"You wouldn't know if I should tell you," said Jones; "so I may as well say that I came out to San Francisco with Orton Campbell."

 

"Orton Campbell in the city?" exclaimed Dewey, apprehensively. "Had he anything to do with the disappearance of Miss Douglas?"

 

"Everything, sir; but I can't tell you about it in the street. I will go with you to your hotel."

 

"Tell me on the way," said Richard Dewey. "First, has any harm befallen Florence--Miss Douglas?"

 

"None as yet."

 

"Is any threatened?"

 

"The loss of her liberty; but I will help you to thwart Orton Campbell."

 

Jones told the story, which need not be repeated here, as it is already known to the reader. He had difficulty in restraining Mr. Dewey from starting out instantly to the rescue of the young lady, but on his representing that she was safe, and that it would be soon enough to go out in the morning, Richard Dewey yielded.

 

A little before eight o'clock, Jones, driving the same carriage in which he had conveyed Florence to her place of captivity, halted in front of Mrs. Bradshaw's dwelling.

 

"Remain in the carriage, Mr. Dewey," he said, "and I will see if I can't secure the young lady without any fuss."

 

"Won't it be better for me to accompany you?"

 

"I think not, sir. Mrs. Bradshaw knows I am the one who brought Miss Douglas here, and she will think it is all right. Stay!" he continued, with a sudden thought. "I have an idea. Mr. Campbell told Mrs. Bradshaw that the young lady was insane. I will make her think that you are the doctor from the asylum come to take Miss Douglas back with you."

 

"Did Orton Campbell really intend such an outrage?" asked Richard Dewey, in a tone of horror.

 

"Yes, if Miss Douglas wouldn't consent to marry him."

 

"Go, then, and lose no time."

 

Jones knocked at the door, which was opened by Mrs. Bradshaw in person. She naturally regarded Jones with surprise, not anticipating so early a call.

 

"How is Miss Douglas?" he asked.

 

"Very contrary," answered the landlady. "I can't get her to eat. It's my belief she means to starve herself."

 

"It's a crazy freak," said Jones, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I've come to take her away."

 

"To take her away--so soon?" asked Mrs. Bradshaw, in surprise.

 

"Yes, Mr. Orton thought it best."

 

"Is he with you?"

 

"No."

 

"I think I see some one in the carriage."

 

"To be sure. It's the mad doctor from the asylum. Don't let Miss Douglas know it," continued Jones, lowering his voice, "or she wouldn't consent to go with us."

 

"I see," answered the landlady, nodding. "Do you want to go up now?"

 

"Yes; let me see her alone, so that I can tell her a story which will quiet her suspicions."

 

"Mr. Campbell hasn't paid me all he promised yet," said Mrs. Bradshaw, rather uneasily.

 

"Oh, that's all right," said Jones. "He never forgets his promise--and seldom keeps it," he said to himself.

 

Florence was sitting on the lounge in her room in rather a despondent state of mind when the door opened, and she looked up, expecting to see Orton Campbell.

 

Jones closed the door behind him, and then, putting his hand over his lips, said, "Miss Douglas, I bring you good news."

 

"Are you not the man who brought me out here yesterday?"

 

"The same one."

 

"Then how have you the face to show yourself in my presence?"

 

"Because I am come to free you from your imprisonment."

 

Florence started to her feet in some excitement. "If this were true!" she exclaimed. "But no; you are an agent of Orton Campbell, and this is some new trick of his."

 

"I was an agent of Orton Campbell, but he deceived me, and I am his enemy."

 

"Is he with you?" asked Florence, suspiciously.

 

"No; but in the carriage outside is one whom you will be glad to meet."

 

"Who is it?"

 

"Richard Dewey."

 

"You brought me a note from him which he never wrote. How do you expect me to believe you now?"

 

"If he is not there, don't get into the carriage. Not a word to Mrs. Bradshaw. She is in the employ of Mr. Campbell, who represented you as insane, and I told her that Mr. Dewey, whom I did not dare to bring in, was a doctor from the insane asylum."

 

"............