It was Mrs. Kennedy who spoke². The non-appearance of Gertrude had worried her greatly, and she had visited Van Pelt, to learn that Nelson was also missing.

 

"I don't know what to make of it," answered George Van Pelt. "Nelson went after Billy Darnley, who robbed our stand. Perhaps he has met with foul³ play."

 

"Could our Gertrude have met with foul play at Lakewood?"

 

"I shouldn't think so. She knew where she was going, didn't she?"

 

"To be sure—to a Mrs. Broaderick's; she read the letter to me herself."

 

"Perhaps Mrs. Broaderick asked her to stay over," said Van Pelt. "I can't think of anything else."

 

While the pair were talking Mrs. Kennedy happened to look up the street.

 

[Pg 258]

 

"Here comes Nelson now!" she cried suddenly.

 

She was right, and soon our hero was at the stand, and shaking each by the hand.

 

"I feel as if I've been on a long trip," he said, with a broad smile.

 

"Where have you been?" questioned Van Pelt and Mrs. Kennedy in a breath, and then he told them his story, and also told of what had happened to Gertrude.

 

"The dirty villain⁴!" cried Mrs. Kennedy, referring to Bulson. "He ought to be put in prison. But the poor girl's troubles are over now."

 

Then she told of how Mark Horton wanted his niece to come back to him.

 

"Perhaps he wants her back, and perhaps this is another trick," said Nelson. "After this I am going to help guard her more than ever."

 

"Where is she now?"

 

"At home. She doesn't know what to do. She thinks of calling on her uncle—to warn him against Bulson. We've got an idea the man is poisoning his uncle in order to get the entire fortune."

 

"Those books on poison——" began Van Pelt.

分享到：