Part 50 (1/2)

What was he to do? He ht set a detective to try and find the cabman who took them away, but it would be days before he could have the ht idea

The hotel where Isabel had been staying--the er there would knohere she and her father and

He took a cab there, but the ht the old people went abroad, and the young lady went into private apartments

”But their letters--where were their letters to be addressed?”

”To their country house, sir”

Chester hurried away again Perhaps soht be raphed down to the person in charge of the house, paying for a reply to be sent to Raybeck Square, to which place he returned, and paced his room for two hours before he obtained the brief reply:--

”Address not known They have not written yet--Susan”

”Was any poor wretch ever so tortured by fate?” he muttered; and he threw hi out the address to which he had sent Marion

At last, faint, and with his brain in a whirl, he sought for tes in one of the bottles of drugs in his consulting-room

But the ordinary dose seemed to have no effect, and he repeated it at intervals twice before he sank into a state of lethargy fro back in a corner of the couch, with the three servants gathered in consultation

”Yes,” he cried wildly, ”what is it?--what is the htened us It's past eleven o'clock, and ere going to send for a doctor,” said the parlour- the matter I was tired out, and overslept myself Here, stop! Has--has Miss Laura come back?”

”No, sir”

”That will do Go away”

”Hadn't you better have a cup o' tea, sir?” said the cook, suggesting the universal panacea

”No, no!” he cried, so fiercely that the servants backed out, and the wretched , confused head sink into his hands while he tried to collect his thoughts

But it was in vain He bathed his temples, went into the breakfast-rooust, and finally turned to the drug again

”This can't go on,” he muttered; ”the human brain cannot stand it

Months of strain now, and my position worse than ever And even now the policevainly toat the front door, for he went back to his consulting-room, to sit with his head in his hands; neither did he hear the conversation going on after the closely-veiled lady who rang had been admitted

”Gone! You think Miss Laura will not return?”

”I don't think so htful silence