A LOST WITNESS, OR THE MYSTERY OP LEAH PAGET

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 254, 2 November 1897, Page 6

A LOST WITNESS, OR THE MYSTERY OP LEAH PAGET

By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH, Author of "Shadowed by.Three," "A Slender Clue/ "Dangerous Ground," "Madeline Payne,:' " A Mountain Mystery," "The Diamond Coterie," " Romance of a iiomb Thrower," "Out of a Labyrinth."

CHAPTER XII. MR TALFOURD TAKES HIS STAND To a man in the position of Captain Connors, all men of note in this city, whether noted for good or evil, must necessarily become known to him, either personally or by reputation ; the word reputation meaning, in the case of a thoroughgoing Chief of Police, report, well-founded, and in many cases thoroughly investigated. But the father of Max Talfourd was known to Captain Connors even better than many of the other 'notables.' Indeed, it would have been strange if a man at once so bluff and so genial, so large-hearted and freehanded, so shrewd yet companionable, and so wealthy, were not Avell known, well loved, and well hated. So Mr Talfourd and the Chief, who came down from his desk platform, met as pleasant acquaintances meet ; tlxen sitting- opposite and very near each other, they settled themselves for their half-hour talk.

'After receiving- that Quixotic visit from my son, I do not suppose you are surprised to see me, Captain ?' began Mr Talfourd.

'No,' admitted the Chief ; 'and I am glad to see you.'

'Thank you, Connors. Of course, you can see how it is that I am interested in this affair. Ai'e you wiling —is there any reason why you should not talk with me freely about it ? You see, I come straight to the point.'

'There is no reason why I should not talk with you about it ; certainly not,' said the Chief, slowly. 'In fact, I am glad of this opportunity. May I ask if you have formed any opinion upon this subject ?'

'No. My mind is a blank.' The Chief looked grave, and, for a moment, both were silent.

'Then, I suppose, your sympathies are with the Pagets ?' 'My sympathies are with Leah Paget, which is only another way of Saying that they are with my son.'

Ag-ain, for a moment, the Chief meditated.

"Would you mind telling me how this came to your knowledge '?—the news of Miss Paget's disappearance— and how much you know of the affair —of the Pag-et family, and of your son's engagement ?'

'JS~o, I don't mind in the least. But I'll reverse the order of your questions. I know nothing1 of my son's engagement, except that it exists. My wife had more than half suspected it for some time, and had hinted her suspicions to me. For myself, I gave the matter little thought. I have always believed my boy to have a tolerably level head. Yesterday, he came to my wife and me, and told us, first, that Leah was missingl, and then, thatshe was his promised wife. TheJtoY is sadly ctvfc up.'' 'Yes|i,,-shoiild think so. However, he c£rfie<i?himself pretty well during his call hSgre.'

'Thanks,' said Mr Talfourd, smiling. 'I'm rather proud of my boy, and it tickles ray vanity, of course, to hear him praised. That's human nature, I suppose. Perhaps, before I answer your next question, I'd better tell you what happened yesterday when Max came home with his bad news. You must know that while we were discussing' the matter the girl's mother "appeared upon the scene," as they say in the play reviews.'

'What, Mr.; Paget ! If you'll give me an account of that—your son's Story and Mrs Paget's—give it in detail—l'll be obliged to you. Never mind the time ; one can't tell a story in a minute.'

'I'm more than willing to tell it,' responded Mr Talfourd.

And he did. When he came to the point in his narrative where Mrs Paget surprised them all by presenting' herself, he hesitated a moment. 'Now that I have come to Mrs Paget,' he said, 'I feel almost as if I was violating a confidence ; and yet, I'm not. Mrs Paget knows that 1 meant to pay you this visit.'

'Yes,' assented the Chief, rather tamely. He was too thoroughly an officer of the law to fully appreciate these scruples.

'To preface this part of my story, let me say that Mr I'aget and myself

are not on very friendly terms. The fault, I suppose, is mutual. The difference was caused by us getting an each other's way in a business transaction. Each wanted the same bit of property. I've almost forgotten the details. I don't suppose that matters to you, though ?'

'I don't see how it can, at present.'

'Nor I, unless for want of a clue to work upon you choose to turn eyes of suspicion upon me.' 'Upon yoii ?' the Chief exclaimed. 'Yes ; you might choose to fancy that for revenge upon Paget I had stolen his daughter, you know."

Mr Talfourd spoke smilingly, and the Chief laughed outright.

'Since you have suggested it, perhaps you'had better, tell \is who came out ahead in that little business transaction.'

