A LOST WITNESS, OR THE MYSTERY OF LEAH PAGET

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 258, 6 November 1897, Page 6

A LOST WITNESS, OR THE MYSTERY OF LEAH PAGET

BY LAWRENCE L. LYNCH,

Mvetory," "The Diamond Coterie," " Komatice of a Bomb Thrower, .Out of a Labyrinth.

CHAPTER XVII. BEWITCHED. Po'lv Cousin was nothing if he was Po.lJ ]d be discreetly *? r and suftiv talkative, each as 2 looked u P and Balt:. P „^+ if my questions are painfamilv or your wife s, insanity ? wlwm looking at Mr Paget, but l^JiS certain that the white and.; lying rtpa the sable folda of "Mr* Yolnev's sown moved slightly, as ilVdr owner had started suddenly and then as suddenly brought herself back to stillness. « Insanity!' cried Abner Paget. •Good heavens, no!' •Then you think there is no possibility that Miss Paget, m a fit of temporary aberration, may have wandered from her home? 'Gracious powers! cried Paget. No, I say! Leah Paget is no more likely to have become insane than I am. _ 'Very strange things happen, said Cousin, making a straight man. across certain words in his note-book. 'There have been instances wnen evenly-balanced persons have suddenly lost their reason. A fall, a blow on 'the head, may have been the cause—' He paused. Mrs Volney was looking at him earnestly. _ 'Do you mean,' she began, in her low even tones, 'that she may have been hurt in some way, and been taken insensible, perhaps, in charge by someone, or—' 'She- paused. Abner Paget had arisen, suddenly and was nervously pacing the room. Cousin's eyes followed him as he answered her unfinished question. 'If such athing has happened, which is barely possible, we shall soon know. *That sort of thing can be easily ferreted out. The best work of our city detectives is directly in that line.'

He glanced again at his note-book. 'Pardon me, Mr Paget, these questions are necessary. Plas there been of late, or at any time, any difference or misunderstanding between Miss Paget and—any member of your famly?'

Mr Paget stopped his walk and turned to face the questioner. 'There are but three members of this family.' he said curtly. Between my wife and my daughter perfect confidence has always existed. Between myself and my daughter there was a difference—' In the momentary pause the c.yes of Mrs Volney were, turned. full upon him— 'but It was m ot sufficient to cause her to leave'my- Some—lief' home.'

Again he paused. Mrs Yolney was still intently regarding him. But the interviewer remained silent, and his eyes were upon his note-book.

'Oar difference was not an uncommon one between parent and child,' Mr Paget resumed. 'It was concerning her choice of a young man of whom, as a suitor for her hand, I could not approve.' His eyes met those of Mrs Volney's as if this was a subject she quite understood. 'Yes,' said Cousin, T am already aware of that. Have you no suspicion that she may have left her !ome because of this?'

Mr Paget waved a hand toward the lady.

'Women understand women,' he said stiffly, 'and Mrs Volney knows my daughter well. Let us have her Opinion.' :Leah never left her home and her mother for such a cause,' the lady said slowly, btit with decision.

Again Polly Cousin fell back upon his note-book and meditation, and his reflections were something like this:

'Here is a man who is reserved to his own hurt. I may as well hope to draw information from one of his bronze busts over the doorway. And here, as a friend of the family and of the missing girl, is the fairest, the stillest, the most self-contained woman I ever met. Each is a slight clamper, perhaps, upon the communicativeness of the other. This will be a fruitless interview unless I can separate them.' He slowly fingered his note-book, and, turning to Mr Paget, began a list of questions concerning his lost daughter. 'What were her tastes, in jnnsic, for instance, and was she fond of reading? What were her habits? Did she walk much, and if so, where to? Was she at all venturesome? Did she often visit the parks? Did she drive and ride frequently? Was she fond of yachting? Was she connected with any charitable societies? Was she apt to notice upon the street children, beggar, etc.? Was she enthusiastic, was she courageous, was she approachable?' These questions, and many others, he asked and the two answered. Then, suddenly, he Shut up his note-book and arose.

