"Yes--a big sum, and likewise nearly all the money I then possessed. I immediately took up the trail, but egad! 'twas no use. The girl is sharper than lightning, and eluded me at every turn. I found that her destination was Eastward--doubtless to join her evil genius--and so I telegraphed to Chicago and St. Louis for the detectives to look out, and intercept her, if possible. But all to no avail. She was seen in those places, but owing to some irregularity beyond my comprehension, was not captured. When I arrived in Chicago, I found that she had two days before left the city, Eastward bound. I trailed her to Philadelphia, and there lost all track of her. Thinking quite likely she would come to this summer resort, I came on, to-day, in hopes of striking the trail, but all to no avail. I have as yet heard of no clew to her whereabouts." "Vel, dot ish purdy bad," Fritz assented. "Vot ish your name?" "My name is Thornton--I am a mining speculator from Leadville, Colorado." "Und your daughter's name vos--?" "Madge. She is a pretty young maiden, aged eighteen, and left her home very well dressed." "Und der feller vot vas pocketing der money--vot vos his name?" "It is hard to guess what his true name was. At Leadville he was called Pirate Johnson--at Pueblo he was known as Griffith Gregg." "Gregg--Gregg?" Fritz said, meditatively. "I am on the look-out for a man by that name. But my man is a smuggler." "This villain may be connected with any nefarious piece of rascality. If I only had him here one or the other of us would get laid out--that is as good as sworn to. God only knows what perils my poor child will pass through before I succeed in finding her, if I ever do." "Vel, I reckon ve can find her, uff der ish such a t'ing in der dictionary," Fritz asserted. He then went on to relate the particulars of his assisting the lady on the boat, and of the marriage in the cave, which excited Mr. Thornton greatly. "By Heaven! I see through it all! Madge Thurston is no more or less than my daughter, and she has wedded this rascal, Atkins, who is one and the same person who was the Gregg or Johnson out West. God forbid that my child is married to such a wretch. Describe him." Fritz obeyed, giving a description according as he remembered the bridegroom--also of the man who took Madge Thurston from the hotel. "The latter was undoubtedly Gregg," the speculator declared, "and the other also, was, it is likely, disguised for the occasion, with a false beard. Now, Fritz, I want you to help me find my child, and break the neck of this rascal, and you shall have for reward the sum I promised you. We'll search this world high and dry but what we'll recover my child. Come, let's seek a conveyance to take us to the cave." They accordingly went back to the Hotel Brighton, ate dinner, and afterward secured a carriage and set out for the scene of the strange wedding the night before.