The Argosy — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

88 Mrs. Raven's Temptation. to think of the whole affair as a common mystification and humbug, But this testified to a real mystery. Frank glanced at his watch. A train would be leaving Coltburn Station in less than half an hour. ‘There would not depart another till nearly three hours later, ‘This woman must be very rapid in her movements if she could take flight so readily, but such a contin- gency must be provided against—and his mind was made up. CHAPTER XAViae WITH THE DETECTIVES. FRANK RAVEN moved off the doorstep and walked quickly towards the police station. He had noticed it when with Philip the previous day. He wanted the services of a detective to watch the departing train and Daylight Villa. He was shown into a bare room, and did not wait for two minutes. His card, on which he had scribbled “urgent,” and which bore ‘Ravenscourt, Hants,” engraved on the corner, brought two efficient officers into his presence immediately. Probably Frank seemed a little haughty in his awkwardness and his haste. But if so, it did not repel those two experienced men. ‘They glanced at each other the moment they saw Frank, silently, as. it were, exchanging thoughts. This would be a good case of some sort. It was no frivolous “fast” business which had brought to them this young aristocrat, with his open brow and clear eyes. Frank remembered the speedily-departing train, and lost no time in intro- ducing the business, and strove to be as brief and lucid as he could. There was one officer who spoke, and one officer who watched. Both had note-books. “There 1s a woman in this town calling herself the ‘ Oriental Mystery,’” began Frank, ‘ west you heard of her?” ‘“‘ Certainly, certainly : her, placards are on all the walls.” *« She stays: at Daylight Villa,” added Frank. ‘““'Yes, yes,” returned the speaking officer, as though all this were superfluous; ‘‘she gives jthat address.” “T think it exceedingly likely that she may make a speedy flight by the next train, ” said Frank; ‘‘1f so, I want it to be ascertained where she goes.” The officer did not seem quite so attentive to ie as he had been to the preceding remarks; but he gave a slight inclination of the head, to signify that he had heard. Then he turned to dhisicom- panion and said a few rapid words, in the cursory tone in which one inquires whether a fire is being kept up, or gives any similar trifling direction. ‘The silent officer crossed the room, opened a door and disappeared for a few seconds. He came back, still in silence. Frank heard footsteps pass down the passage outside, even while he ECOPMICLIOO KS, eo)