A Strange Disappearance | Page 9

so, I was struck with the distance with which the
picture stood out from the wall, and thought to myself that the
awkwardness of the framing came near marring the beauty of this
otherwise lovely work of art. As for the likeness I was in search of, I
found it or thought I did, in the expression of the eyes which were of
the same color as Mr. Blake's but more full and passionate; and
satisfied that I had exhausted all the picture could tell me, I turned to
make what other observations I could, when I was startled by
confronting the agitated countenance of Mrs. Daniels who had entered
behind me.
"This is Mr. Blake's room," said she with dignity; "no one ever intrudes
here but myself, not even the servants."
"I beg pardon," said I, glancing around in vain for the something which
had awakened that look of satisfaction in Mr. Gryce's eyes. "I was
attracted by the beauty of this picture visible through the half open door
and stepped in to favor myself with a nearer view. It is very lovely. A
sister of Mr. Blake?"
"No, his cousin;" and she closed the door after us with an emphasis that
proclaimed she was anything but pleased.
It was my last effort to obtain information on my own account. In a few
moments later Mr. Gryce appeared from below, and a conversation
ensued with Mrs. Daniels that absorbed my whole attention.
"You are very anxious, my man here tells me, that this girl should be

found?" remarked Mr. Gryce; "so much so that you are willing to
defray all the expenses of a search?"
She bowed. "As far as I am able sir; I have a few hundreds in the bank,
you are welcome to them. I would not keep a dollar back if I had
thousands, but I am poor, and can only promise you what I myself
possess; though--" and her cheeks grew flushed and hot with an
unnatural agitation--"I believe that thousands would not be lacking if
they were found necessary. I--I could almost swear you shall have
anything in reason which you require; only the girl must be found and
soon."
"Have you thought," proceeded Mr. Gryce, utterly ignoring the
wildness of these statements, "that the girl may come back herself if let
alone?"
"She will come back if she can," quoth Mrs. Daniels.
"Did she seem so well satisfied with her home as to warrant you in
saying that?"
"She liked her home, but she loved me," returned the woman steadily.
"She loved me so well she would never have gone as she did without
being forced. Yes," said she, "though she made no outcry and stopped
to put on her bonnet and shawl. She was not a girl to make a fuss. If
they had killed her outright, she would never have uttered a cry."
"Why do you say they?"
"Because I am confident I heard more than one man's voice in her
room."
"Humph! Would you know those voices if you heard them again?"
"No."
There was a surprise in this last negative which Mr. Gryce evidently
noticed.

"I ask," said he, "because I have been told that Mr. Blake lately kept a
body servant who has been seen to look at this girl more than once,
when she has passed him on the stairs."
Mrs. Daniels' face turned scarlet with rage and she hastily rose from the
chair. "I don't believe it," said she; "Henry was a man who knew his
place, and--I won't hear such things," she suddenly exclaimed; "Emily
was--was a lady, and--"
"Well, well," interposed Mr. Gryce soothingly, "though the cat looks at
the king, it is no sign the king looks at the cat. We have to think of
everything you know."
"You must never think of anything like that."
Mr. Gryce softly ran his thumb around the brim of the hat he held in his
hand. "Mrs. Daniels," observed he, "it would greatly facilitate matters if
you would kindly tell us why you take such an interest in this girl. One
glimpse at her real history would do more towards setting us on the
right track than anything else you could offer."
Her face assumed an unmistakable frown. "Have I not told you," said
she, "what is known of it? That she came to me about two years ago for
work; that I liked her, and so hired her; that she has been with us ever
since and--"
"Then you will not tell us?" exclaimed Mr. Gryce.
Her face fell and a look of hesitation crossed it.
"I doubt if we can do anything unless you do," continued he.
Her countenance settled again into a resolved expression.
"You are mistaken," said she; "if the girl had a