A Strange Disappearance

eman pointed with unwearying assiduity to the various little details that had struck us. His hat was still in his hand, and he presented a very fo

to gather up her clothes;" and with a sudden movement he stooped and pulle

amation struck our ears, and

bureau in a manner to preclude the opening of any more drawers, "that you will remember that a modest wom

stantly clos

don the rough ways of a somewh

form while her eyes rested with almost a savage expression upon the master of the ho

id not retu

take any active measures, why, let no consideration of my great and inherent dislike to notoriety of any kind, interfere with what you consider your duty. As for the house, it

looked beneath. A carefully folded dress of dark blue silk, to all appearance elegantly made, confronted our rather eager eyes. Beside it, a collar of exquisite lace-I know enough of such matters to be a judge-pricked through by a

amazement, involuntarily g

ke had remained in the room. "That those things rich as they are, really belonged to the girl, I have no doubt. She brought them when sh

efully replaced the cloth he had taken from them, and softly closed the drawer without either of

apartment. Meeting me, he smiled, and I saw that whether he was conscious of betraying it or not, he had co

nodding sideways toward the room he had just

drawing a step nearer to escape the eyes

e hastened down tog

gaged in banter with the girls below, and in this way learning more in a minute of what he wanted to know th

y and alluring; a modern beauty, with eyes of fire burning beneath high piled locks of jetty blackness, that were only relieved from being too intense by the scarlet hood of an opera cloak, that was drawn over them. "A sister," I thought to myself, "it is too modern for his mother," and I took a step nearer to see if I could trace any likeness in the chiselled features of this disdainful brunette, to the more characteristic ones of the careless gentleman who had stood but a few moments before in my presence. As I did so, I was struck with the distance wit

with dignity; "no one ever intrudes h

sfaction in Mr. Gryce's eyes. "I was attracted by the beauty of this picture visible through the half

door after us with an emphasis that p

n a few moments later Mr. Gryce appeared from below, and a conve

rl should be found?" remarked Mr. Gryce; "so much so that

oor, and can only promise you what I myself possess; though-" and her cheeks grew flushed and hot with an unnatural agitation-"I believe that thousands would

y ignoring the wildness of these statements, "t

ck if she can," q

sfied with her home as to

one as she did without being forced. Yes," said she, "though she made no outcry and stopped to put on her bonnet

you sa

I heard more than one

ow those voices if y

N

his last negative which M

ately kept a body servant who has been seen to look at this

ir. "I don't believe it," said she; "Henry was a man who knew his place, and-

the cat looks at the king, it is no sign the king loo

think of anyth

would greatly facilitate matters if you would kindly tell us why you take such an interest in this girl. One gli

what is known of it? That she came to me about two years ago for work; tha

ot tell us?" exc

d a look of hesi

o anything unless yo

tled again into a r

t low as she has evidently been-it had nothing to do with her disappearance, nor would a

making revelations she did not think necessary, and s

said he, "what were the knick-knacks she

to her, though I assure you of little importance to any one else. All that is shown by their disappe

ut, but I am not the man to recoil from anything hard. If I can discover

ho

whether you believe it or not this is open to doubt; therefore I would advise that you take some such

ried vehemently. "I

el

anxious about Emily, desires

any way

ng for the first time, "that you wou

Mr. Gryce,

etting as minute a description as possible of the clothi