Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. ** Hello, Saunders, where now?” ** Is that you, Stevens?”’ ** Tt looks like me, does it_not?’’ ** You are just the man I want to see.” . ** Like the Iron Duke, I am here!’’ ** Come with me.”’ The detective was close by and overheard every word. Saunders caught Stevens by the arm and dragged him away to a crowded restaurant and both seated themselves atatable. The detective was on hand and managed to get @ seat near them. ** Do I look sick?”’ asked Saunders. ** Can’t say that you do.”’ ** Do I look like a madman?” ** Can’t say that you do.’’ **T appear all right?” ** Yes, only you show signs of excitement. ” **T am excited!’’ ** What has excited you?”’ € just passed through a singular adventure.’? } you found the trunk?” ** I’ve found the person who holds it.’ ** You have?” ¢¢é Yea.” “* Good, Saunders, I give you credit. you would succeed so soon. ”’ ** T’ve a strange tale to tell.’’ ““ Get on with your story. ’’ ** I said I had met the person who has gaggia of the trunk. ”’ ** ‘That is what you said.’’ ** You do not appear anxious to demand who it is.” °° Well, who has it?” ** The devil!” Stevens laughed and said: ** I begin to think you are a little off, and as you claim ‘to be a strong-headed detective I am surprised. ’’ ** Possibly you will not believe my strange tale?’’ ‘“I do not know why I should not, since I have myself encountered such singular adventures since I’ve been en- gaged in this affair. ” ‘* This morning I met Miss B——.’’ €é Ven." ‘We went to a restaurant together and had a long talk.” * F808.” ‘* Afterward I strolled into the park. Iam working a certain clew and have been on a ‘ lay ’ in the park for some days past. I seated myself by the lake when a veiled lady came rushing along and fell fainting at my feet.’’ ‘* Quite an adventure, quite a romance. ’”’ ** Let me tell you all.’’ ** Yes, proceed. ” **T ran to the lady’s assistance. bore her to a seat.’’ Saunders proceeded on, related in detail his strange inter- view with the disguised detective, and he was finally inter- rupted by Stevens, who asked: ** Didn’t you tumble?” °* To what?’’ °° A game.”’ **T did at once.” ** Did you see the woman’s facet” 6é No. 2? **’You should have seen her face. I tell you they are playing a game against us as deep as our own.’’ ‘* They are; and they have the devil on their side.?? ** Nonsense, man; you have become bewilder I did not think I raised her up and ** So would you have become bewildered under like cir. cumstances. ”’ ** I wish I had met this veiled woman in your stead.” ** You may meet: her yet before this game is over, bus let me tell you what followed.” | Saunders related how he had followed the woman anil how he had so mysteriously lost sight of her in the larg» Office building. °° Ah, I see.’’ ** See what?’’ ** She had accomplices in that building. She knew you were following her, and led you there. ”’ ** You think so?” ae ] do. 33 ** All right; I left the building, went through a trans- form, and then encountered the strangest incident in the whole affair!’’ Saunders proceeded and related his singular adventure in the beer saloon, and, when he had concluded, Stevens said in a suspicious tone: ** This won’t do, Saunders. ’’ ** What won’t do?”’ ‘* You can’t come that over me.” ‘* I am not seeking to come anything over you. ”’ ‘* Yes; you have a purpose in telling me this* cock and bull story!?’ °* You think go??? 6¢é T do. 7’ ‘* You shall have a chance to meet this veiled lady your- self to-night. ” A moment Stevens appeared lost in deep thought, but at length he said: ‘4 eunees, you are usually a level- headed man.” re oe ‘* You have had a great deal of experience?’ ** T have. ”’ ** You are not easily fooled?” °° T am not.” ‘* And you ought to know me pretty well.’’ é¢ T do. > P | ** You ought to know I can not be fooled.’ °° T do know it’’ ** Then why do you come to me with such a story?”’ “* [ have only related facts.’’ | °* Look me straight in the face. ” Saunders looked Stevens straight in the face. *? You look all right. ”’ **T am all right.’’ ** You’re not drunk?” **T am not drunk.’’ ** What’s your game?”’ ‘* T have no game, and I will prove it.?? ¢¢ How??’’ ** The girl is to meet me to-night. ” cé Yes. ”? ** She is to show me the trunk.”’ ¢é Yes. 33 ** You shall go with me; you shall meet this strange woman, and you will learn that I have told you the truth. ”? ‘* Of course you are aware that yours is a remarkable tale??? “* I am aware of it.”’ ‘* If what you tell me is true, you are the victim of some trick. ” ** IT see; yes, I have thought of that, but it is a trick so well played I can not fathom it. ” ‘* We must fathom it to- gas fe We will try.’’ .