Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

Sr ; . ee ; — oy tee ‘MANFRED’S QUEST. aeons a *¢ And there we lose 2 cool million.’’ ** So it appears now. ”’ 6 And who has the trunk?’’ *¢ That is a matter we can not trace.”’ * Do you think the girl has it??? $¢ No. 93 ‘¢ Who can have it? the mother?’’ “Tt does not seem possible that the mother can have it. ”’ <¢ Then who could have secured it?’’ ** Ah, there is the mystery!’’ spe ee a EY CHAPTER XXIV. Tue parties held some further conversation, and having finished their meal left the restaurant. The detective also managed to conclude his meal, and followed them out. The pair walked up Broadway to the corner of the street where the house was. located from which the veiled lady had come, and they parted. The gentleman sauntered song up Broadway, and the detective followed. Manfred had determined to have a little fun; the de- tective was much of an amateur, after all, and he did enjoy zood sport. He had not had a chance as yet to display or exercise his wonderful vocal gifts, and he made up his mind to make the man his victim. The man favored his scheme as he took a car and rode to Central Park, and arriving at the park he made inquiries of a policeman which our hero overheard and which indi- cated that the man expected to meet some one. The man walked along to a secluded spot and seated himself upon a bench, and our hero made up his mind to work his game and enjoy the sport. , Suddenly Manfred ran toward the man and right before him appeared to totter and fall. The man leaped to the pretended lady’s assistance, and our hero seemed to swoon and tremble like an aspen-leaf. - he man led her to a seat, and she sighed and revived just as he was going for water to bathe her temples. When she revived she caught hold of him in a convulsive manner and appeared to be laboring under great mental excite- ment. 3 | ‘¢ What is the matter, miss?’? demanded the gentleman. ‘¢ Oh, dear! am I safe?’ ** Yes, you are safe. ”’ ** Did he follow me?’’ ** Who, miss:”’ ¢© A man—a man with a wicked face—a wicked man!’’ ** J have seen no man, and you a not fear. Should any man come, I will protect you.’ There was an incredulous expression passing over the gentleman’s face. He was an old bird. A suspicion crossed his mind that he was being * played. *? He liked an adventure, however, and fully conscious of his own shrewdness, determined to let the game go on. ‘¢ Oh, I am so really unfortunate!””? murmured the lady. ‘¢-You are unfortunate, miss?’’ €¢ Yes. 3? . ** Can I be of any service to you?”’ The gentleman thought he would help her along. <‘-You are very kind, but you can not be of any service to me.’” ‘Can I not aid you in any way?” — ** No one can aid me.” ** Why not?” 4. ‘Oh, dear! I can not explain. ”’ ** You can not explain?” €¢ No. 33 &* Mine is such a strange history.” ‘© T would like to be of service to you.”’ ‘¢ No one can be of service to me in one direction; but tell me, you are sure no man followed me when I came rushing here?” ‘¢T saw no man; but why should a man pursue your” _ © Yes, yes; why should a man pursue mef” repeated the pretended girl: ‘‘ I have committed no crime.” ‘‘'The man may mean you harm?” ** He does,’”’ came the answer, in a husky voice and dra- matic manner. ‘¢ What harm does he mean you?” _ The girl looked around in a fearful manner, and said: ‘‘ He means to—oh, I can not speak it!” ‘* Yes, yes, tell me.”’ ‘* You may be his confederate, every one turns against me.’ ‘‘T will never turn against you. Let me see your face.” ‘* No; you must not see my face! No one must see my face!”’ ** Why not?’’ ‘‘ They would betray me!’’ A second suspicion flashed through the man’s mind. ‘They would betray you?’’ 6¢ Yes.”? ‘*T will never betray you ‘* Ah, you do not know.’ ‘*T do know that under no circumstances Sanit I betray you!”’ ‘* Are you sure?” ‘© Yes, I am sure.”’ ‘‘T dare not let you see my face; but oh, why should I- be pursued?” ‘¢ What do you fear?’’ ‘¢'The miah means to—to—to—kill me!’ *€ Kill you, miss?”’ “‘-Yes; he would kill me and throw my body into the lake!’’ The gentleman was fully convinced that he was talking to a lunatic; but later on he heard words that caused him to change his mind, words that came to him as a startling revelation. In a soothing tone he said: ‘¢ You need not fear; no one shall kill you.’’ ‘¢ Will you protect me?” ‘¢ Yes; I will protect you.” - ** Oh, sir, how I have suffered, and how I have been pur- sued. ”’ ‘¢ Tell me your story?”’ ‘¢ Oh, I dare not tell you my story!”’ ‘¢ Tf you need a friend, tell me your story.” **T dare not.’’ *¢ Why not?” ‘¢ You would not believe it; my ctale i is too wonderful for one to believe, but that 1 should become the victim of such a strange mistake!’’ 5 alias, tell me your story and I may be of service to you.”” ‘¢ Tet me see,’? murmured the disguised Manfred, ae think I’ve seen your face before.” ‘* You have seen my face before?”’ ‘6 Ves.?? | ‘*¢ When and where?’’ ‘* This very day.” ‘¢ You saw my face before this very day?” €¢ Yes. 33 It does seem as though