did you return home?”’ ** Since my father’s death. ”’ ** And what are your initials?’’ °° M. M. 8. Mary Martin Silver. ”’ A strange look shone in the detective’s eyes. ** Let me see,’’ he said, ‘‘ those are the initials that wers on the trunk?” The lady colored. °° Yes, I lost my trunk.’? ‘* You lost your trunk??? se Sos = ** When?’?’ , ** Since my return.”’ | he detective was puzzled. He held a long talk with the voung lady, anc she told him a straight story in every <= & ~—comich ooks.co Oo ates. es “s . SS ‘ oo a —---- = ——- : eee gon all a i 7. q i -