Page:Life in Java Volume 2.djvu/157

 MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. 141

them ; and having thus, as he thought, secured his safety, he retiirned to look over his unlawful gains.

Several weeks passed withovit a shadow of sus- picion of this infamous murder. The wretch, con- fident in his safety, and fearing no detection, pur- sued his wicked course of life as actively as ever.

In the meantime, the friends and relations of the murdered women began to grow very uneasy at their lengthened stay from home, and to make in- quiries about them. In none of the villages near had they been seen for weeks, but many had ob- served them enter Djokdja, and some had even bought goods from them. No one, however, had seen either the one or the other leave the j)lacc, nor did any one remember his having seen them after tlic day of their arrival.

This mysterious disaj)pearance, which l^cgan to be the princi])al topic of conversation, at hist came to the knowledge of the poHce. A knot of idlers were one day discussing the matter opposite the

�� �