A Strange Disappearance

ir, with company, but I wi

some room where we can be comfortable

a small and cosy room heavily hung with crimson curtains. "I will let hi

the first," said I, drawing up one of the luxurious arm-chairs to the side of

r. Blake a man of nerve. Not a muscle of

aid I, "I

d the rich old fashioned furniture that surroun

ou may,"

orway, bearing to our great astonishment,

down on the table before us. "He hopes you will make you

od, also the look he cast at the pretty Dresden Shepherdess on the mantel-piec

tter leave his win

nted out the seconds on the mantel-piece. Then the guests came in from the table, filing before us past the open door on their way to the parlors. They were all gentlemen of course-Mr. Blake never invited lad

lake rise in that courteous and measured tone for which it is distinguished, I saw him reach forward and grasp his cane with an uneasiness I had never seen displayed by him before. But when some time later, the guests ha

the latter, glancing at the card which he held in his hand. "What

olitician stooping to act a part, or had he forgo

ed Mr. Gryce; "but fully as important

pped to the door and shut it. Then coming back, he looked at

e seen you bef

smile. "I have had the honor of consulting

assed over the dignified cou

e interested in some servant girl or other who ran away from this hous

with some solemnity. "The river gives

at look of na

am sorry for that, a girl who had once lived in my house. W

ced a step near

t lacking in the respect due to a man so universally esteemed as Mr. Blake. "You who h

before that I had no remembrance of this girl at all. That if such a person was in my house I did

ave had with the girl in this house, but to the interview you were seen to have with he

it on this occasion. "I saw and spoke to a girl on the corner of that street some days ago," he went on more mildly, "but that she was the one who lived here, I neither knew at the time nor feel willing to believe now without positive proof." Then in a deep ringing to

, "no man who is a true citizen and a Christian should object to have his steps followed

quired he, clenching his hand and looking steadily, bu

ble," quoth that f

d his gaze upon me. "In town

wn that you have lately sought to

t for a moment upon a portrait that graced one side of the wall, and which was I have since learned a p

id he, "I do not say I have any suspicions; my errand is simply to notify you of the death of the girl you were seen to

, you must know why I spoke to that girl and others, why I went to

he rich signet ring that adorned the hand of the gentleman before him

almost stern. "You consider you have a

d she does not state. When asked if her master has no interest in the matter, she changes color and puts us off. He never noticed his servants, left all such concerns to her, etc.; but shows fear when a proposition is made to consult him. Next imagine yourself with the detectives in that gentleman's house. You enter the girl's room; what is the first thing you observe? Why that it is not only one of the best in the house, but that it is conspicuous for its comforts if not for its elegancies. More than that, that there are books of poetry and history lying around, showing that the woman who inhabited it was above her station; a fact which the housekeeper is presently brought to acknowledge. You notice also that the wild surmise of her abduction by means of the window, has some ground in appearance, though the fact that she went with entire unwillingness is not made so apparent. The housekeeper, however, insi

s departure. Yes," he exclaimed, unheeding the sudden look here cast him by Mr. Blake, "and curiosity begets inquiry, and inquiry elucidated further facts such as these, that the mysterious master of the house was in his garden at the hour of the girl's departure, was even looking through the bars of his gate when she, ha

ortly, "go on." But that last remark of Mr

imself there, but employed his leisure time instead, in walking the lower streets of the city, where he was seen more than once conversing with certain poor gi

ome authority in his tone, "there y

and

lden hair, something which the woman

oticed the woman who sewed for you

if she had had such hair

ed and opened

illiant hair and showing it to the gentleman before him. "Bright you see, and

t visibly trembled. "Where did you get this?" asked he

hich the girl had been

man flung it h

ou have said does not account for your presence here nor the tone you have used w

in my direction. "All that I have said would not perhaps justify me in this int

the whole," said he. "A good story loses nothing by being told to the end. Y

ravely shoo

uch a mystery as tha

hat have no connection with the sewin

nst me, knowing that my actions of late, seen by those who did not possess the key to them, must have seemed a little peculiar. But when you say you have no interest in any mystery disconnected with the girl who has lived the last few months in my house, I can with assurance say that it is time we

"You deny then," said he, "all connection between yourself and the woman, lady or sewing-girl, who occupied that roo

Mr. Blake with some severity, "even when they relate to a

m sorry," he began and stopped, fingering his hat-brim nervously. Suddenly he laid his hat b

a dead weight upon my lips. I dare not leave you to the consequence of my silence; for duty will compel me to speak some day and in some presence where you may not have the

ident honesty of the man before him. "You are courageous at least," said he. "I regret y

am done with words; action accomplishes the rest. Mr. Blake I believe you consider me an honest officer and a reliable man. Will you accompany me to your private

though in a surprised way that showed his curiosity if no more was aroused. "My room and company a

ke the effort," ent

man may come," he remarked carelessly as Mr. Gryce waved his hand i

betrayed by my superior might receive a shock; and I felt it would be a serious blow to his pride to fail now. But once within the room above, my doubts speedily fled. There was that in Mr. Gryce's fa

ith his sternest expression, "the room and its conten

nces round the apartment and without a word stepped before the picture that was a

rised, but his face was not one

ss De Mirac," said he with a certai

as one of those faces that are indescribable. You draw your breath as you view it; you feel as if you had had an electric shock; but as for knowing ten minutes later whether the eyes that so enthralled you were blue or black, or the locks that clustered halo-like about a forehead almost awful in its expression of weird, unfathomable power, were brown or red, you could not nor would you pretend to say. It was the character of the countenance itself that impressed you. You

in strange broken tones

dignant, half menacing at the silent detective who with eyes drooped and f

Was this the haughty gentleman we had known, this hesitat

like that of the strand you held in your hand a few moments ago; a strand taken as I swear, hair by hair from the comb of the poor creature who occupied the room above. But that is not all," he continued as Mr. Blake fell a trifle aback

urned like a little child and followed the detective who with an assur

famous bureau drawer. "Will you do so any longer in face of these?" And drawing off the towel that lay uppermost, he revealed the neatly folded dress, wide collar, brooch and faded roses

he rose, his whole form quivering, his eyes burning. "Where is Mrs. Daniels?" he cried, hastily advancing and pulling the bel

the girl, "went out as soon as e

t at thi

es out very ofte

me as soon as she returns," he

in some way to be strangely commingled. "I cannot explain the presence of these articles in this room; but if you will come below I will see what I can do to make other matters in