Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

MANFRED’S QUEST. .** And who is Saunders?’ “The man who will marry the claimant in case she establishes her right to the fortune and secures it.”’ ** And he is the schemer?’’ ** He is the schemer. ”’ ‘* And you have schemed with him?” suggested Man- fred. ‘*T have done so, yes; and having engaged with him or rather been engaged by him, I resolved to go through un- til the truth was established.’’ ** Will you tell me who the lady is who claims to be Mr. Silver’s daughter?’’ ‘* She is Mrs. Brownell’s granddaughter, and, being a blood connection of Mr. Silver, although the relationship is lateral and far removed, the resemblance is accounted for; it is one of those events or incidents in family history which sometimes occur.’ °° Is Mrs. Brownell really dead?”’ é¢ Yes. 39 ** What members of her family are living?” ** Only this granddaughter. ’” ** All her own children are dead?’’ ** Yes; the two daughters died before the mother; con- sumption was in the family. ” ** And the girl’s father is dead?’’ —** Yes; he died when this girl was an infant, and she was reared and educated by her grandmother, and thereby obtained all the proofs that were at first submitted to me when I was engaged to undertake the case for her. 2 CHAPTER XXXVII. Mr. STEVENS had certainly related a strange tale; his explanations were remarkable; and, what is more, our hero believed that the man’s story was true. As our readers will remember, the man Stevens owned a sinister-looking face. Manfred believed the man to bea villain, a fellow who would enter into any bad scheme where there was profit; but the man was shrewd enough to discover that it was a losing game he was playing, and circumstances permitted him to make the seemingly satis- factory explanation of his connection with the affair. In- deed, he was permitted to make explanations which allowed it to seem as though he were an honest man. Our hero took no stock in his honesty, but he knew he was a beaten man, a man who fully knew he could not win, and was ready to give his fellow companions away to save himself. Indeed, Manfred believed that the man knew from the start it was a game, but concluded to pretend to accept his plausible explanation; and, after some further talk, our hero said: ** T wish to bring Saunders into the room.”’ ‘* Yes, go.”’ ‘* And you are prepared to let him know that you are convinced that this lady is really the widow of Mr. Sil- ver?’’ 6é T am. 23 ~ When a bad man goes to pieces, he goes bad, and oft be- comes as zealous on one side as he had formerly been on another. Saunders was called into the room, and the se ae sald : _ ** Mr. Saunders, we have just learned from Mr. Sieeiuds that he has been laboring under a misapprehension, and I have thought that probably it might be so in your case also. ” Saunders looked glum and savage, and said: ‘* Oh, I see it all; it’s a nice game.”’ *¢ What is the ame?’ ‘* That this man has been playing into your hands alt along.’’ ‘* You think so?” ** T know it. ”’ ‘* Very well, sir, you are at liberty to depart; but I have a word to drop in your ear; when Mr. Stevens gives up the game, it is of no use for you to seek to continue it.”’ ‘*T have been engaged in no scheme; I am after the right, and I shall have the right before I get through.” Mr. Saunders was escorted from the room, and later on left the house, and still later Mr. Stevens also took his de- parture, and Mrs. Silver and the detective were left alone. Our hero had had witnesses to all that had passed, and as he also had the fortune in his possession, he did not fear what might come afterward. = Well; madame,”’ he said, “*‘ I have played a winning game.” ‘* Sir, you are a wonderful man.” ‘* T shall not think so until I have solved the mystery of the owner of the trunk.’’ ‘That mystery is solved.’’ ‘*T think her identity is established, but that is not alk we have to do.” ** ‘What more must we do?” — ** Find the owner of the trunk.’’ ‘* Oh, sir, I know you will find her. ” °° T hope I shall. ” On the day following the incidents we have narrated, our hero was on the street. He was proceeding along un- der a proper disguise when he met Saunders. The latter did not recognize the detective, and was walking along at a rapid gait like a man who had business on hand. **T reckon I’ll just follow that fellow and learn what he’s up to,’ said the detective, and he fell to the man’s trail. The man went to Central Park and proceeded direct to: the spot where our hero had first met him and had come the little strange lady game on him. The man proceeded to the very seat where he had been seated upon the occa- sion when, as stated, our hero appeared before him; but. this time he did not have the seat to himself. A lady occupied it—a veiled lady—and she was evidently waiting: for him. The detective secured a listening spot and waited. ‘*'You got my message?’’ was the salutation Saunders received. dig Bs 57) ts ‘* When?’’ ‘* About an hour ago.” ‘** Not until an hour ago?” éé No.’ ** T have been waiting here five hours. ”’ ‘* You have been waiting here five hours?’’ | <> Yes. I? ** How is that?’’ ‘* T sent the message nearly six hours ago.’’ ‘*T came as soon as I received it, and now tell me, what have you learned ?”’ ‘*T am on the girl’s track, I think.’’ ‘* You are on her track?” ** T think I am.” ‘* Good; if we can find her we are all right, yet it ie the girl who walks here in the park.’”” 66 No. I? ** It is not she?”