Disappeared From Her Home: A NovelPirkis, Catherine Louisa
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Disappeared From Her Home: A Novel
Pirkis, Catherine Louisa
Detective and mystery stories; Missing persons -- Fiction
He was soon joined by Detective Hill. “So sir,” he said, “it is all
over, and there is little more we can do beyond setting a watch on the
house and the woman there.”
“How so,” exclaimed Frank, “do you suspect she is mixed up in the
affair? To me she seemed an honest sort of person, although somewhat of
a fanatic.”
“So she is, sir, a really good woman I believe, a sort of a mission
woman, I think they call her, connected with the Plymouth Brethren. I
have, however, made a few enquiries about her, and I find that she was
at one time engaged to be married to Tom Williams, but gave him up on
account of the dissolute life he was leading. For his sake I suspect
she has shown all this kindness to Lucy, and I think it more than
probable that the fellow not hearing from his sister will endeavour to
communicate with her through this woman.”
“Then it has not been altogether time wasted in following the girl
here? I was beginning to lose heart again, and to imagine that once
more the clue had slipped through our fingers. You mean to have this
woman watched, Mr. Hill. Very good. May I ask you to allot this task to
me? I cannot rest, I must be doing something, you know.”
“Pardon me, sir, the man has already been chosen for the work. Your
presence in this neighbourhood is unwise, and arouses suspicion, and
instead of being the watcher, you would be the one watched. A man of
their own class must do the work. The man I have chosen is the postman
on this beat. He is an old ally and friend of mine, and has taken a
room opposite No. 15 for the purpose. We must pay him well, sir, that’s
all, and we may count on a minute report of Miss Kempe’s daily doings;
including, as a matter of course, the first foreign or country letter
she receives.”
“Very well, you must do things your own way, I suppose. But what about
the Liverpool police, are they on the watch for the man? Is there
nothing I can do there? I dare say,” added Frank, apologetically, “you
think me a confounded fool, but I must be doing something. I think I
must start off for Chicago, Australia, or somewhere! If you can’t find
work for me, I must find it for myself.”
“But why go so far, sir? You may be of more use nearer home. Only one
thing I must beg of you, leave this neighbourhood at once. If these
people get it into their heads that they are watched, our difficulties
will be increased tenfold. I can’t say for certain,” the Detective
added, reflectively, “but it’s just possible you might be of use at
Liverpool. I can give you the names of one or two chums of Tom
Williams, and if you can contrive to get it known among them that Lucy
has died, and left her brother her clothes and savings, it will, no
doubt, reach the fellow’s ears, and the bait may draw. You see, these
people are sharp enough to know the difference between a detective and
a gentleman, and would be more likely to attach faith to a report
coming through you, than from Scotland Yard.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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