Part 48 (1/2)

While here he had fallen in with footpads who had sought to rob him.

CHAPTER x.x.xVII.

A JOYOUS MEETING.

By the time Colonel Dartwell's story was told he and Jerry had landed in the metropolis, and a hurried walk of a few minutes brought them to Nellie Ardell's apartment. Mrs. Flannigan was waiting for our hero, having put both of the children to bed.

”An' did ye find Miss Ardell?” she asked, quickly.

”No, Mrs. Flannigan. But I have found somebody else--the father of little Dottie.”

”Indade, now! An' ain't that noice'” she exclaimed, glancing at Colonel Dartwell's well-dressed figure. ”Well, the poor dear needs somebody, not but what she got good care here,” she added, hastily.

Tears stood in the colonel's eyes as he stepped up beside the bed upon which Dottie lay. He took the white-robed figure up in his arms and kissed her face.

”It is she,” he said, in a choking voice. ”The living picture of her dead mother!”

Dottie awoke with a start and was inclined to cry out. But Jerry and the colonel quickly soothed her.

”I am your papa, Dottie; don't you remember papa and big Ruth that used to be with you?”

The little girl looked puzzled. Then she gave a cry.

”Papa! papa! I know you! I knew you would come to me! Oh, papa, don't go away again! Crazy Jim said you were dead! Oh, papa!”

And she clung to him convulsively. It was such an affecting scene Jerry had to turn away, while Mrs. Flannigan, standing in the partly open doorway, shed copious tears.

An hour later the children had again retired, and the colonel and the young oarsman sat in the little kitchen talking.

”And you say you think Miss Ardell was abducted?” he said.

”I felt sure of it, sir. This Alexander Sloc.u.m wants to get her out of the way on account of some property he is holding back from her. I am interested in the same property.”

And Jerry told him the particulars of affairs so far as they concerned Sloc.u.m.

”If the land in question is near Sacramento it ought to be of great value,” said the colonel. ”Property in that section is booming.”

”I want to find Nellie Ardell, sir. I am afraid he will do her bodily harm. He might even kill her to get her out of the way.”

”I will help you all I can, Upton. You have done me a great service, and I certainly owe the young lady much for taking my child in and caring for her.”

Our hero and the colonel went over the matter carefully for fully an hour and decided to start on a hunt as soon as it grew light. The colonel offered to employ a detective and this offer Jerry readily accepted.

Jerry pa.s.sed several hours trying to sleep, and at the first sign of dawn was up and dressed. The colonel had rested in an arm-chair, not caring to separate himself from his child by going to a hotel.

Mrs. Flannigan was again called upon and readily agreed to take charge of Tommy and Dottie once more. She took them to her own rooms and was cautioned about letting strangers in.

”Don't fear, they'll not take 'em from me,” she said, and in such a determined way that Jerry was compelled to laugh.