'Mr Paget,' he caid, 'you must Understand that where there is absolutely no clue to work from we must first inform ourselves as fully as possible of personal characteristics and personal matters and then begin to construct theories. You are sure that your daughter had no sufficient motive for abandoning her home, and we are already prepared to believe, for many reasons, that she did not abandon " her home voluntarily. Now, there are two or three possibilities. I will merely name them to jo\i, and you may think them over. Sometimes a man like yourself of property and extended influence makes an enemy. In the career of a successful business man this 3s pretty sure to happen. Havo yon ever made such an enemy? Is there anywhere, to your knowledge, anyone, man or woman, who

has breathed a menace against you or yours—years ago, perhaps? This is not a time to hesitate from motives of pride or from false delicacy. If you have ever had an enemy, or if your wife or daughter has any reason to fear one, you will do well to make it known to us—to Captain Connors, Your daughter is beautiful, they say, May she not have made in some dincarded suitor or unsuccessful rival a foe to be feared? . I do not wish a» answer to these questions. now. But I ask you to think, and as soon a§ possible talk with your wife. Do not ! keep back the slightest hint, the i vaguest suspicion. The very thing ■ that you might consider hardly wortft \ a thought may be just tho clue we j need.' j Cousin's spp.ee"' - it Md reached its end ' :eed tw© | effects, each a r 5 him, Jt j had caused Abncv i drop iftta | the nearest ck-nr' ij at the j brusque speaker, ■• the pride i and haughtiness go:-; of his feee. lit had brought Mrs Voh-.cy to her feet ! and half-way across the room, where i she stood with her hands locked toI gether, her lips parted, and her eyes fixed eagerly upon the young man's face. For a moment all were silent, mev^ i less. Then Mrs Volney came swiftly jto the side of Mr Paget, and resting lone hand upon his shoulder said: 'Mr Paget, I beseech, you, listen to what this young man has said! Heed him! He knows of what he speaks. He can help us lam sure.' Then, without turning or even glancing at I Cousin, she consulted a tiny watch, I'l must go, but I shall soon com© ! again. Good-bye, Mr Paget.' She extended her hand. He took it listlessfy and without rising. As he released it she turned toward Cousin, bowed, and then, as if by some sudden inspiration, swept up to him and put out her hand. 'We shall expect much from you,' she said, with her eyes upon his face. 'Good day, sir.'

And as Percy Cousin stood reddening and dazed, she bowed again and swept to the door, which Abner Paget, suddenly recovering himself, hastened to open for her exit.

When Mr Paget closed the door and came back to his place Cousin had put away his note-book and was standing hat in hand as if waiting for his host to speak. But Mr Paget was silent. .

If you have nothing to suggest—! began Cousin.

'Nothing,' broke in Mr Paget sharply; 'nothing whatever.'

Then I will go.' Cousin walked toward the door, but paused upon the threshold. 'I shall not be likely to interview you again, Mr Paget,' he said quietly. 'You will communicate when you have anything to say with Captain Connors.'

He bowed formally and Mr Paget responded stiffly without quitting his place.

When Cousin reached the street a handsome close coupe was turning away from the carriage steps, and he raised his hat as he saw the fair face of Mrs Volney looking out.

Instantly her hand was lifted in a gesture meant to detain him, and the coupe turned and was again drawn up to the pavement.

'Will you take a seat with me sir?' said the soft voice of the lady as she leaned out toward him. T am goingdown town.' And then, while Cousin seemed to hesitate, she added almost in a whisper, 'Oblige me, please. I want to talk with you.'

Those splendid eyes were rested upon his burning face. There was a note of appeal in her voice. Dimly, dizzily conscious of own akwardness, and with all the blood in his body, itseemed to him, surging towards his face, Cousin entered the coupe. (To be Continued.)