The Argosy, April 1912 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

102 There can be no wedding to-night. She must recover from this terrible experience,” she added. ‘By all means, that is the most sensible thing to do,” said the lawyer. “As your legal adviser, Mrs. Temple, I would suggest that the wedding be postponed longer than one day. This is a very peculiar and mys- terious affair, and one which should be thoroughly investigated. ‘“But why postpone the marriage fur- ther?” asked Mrs. Temple. “Merely because I think it advisable on account of what you have just told me,” replicd Eldridge. “But I must say I can’t see what the kidnaping has to do with the wedding. Mildred wouldn’t have put it off a single hour if she were not so utterly exhausted. The poor child is a nervous wreck.”’ “Then she really loves Huntly?” asked Eldridge in low tones, so that the pros- pective bridegroom could not hear. | ‘She adores him,” declared Mrs. Temple. Eldridge, by way of reply, began studying Huntly again. ‘“‘T hope she will be very happy,” he said. “She is just an unusual girl, so sweet, so unaffected that she deserves just a little more happiness than falls to the share of the average woman in this world.” “Oh, I’m sure Ned will make _ her happy,” replied Mrs. Temple. ‘“ He’s per- fectly devoted to her. Does everything she wants him to. You can imagine how anx- ious he was when he learned that she had been abducted.” “Any man would naturally have been anxious under the circumstances,” said the lawyer gravely. “He did everything that a man who loves a girl could do,” continued .Mrs. Temple enthusiastically. “The best proof of his devotion is the fact that he has brought her home safe and sound. He is brave, too, for he saved the sheriff’s life.” Mrs. Temple then motioned to Border, who was presented to Eldridge. “Well, sheriff,” said the lawyer, “this is a most extraordinary affair.” “No doubt about that, sir,” replied Bor- der. “Nobody seems to have any theory as to who did it.” “Have your”’ “Well,” began the sheriff, then hesitated and instinctively glanced in the direction of Huntly. | Eldridge’s keen eye noted this glance. THE ARGOSY. “No,” said Border at last, “can’t say that I have just at present.” “But you might have later on?” “TI don’t know,” replied Border. “ There’s no use accusing anybody unless you’ve got something .to fasten your ideas on. It’s dangerous out here to suspect a man. You’ve got to know.” “T understand,” said Eldridge. “I won’t ask you anything more at present.” “It’s a good thing you came when you did,” remarked the sheriff in low tones. “Why?” “Because Mrs. Temple and her daugh- ter, being all alone out here—”’ “But you are forgetting the young man who will be Miss Temple’s husband _to- morrow,’ interrupted Eldridge, watching Border sharply. “Yes. I was forgetting him,” admitted the sheriff. “He will become the head of the house- hold,” added Eldridge. Border made a face expressive of his distaste over the idea. “What's the matter?” asked the lawyer. “Nothing,” replied Border. “What was the object of this kidnap- ing?” “A ransom,” replied the sheriff. ‘“‘ ‘Twen- ty thousand dollars was the sum asked.” “As much as that?” “Yes. The man must have wanted it in a hurry. The strange part of the affair is that he must have been somebody who knew about the Temples being wealthy, for the people in this town didn’t. Things like that get talked about in a hurry. And I never heard a word about their having a fortune. Believe me, the man in the mask who carried her away knew exactly what he was about and how much money he could demand without overstepping the mark.” ‘But you must suspect some one? ”’ “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t.”’ “Then you do, but you don’t want to say?” “All I can say now is, I am glad you have come, and if it is possible to persuade the young. lady it seems to me it would be a good thing to put the wedding off longer than just one day.” Just then Mildred joined them. “Tsn’t it too funny, Mr. Eldridge,” she said, “the man who carried me off was very much like Ned here, only his voice was different. I have been teasing the life out of the poor fellow about the resemblance.” HOO) COM S (CO