Manfred's Quest: Or, The Mystery of a Trunk — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

° - MANFRED’S QUEST. | . 66 No. 3? ** You are sure?” : °° T am.’ ** Have you tried her?’” ** Tried her, yes; nc I am fully convinced she is not the girl we are after.’ ** Who is the girl you are after?’’ **T will tell you. To-day I got into a car and a veiled lady entered—you know we are re looking for a veiled lady.” 66 Yes. 33 -** Well, I’ve been sounding every veiled lady I’ve met lately, and when I saw this lady get into the car this morn- ing I said to myself, here’s another. Well, I watched her closely, and when she got off the car I followed. I had become greatly encouraged meantime, because I discovered that the veiled girl was nervous and acted lixe one who feared being observed. ’’ ‘Tf you have found her at last, Madge, you have done a great thing.’’ _ **T told you I should find her, and I have.’’ ** You are sure?’’ ** Yes, [am sure.’’ Saunders became greatly excited and said: ** Do you know Stevens has turned against us?” ** He has, eh?’’ cé Yes. I> ‘* T expected he would. ’’ ‘ But we can beat them yet, if we can obtain possession of the owner of that trunk.” ‘* ‘We will get possession of her.” Saunders’s face was pale as he said: ‘* Tt is not possible. ’’ ** IT tell you I have found her. ”’ ** Tf you have found her we are all right.’” ‘*T have found her, I say.’’ ‘** Have you spoken to her?” ** T have.’’ ‘** And has she admitted her identity? , The woman laughed and said: *© She does not think she has, but she has all the same. 7” é¢ How?’’ ** Well, you must let me tell my story. ”” ** Proceed. ”” CHAPTER XXXVIII. BEGINNING her narrative, the woman said: **'The moment I saw her leave the car I made up my mind that I was on a good trail, and I followed her until an opportunity offered to speak to her, when I demanded, abruptly: °° * Madame, have you lost anything?’ The woman ut- tered a cry, and turning, gazed at me from under her veil, while trembling like an aspen-leaf. I repeated my ques- tion, and she demanded: ‘¢ * Why do you ask?’ ***T thought you looked like a lady whom I saw at O——,’ I said. Well, then I knew I had her. She almost screamed outright, and moved away without making any reply. ”’ ** And did you follow her?’’ asked Saunders. ** Did I follow her? Well, I should say I did!” answered the woman. —** And you trailed her?’ ** Did she know you were following her?” ** She did not. ’? ** This is wonderful news, Madge.” — ** T tell you I have found the owner of the trunk.”’ ** And where does she live?”’ ‘* I will lead you there; but now the question arises,. what shall we do?’’ A moment Saunders was lost in thought, but at length said: ** Madge, I have been thinking.” ‘* You are a good thinker, as a rule.’’ ‘‘ If this girl is removed, Lucy Brownell becomes heiress at law.” °* How about the widow?’’ ‘* She only inherits a part of the estate, and if she has personal property) in her possession can be called to an ac- counting.”’ A moment the woman was silent; at length she said: ‘*T think I see your game.’ ‘* What is my game?”’ ** Well, the girl must be removed. ”’ ** That is the game.’’ °* How shall we remove her??? ** That is for you to decide.” °** No; not for me. Shall she die or disappear?” ‘* People who only disappear sometimes reappear. ”’ ** You are right.”’ ‘* Then I hardly think it necessary for me to decide; you know what todo.” ‘* It is a risky game.”’ 6¢ How??? °* 'The girl is an heiress. ” °° So is Lucy. ” °* Search is being made for the girl.” ** Yes, but if she is never found?”’ -** The search will be made for the guilty parties.”® °° The guilty parties?”’ 66 Yes. 3? °° Who are the guilty parties?” ** That remains to be seen. ”’ ** I reckon I see what you are trying to present. ’” ** Possibly you do. ’’ ** Your price?” °° You must marry me.”’ ** If I marry you I lose the fortune.”’ ¢¢ No. 33 ** It would only come to me as the husband of Lucy.’? °° You can marry Lucy.’’ ** I do not understand. ”’ ** Lucy can disappear also in good time.” °* Ah, I take your suggestion. ’’ ** And what do you think of it?’ **’You know I love you.” ‘* You do love me?”’ ** Yes, you know I do.” . A moment the woman was silent, but at length she said: ‘* I wish I could implicitly believe your statement. ”’ ** You can; you know I professed my love for you be- fore I ever saw this pale-faced Lucy.’’ ‘*'Then why did you forsake me for her?’’ ‘*T never did; you bid me win her love. If it had not been your own suggestion you would at this moment be my wife.”’ ** Do you swear you are telling me the truth?” é¢ I do. I3 ** And you will make me your wife?’’ Again for a moment Saunders was silent, but at length he said: . ‘* It remains with you altogether. ’’ ** It remains with me???