CHAPTER XXVIII.
AN INTERESTING MEETING.
Franklin was almost certain that if he followed Montague Smith and Captain Cosgrove and their strange companion, he would learn of something which would be of importance to Belden Brice. The young electrician understood by this time that the complications concerning the doings of the H. Y. Smith Electrical Co. involved not only the men mentioned above, but also Mrs. Bliss and her erratic brother Wilbur, and hearing Mrs. Bliss's name mentioned, had had much to do with starting him off after the trio.
The three men disappeared around a near corner, and then hurried off in the direction of the beautiful park which fronts the lake. They lost no time in traversing the park, and then, turning to the west, entered one of the most quiet, but select streets of the city.
Franklin could see that the three men were holding an earnest conversation, but could not get close enough to overhear what was being said, having no desire to be discovered. He followed in the shadow of the many shade trees which lined the way, and kept this up until the two men came to a halt before a large residence set back among numerous trees and shrubs.
"Here we are," he heard the stranger say. "Will the captain go in?"
"I'll go in, Fipher, certainly," returned Captain Cosgrove. "You don't suppose I took that long walk for nothing."
"I didn't know but what you only wanted to hear what I had to say," returned Nathan Fipher. "It won't do no good for you to see Mrs. Bliss."
"Perhaps it will—after I've had a talk with her," put in Montague Smith. "He can stay in the parlor first."
The doorbell was rung, and a girl answered the summons. They entered the residence, and then the door was closed, and Franklin saw and heard no more.
By this time the curiosity of the young electrician was aroused to a greater pitch than ever. This was the place where Walter Robinson's relative lived, the woman who was most likely little Cora's aunt. He wondered what business Montague Smith and the others could have with her.
Franklin was on the point of entering the garden and reconnoitering, with a view to obtaining a place where he might see or hear what was going on; but, just as his hand was on the gate, the girl who had opened the front door came out with a pail of water and a broom, and began to wash off the front and then the side piazza, and thus he was kept at a distance for the time being.
Nearly three quarters of an hour passed, and then Montague Smith and Captain Cosgrove came out, followed by Nathan Fipher, who carried a large bundle under his arm.
"We can arrange all those matters when we are on the boat," he heard the captain of the Sunflower say. "There won't be any use of moving until this evening."
"You are right there," returned Montague Smith. "The darkness is what we want," and then he and his companions started away up the street.
At first Franklin thought to follow them, but changed his mind. He fancied he knew where he could find them later on, and just now he was determined to interview Mrs. Bliss, and learn from her whatever he could, concerning matters on hand.
With a heart that was beating just a trifle faster than was its usual wont, the young electrician marched up upon the front piazza and rang the bell.
"I would like to see Mrs. Bliss," he said to the girl when she came.
"Wha—what's that?" stammered the servant, for such she was, and she stared hardly at Franklin.
"I wish to see Mrs. Bliss," he continued. "Mr. Smith was just here, was he not?"
"Ye-as, sir; but he's gone, sir."
"Gone, eh? Well, never mind, I will see Mrs. Bhss, anyway," returned Franklin, as coolly as he could, although the part he was playing excited him not a little.
His cool manner threw the girl off her guard, and she at once allowed him to enter. She was careful, however, to bolt and lock the door behind him, and Franklin noted that she placed the key in her pocket.
This latter action aroused his suspicions. Why had she done this?—to keep him there until she was ready to let him go? He smiled at the thought, for he fancied that he could easily escape by a window if he washed to flee.
"Mrs. Bliss is in the front room on the third floor," said the girl. "Do you know her?"
"I know of her," replied Franklin, and, without pausing for further questioning, he ran up two flights of stairs, and knocked on the first door he came to.
"Who is there?" came a rather weak voice from within.
"Is that Mrs. Bliss?" questioned Franklin.
"Yes."
"I am a friend of Walter Robinson. May I come in?"
"A friend of Walter!" cried the woman joyfully. "Certainly you can come in."
Franklin at once tried the door. It was locked. This was another surprise. Was it possible that Montague Smith and the man called Fipher kept Mrs. Bliss a prisoner.
"I believe you will find the key on the nail," called out Mrs. Bliss. "They generally leave it there."
Franklin looked around and found the nail referred to, but it was empty.
"I will be back shortly," he called out, and ran downstairs two steps at a time, wondering how this strange adventure into which he had fallen was going to end.
In the lower hallway he met the girl, who was deliberating about following him up.
"I want the key to Mrs. Bliss' room," he said sharply.
"Yes, sir. But I—I—Mr. Fipher's orders—" she stammered.
"Never mind Mr. Fipher's orders. Give me the key; I am in a hurry."
"Yes, sir. Please, sir, I'm a new girl here, and I don't want to get into any trouble, sir," and the girl looked as if ready to cry.
"You won't get into any trouble through me," returned Franklin, more kindly. "But I can't understand what you have Mrs. Bliss locked up for."
"Mr. Fipher says she has spells when she ain't right in her mind, sir."
"Has she had any spells like that since you have been here?"
"No, sir. She's generally very mild like, sir."
Franklin took the key and said no more. He was up the stairs a minute later, and had the door to the room unlocked.
When he entered the apartment he found Mrs. Bliss standing waiting for him. She was quite an old lady, with white hair and a sad but rather sweet face. Franklin could not help but notice the resemblance between her and little Cora. Surely the two must be related.
"And so you are Walter's friend," she said, as she caught him by both hands. "And did he send you to me?"
"No, madam; but I heard of you through him," replied Franklin, "and as I was in Milwaukee, I thought I would come and see you," he went on, hardly knowing how to get at what was in his mind.
"I am glad some one has come to see me," she said, gratefully. "Sit down. I presume you know Mr. Fipher."
"No, I do not."
"Then how did you manage to get in here?" she cried, with great curiosity.
"The girl let me in. I spoke to her as if I had the right to come in. Somehow, I got the idea that all was not right here."
"Indeed, it is not right!" cried Mrs Bliss, her breast heaving with sudden emotion. "Why, they actually keep me a prisoner here, saying I'm not in my right mind."
"Who keeps you a prisoner—Mr. Fipher?"
"Yes. But he is merely working for Montague Smith. Do you know that man?"
"Yes."
"He is a heartless villain!" Mrs. Bliss dropped into a chair and burst into tears. "Oh. my young friend, will you help me to escape from here?"
"Certainly I will," returned Franklin, promptly. "They have no right to keep you a prisoner here."
"No, you are right. But do you know why they do it?" cried the woman, passionately. "They do it because I know their secret. Shall I tell you what it is? Montague Smith hired a man out in the east to kill my brother Wilbur. They did it to get possession of Wilbur's valuable patents and inventions. They made away with my poor brother, and now Montague Smith and this other man—Price, or Brice, or whatever his name is—are living upon their ill-gotten gains."