The Argosy — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

102 Mrs. Raven’s Temptation. must be some deep plot laid; and somebody evidently has much to gain by its success.” They went out together saying nothing of where they were going. The way to the station lay chiefly through dark and lonely streets : but Frank felt as if none could be too dark or too lonely to be haunted by a spy or a conspirator. All three gentlemen sent in their cards, and they were not kept — waiting a moment. The taller and more communicative detective, Mr. Jones, came immediately. He greeted the well-known minister with cordial respect, but showed himself quite prepared to talk about the weather until the real object of their visit was led up to by Frank. “Well, I have news; and I have none,” answered Mr. Jones, genially. ‘‘The woman did not go away by thetrain. But she is gone. From all we can gather, she must have left Daylight Villa almost before you reached this place here in the morning.” “And can nothing more be done,” asked Frank, almost irritably, with a sudden recollection of much that he had heard about the in- competency of the police. “Ah,” said Mr. Jones, quite graciously, “‘we are doing our very best. ‘The person you saw here this morning, Cran, has taken it in hand himself. /7e will not fail if there’s a chance of succeeding.” ‘‘“And has she left no clue whatever behind her?” questioned Philip, speaking for the first time. ‘“None,” said the detective. ‘‘In fact, the people of the house did not know she had gone until our man inquired for her. At least, they said so, and we have every reason to believe they spoke the truth. They asked him indoors quite readily, and hunted through the house for the woman. Her dinner was being cooked. Then they made angry lamentations over her running off without paying, and it was our man himself who found a paper on the mantleshelf in the parlour with cash in it, which the landlady said was quite sufficient to cover her debt.” “Plenty of money, seemingly,” murmured Mr. Connell. “One would hardly expect the woman to have a conscience about such matters,” remarked Philip. Mr. Jones shook his head. ‘‘It may not be conscience,” he ob- served. “It may be to reduce the number of people interested in discovering her.” ‘“‘ Ah, that’s it,” said Philip. ‘‘ But had she not any luggage—any- thing belonging to her?” “Yes, she had. She had a heavy portmanteau, which they said was quite a tight fit on the narrow staircase, and they could not understand one person’s getting it down without making any sound. The servant-girl was prepared to swear that it was standing safe in the bed-room when she made the bed this morning. Certainly it is not there now, or anywhere in the house, for they gave us every facility EOLMICLOOL KS, (E00)