Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 35: what you’re looking at

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no real purpose in all this mystification, save that he was indulging a singular love for availing himself of his mys- tical powers. He was, as has been intimated, a man pos- sessed of strange occult powers, and, as our readers will earn, he was also capable of performing most wonderful feats. He was a marvelous man. Manfred had proceeded but a short distance when he Jearned that the man whom he had mystified had broken his word; the man had promised not to pursue, but had commenced an immediate pursuit, and what was more, he proved that he was an adept himself, as he had worked a transform, a complete change in his appearance. The detective did not care, however; he expected the man to pursue him. Indeed, he desired him to do so; it was a part of his game to have the man follow him, and he resolved to have heaps of fun and mystify the fellow even more thoroughly than he had done. As stated, the man was deeply mystified. He was no fool. He was satisfied that a deep game was being played, -and he had set out to play a counter game; indeed, he was not as simple and innocent as he pretended to be by half. Of one fact the man was assured: he felt satisfied in his own mind that the veiled lady had met him by design. He was furthermore satisfied that he and his companion of the morning had been tracked, and he looked upon the woman whom he had met so strangely in the park as a schemer, who was working a trick under instructions. Meantime Manfred was preparing to work his little game. Our hero also well understood just what the man thought, discerned just what the fellow would do, and he did not mind. He had started out for fun, but later on had laid out a plan with a deep purpose. The change his pursuer had wrought in his appearance was complete; but the detective having once marked the fellow’s ‘‘ points,’’ would have recognized him in a second under any disguise or sudden transform. Our hero took a car and rode down-town, and the man kept close upon his heels. The detective entered a large office building, and as he did so, he saw the man hastening toward it. Manfred dodged into a dark passage, and quick as a wink worked a transform. ‘he woman disap- peared, and a fine-looking man with a satchel in his hand appeared in place of the female. The transform was worked in a minute, and our hero saw his pursuer enter the building and gaze around. The change had been wrought so quickly Manfred was prepared to meet the man, and the latter asked: ‘* Did you observe a lady, sir, pass through here???’ sige Wes es ** Where did she go, please?’ ** She entered yonder office. ” The detective passed on, and his pursuer settled down to watch yonder office. Half an hour passed, and the lady did not show up, but at Jength a boy came from the office, and the man hailed the lad and asked: : ‘* Is there a lady in that office??? ~* NO, MDS: ** There was a lady there?” NO; ar ** There was no lady in there??? No, aire 8: ** You are sure?”’ ** Certainly I am. ”’ ** You are employed there??? **Yes, sir.” ** Who is in the office?”’ ** No one; I am alone.’? . - = 7 an ol \ MANFRED’S QUEST. ‘* You are alone?’’ ** Yes, sir.”’ ‘* Can I look in?’’ ‘* Yes, sir..”’ The lad opened the door. ‘Three offices connected, and the man walked through. ‘There was no one in any of the offices. ‘* Well,’’ he muttered, °° this is strange!’’ ‘S There has been no one in here, sir,’’ said the boy. ** Who occupies the offices across the hall?’’ ‘* They are vacant. ” : ** Vacant?”’ fe Xe wie * °° Who has the keys?” ** T have.”’ ** Can you open them?’’ ** Why should I?’’ ‘* See here, my lad, I was to meet a lady here, and she has mysteriously disappeared. ”’ ** There has been no lady in this office.’’ ‘*I will give you a dollar to open the other offices.’’ . The lad produced a key and opened the other offices. They were indeed vacant, the floors were covered with dust; no one had evidently been in them for weeks.’’ ‘* See here, boy, you are not telling me the truth.”’ ‘** Why should I lie to your” | ‘*T do not know why you should lie; but J am sure you are not telling me the truth; and, now listen, tell me where the lady is and I will give you ten dollars.’’ | **T do not know where there is any lady. I have not seen any lady.’’ The man went out to the hall, and muttered: ‘* Well, this gets me. I saw her turn into this hall. There is no way out unless she entered one of those offices, and leaped through a window. I saw her turn in here, © and the gentleman I met told me she entered yonder office, What can it all mean?” ; The man was indeed mystified, and while he stood pon- dering the same gentleman whom he had first met came into the hall-way. CHAPTER XXVIII THE man hailed our hero, and said: ‘*T bcg pardon, sir, did I not meet you a few moments ago??? ‘*T met some gentleman fully three quarters of an hour ago.” ‘* You saw a lady ‘* Yes, sir”? ‘* ‘You said she entered that office??? ** Yes, sir, I did.’ ** The boy denies it.’’ ** Toes he??? 6¢ Yes. 33 ‘*T can not help it if he does.” ** No lady came in here!”’ said the lad. ‘* Well, I thought she did. I had no interest in the lady. It is possible it was an ocular deception. I did not know the lady.’’ The man was puzzled. He looked keenly at Manfred, and saw a gentleman who evidently had no motive for dee ception. : There was a sign on the door of the offices, Edie & Co., and the detective asked of the lad: ** Is Mr. Edie in yet?” °° No, sir. 7’ Manfred turned and walked away, and later on he saw 933 e