Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST, particular, save that she had made a contradictory state- ment concerning the trunk. Our hero closed his interview with the lady, and was joined by Mr. Stevens. The two men left the house in company. ¢ ** Well, what do you think now, sir?’’ ** This is a very remarkable state of affairs.’’ ** How so?”’ ** In several ways. ”’ “* It is straight enough, sir.’’ ** No, no!’’ “* What is crooked?” ** So many lies are told!?’ *° So many lies are told?’ €6 Ves. 7? | ** By whom?” **’Yourself and the young lady who calls herself Miss Silver.’’ _ ‘°s What lies have I told??? ** You said you were Mr. Silver’s only relative.” The man laughed, and answered: Ge T did. a3 °° It was a lie.’ ** A precautionary lie, sir.’’ ** Ah! I see!’’ “*'The young lady told me she had returned to New York from Europe since her father’s death.’’ a She a said she wind the missing turnk.’ ** Ah that is correct.’’ **How could she check the trunk when she was in Europe?”’ °* She did not check the trunk.’’ ** Who did?” ** Evidently the fraud who is passing herself off’ as the daughter of Mr. Silver.’ °° Is Mrs. Silver living?’’ &¢ No. Bb | ** How long has she been dead?’’ ** Many years.”” “* This matter is being much mixed, sir.”’ ** You do not doubt the identity of the young lady whom | you just saw?’’ °° T will not say; I must think the matter*over.’ ** Will you see me to-morrow?’’ *°T will.’? The two men separated, and the detective started to go to his home. ' He had not proceeded far when he discov- ered that two men were dogging his steps. ** Aha,’’ he muttered, °° that game has commenced, and it goes far toward settling certain doubts in my mind; but I will see what these men are up to. They have some de- sign, that is evident. ’’ 3 The detective was proceeding along in a leisurely man- ner through aside street, when suddenly he heard rapid steps behind him; the two men were approaching, and upon overtaking our hero one of them said: ** One moment, sir.” . The detective came to a halt, and the two men peered jn his face, and one said to the other: °* This is our man.”’ As the fellow spoke, both men sprung upon the detect- ive. Manfred was not a large ‘man, but he possessed extraor- dinary strength and agility; indeed, he was an expert gymnast. He was prepared for the assault of the two men, and managed with the aid of a club to down them both, when he rapidly walked away. He had gone a little A - - : nett Lo cet tg - ‘ A a>, . _—- y 3 im a * 4 : x ~ wee as A by Srna? > aly ~ + 4 os ae | Pa “Zt. ig “y.7 we. os the ae , % Py ‘ a - pa se ee : ~~ ae oe = ~ a == ° nate ».# eee aS ee =e Ste et. , oe ee Pa es ty — ~ ~~ - — ; — —£, = - over a square, when he heard words passing between two persons, but he could not at the moment discover where the two talkers were. He stopped and listened, and dis. covered that the voices came from the area-way of the house before which he had halted. It was certain words that had been spoken that arrested his attention. He over- heard one of the speakers say, ** The trunk is lost—some one claimed it, and carried it away. ’’ It was the trunk mystery-and the mystery of its owner that was on the detective’s mind, and he stepped through the open gate and advanced to the area opening where two females were standing. °* Can you tell me,’’ said the detective, ‘*‘ if Miss Silver is boarding or stopping in this housef’’ : The detective’s question was greeted with a scream; the two females dodged inside the open door of the house, and closed it behind them. : The amazed detective stood there in the darkness, his question unanswered.. He waited a few moments and walked out and took asurvey of the house and its sur- roundings; it was an ordinary three-story brick house, one in a row of similar houses. Our hero looked up at the windows. It was well on toward midnight, and all the lights in the house appeared to be extinguished. ‘* Well,’”’ muttered our hero, ‘‘ this is an odd state of affairs. I will swear I heard the words ‘ The trunk is lost,’ and when I inquired for Miss Silver those girls ran into the house. J reckon I’ve tumbled to a clew. ”’ The detective remained in the vicinity of the house for an hour, but there came no signs of any one’s entering or leaving it, and at length he proceededeon to his own home. As he walked along, he indulged in considerable think- ing, and muttered: | ‘‘ Matters are becoming very much mixed. It may be that they are all frauds, and yet I have possession of the trunk and the money!” When the detective reached his home, he found the so- called Mrs. Silver awaiting his return. 3 The woman was anxious and nervous, and her face wore a care-worn look. ‘* ‘What have you to report?’’ she said. ‘*T have been the victim in a number of strange and singular adventures,’’ was the answer. °* Have you found my child?’’ ‘I have found a lady who claims to be the daughter of Mr. Silver.’’ ‘*’You have found a lady who claims"to be the — of Mr. Silver?’’ repeated the lady. 66 Yes. 33 ‘* Take me to her at once.’’ | °° No, no; I met her under remarkable circumstances. Let me first ask you a few questions. You had but one daughter?’ * °° But one.” ** You have not seen her since she was shutie years of age?” ** T have not.’? a Madome, the mystery is — even more clouded than ever. ’ : °* How so??? ** The lady I saw to-night bears a striking resemblance to your dead husband. ” _ CHAPTER XXIIL WHEN the self-styled Mrs. Silver heard the declaration that concludes our preceding chapter, a pallor overspread her face, and a thrill shot through Manfred’s heart. The ¥ : ' tr a im tet a > 4 a S, . a * > / rN —_