CHAPTER XXVIII [Continued.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 318, 21 November 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXVIII [Continued.)

*Weli>, well, well, wonders will neveV cease. Its is a strangely romantic tale, young man. But how about your own father ?'-' questioned the farmer. .■ ""* That, is a mystery which I came here to try to solve, Geoffrey returned, looking troubled, for heseemed to be no Tiearer the" solution than ever. ' All that I really know about my father is that he was called Captaid William Dale, and that he at on 9 time owned shares in some of the mines of New Mexico, where my mother died. I have • been there trying to gain some brace of him, j but without success.~ Then I came on here hoping to learn something of him through people who had known the Henleys. I thought it probable that he would come here, sometimes, to see me as he had previously been in the habit of doing, and, finding that I had disappeared, would leave his address so that; he could be informed if anything was learned of my fate.' 4He has been here,' the farmer replied, * he came only about two months after Mrs Henley left. I saw him and conversed with him. He appeared to be- overwhelmed with grief upon learning of your strange disappearance. He instituted inquiries, offering a reward of five thousand dollars for your recovery, living, or one thousand for positive proot of your death, and under' those circumstances I have often wondered why some clue to your fote was not ascertained. ' Geoffrey did not think it strange. He knevr that no one would have recognised in the poor- little imbecile whom Jack Henley had cared for, the bright, happy child who had "been Margery's joy and pride. * . He was touched, too, by the evidence of his father's interest in and love for him, and yet it seemed inexplicable; for, if the man whom' he had met at Sai'atoga was his father, and he was anxious to find him, as the farmer said, why should he have avoided him as he had done ? •But did he leave no address? 1 he eagerly questioned. 'There was something a little queer about that,' said the farmer, ' for he did not give any,- really. I asked him where a communication would reach him, and he replied thai anything directed simply to Lock Box 43, Santa Fe, ' U-ould be all thai was necessary.' Geoffrey's face..fell at this. ' Lock Box 43, Santa Fe,' he repeated, thoughtfully * and that was all ?' •That was all; but perhaps the man didn't want his name known all over the country in connection with this tragedy here,* suggested his host. 'Thab is so', Gdbff returned, brightening, but he said to himself that he would yet know who had held that Post-office box in Santa Fe, twenty years ago, if it was in the 'power of man to discover it. ' Has be ever been here since? he asked, alter a pause. ' Yes, twice ; and the last time he remarked, ' I shall never see the cbild a^ain —I believe he is dead.' ' • What was the date of his last visit ?' ''Lock 86x~43 is a slender thread to lead to much, but I'll follow it until it breaks," he said to himself, as he went on his way.