Out of a Labyrinth

in these chronicles, seemed in less of a hurry than usual, and I, stretched lazily across two seats, with my left arm in a sling, was be

! I, who prided myself upon my skill in my profession; I, who was counted by my chief the "best detective on the force, sir,"-had started, less than

to the midst of those comfortable, easy-going farmers; and I had been spotted at the very outset! I had been first warned, in a gentlemanly but anonymou

is how it

nything bearing closer resemblance to a grove than the thrifty orc

oved" and often exquisitely ugly, white painted dwellings; the blacksmith shop, operated by a thrifty farmer and his hard-fisted sons; the post-office, kept in one corner

ve miles west of Groveland's western boundary line; and the ne

nto themselves, and were seldom distur

tants had "squatted" there when the land was chea

barns "good enough to live in," orchards, vineyards, all manner of comforts and blessings. Strong sons and fair daughters had grown up around them; every man knew his neighbor

have a secret in Groveland, and

in the very center of the township. His family consisted of his wife, two daughters

accomplishments go in such communities. Much learning was not considered a necessity among the Groveland young ladies, but they had been smit

Groveland, and they had also profited for a time by the ins

wing, as she was familiarly called, mounted her pony and c

drive miles and pass the night or a longer time with the daughte

ensuing day, but the eldest daugh

ning meal in peace, confident that his daughter would return before the nigh

on the morning of the second day he dispatched hi

s since the night she left home. She had complained of a headache, and had decided to return hom

r that, and not a clue to her hiding-p

impossible theory was "evolved" and worked

the most horrible and most absurd were afloat; nothing was

assed. At the end of that ti

tallest trees, sang loudest in the singing-school, and laughed oftenest at the merry-makings, also vanished. At first they t

etimes singing gayly, sometimes bending over a rosebush, sometimes sna

was scoured. Every foot of road, every acre of ground, every hedge or clump of trees, e

ok counsel of each other, and decided to call in the aid of a city detect

is matter, it's Bathurst,"

alled into the

dit to the brightest lawyer. Every phase of the affair, or the two affairs, was closel

, safely stowed away, the names of many Grovelanders, together with various minute, and seemingly irre

And I felt assured that no word or sign from them would betray my identit

r me; one of the sort that once entered upon, absorbed me soul and body, s

rect route to reach my destination, but went by a circuitous way to a small town west of th

it, and I carried my wardrobe in a somewhat du

search of employment, and my accent and

ss, and being as often very briefly dismissed, or ordered off for a tram

d looked for work, and how I had been willing to labor for very small wages. But when I arrived at the point where I represented myself as now willing to work for my board until I could do better, her eyes brighte