'If you are always so thorough, Captain, you would lose many a pretty-looking clue. I believe 1 was the head, man that time. It was a principle with me always to win if I entered into any transaction. I did not care so much for the profit of the little speculation. Indeed, once the property was in my hands I was prepared to' be magnanimous, and offered to sell out to Paget at cost. But his Dutch was up. He wouldn't hear of it, oi course. Seriously, I never felt a shade of rancour after my first blaze cooled. I have no animosity where Paget is concerned.'

'Natural enough, the winning horse.'

that ! you were

'I was about to say,' Mr Talfourd resumed, 'that somehow we have met very seldom of late—Paget and I.

The ladies used to. exchange visits— I mean my wife and Mrs Paget—Mrs Paget. now and then, with her daughter—each ignoring the differences of their lords, as good women will. But lately that has fallen off somewhat. There has been no abatement of kindly feeling, however ; I am quite sure of that. I think it was, most likely, that certain' odd sort of womanly or motherly delicacy and pride which has kept them apart. They saw, or guessed, how the young people were drawing near each other. However this may have been, they are certainly on most cordial terms, how.' 'Yes ; misfortunes sometimes soften the'heart. And women —well, 1 suppose a good woman is always made better, if not happier, by the exercise of fortitude.' 'I believe so. Well, the question now is, will: misfortune soften the heart of Abner Paget ? I'll be in a position to. enlighten you soon, for I am going to see him at once!' 'I hope you will come to me immediately- after.' 'I will. And now I will go back to my original subject. . Mrs Paget,. it appears, was Avholly in her daughter's confidence, and she knew that Leah was engaged to my son. Of course it was a private engagement. It could not be otherwise.'

He paused, and the Chief said, earnestly, 'I wish you would tell me all you can about tr.is engagement.' 'I can tell very little. My son is progressive enough in some respects, but he is as punctilious in others as his old-fashioned father would have him. Feeling assured of the young lady's regard he asked her father for permission to pay his addresses.' •And it was given?' 'And it Avas denied him. His suit was roundly rejected in the good old Capulet fashion. Mr Paget had other views for his daughter. He forbade them so much as remaining friends.'

'And they disobeyed in the good old fashion?'

'Not at first, Max, of course, being once committed was committed, for all time. He held himself bound, but refused to so hold her, hoping that her father's unreasoning displeasure might pass away. I think the young fellow felt that better treatment was due to him. But. Mr Paget had another card to play. Shoi'tly after he forbade Leah to Max he bade her consent to receive the addresses of the other fellow.'

'And the other fellow —who is he?'

'Again I feel like a social sinner. I believe this is a breach of confidence. But no; it isn't. Mrs Paget told me to use the information she furnished as I thought fit. The name of the young1 man who has found favour' in Mr Paget's eyes is Frederick Quinlan.' • • ■ •■

'What! The son of E. G.? 'The same.'

The Chief of police pursed tip his lips as if about to whistle, thought better and coughed instead.

'What do you know of young Quinlan?' he asked after a moment's thought.

'Very little, except that lie is the only son of E. G. Quinlan. There are also daughters—two at least, for they are already in society.'

'Well, what was the result of the Quinlan wooing?'

,'Just what ( might have been expected from a spirited'girl like Leah Paget. She"-utterly refused to receive Quinlan and boldly declared for my son.' He paused and seemed as if considering something.

'Excuse me a moment,' said the Chief, rising. 'I want to send a message.'

Mr Talfourd nodded and the Chief went out and across the hall to a small office where an old man was writing- briskly at a high desk, and two or three young ones were seated at a.long narrow table, also engaged in writing.

'Has Cousin been in ag^ain?' the Chief asked of the ninn at the desk. 'Not yet, Captain,' replied the man, without stopping- his pen or looking up. 'Then I'll write a line for him.' He took a card and pencilled a few words upon it, standing beside the desk with one foot upon the edge of a chair and the card resting upon his knee. 'There,' he said, placing the card at. the old man's elbow ; that's for Cousin if he comes within twenty minutes. If he doesn't come within that time see to it yourself, Pappy. Only, if. you put it into other hands thaTi Cousin's cut off. the last four word at the bottom of the card. Tell Cousin that I'll see him later.'

The old mail nodded, and Captain Connors went back to his private office, to Mr Talfourd.

When the door had closed behind the Chief, the old man at the desk put his pen behind his ear, turned over the card, which lay with its blank side uppermost, and read it, the last line, of four words, first :

'In the Fagot case.'

Then the preceding1 lines

'Frederick Quinlan, sou of E.G.Q., look him.up -*- his character, habits, haunts, companions ; his aimisements, and standing', socially, and at the clubs. Put a shadow on him, and, if possible, get his photograph.'

(To be Continued.)