etgenr wrkki y
e oetoeetotoe«0*aote»»«eo
w toee-e
»rxo^oee? . -
J
- ——X-
■
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~ ■-----------
J
j
Th e
oman
¡n the Alcove
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
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♦
♦
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
..„bar of "The MUttorawv Oeby"Th. Filter«» Bail.- “Th.
A°
Hou»* tn the bri*." "The Ansthyit Boe." E<*.
1W>*
c O b »* i « mt '
tb 1L_??, bb Í1 mehr ’,' l
cbmsany .
i d o♦od «« m
-e-e » M
, v.al.üuid.
‘
flilf tn very seimt»."
on leavinz nio. '■’That n
for noy tivutHe we may ba
mJ
“™.
shall we go? I asked. "The
IfM worn I is
L too
-- large. In this
are
forever
traveitng la
, uij cyos I»-» -
¿«rftoa of the alcove. Don’t r»u
' gime »'tie room ? Oh. »'hit.
be want of me?’
sertou* nothing lmpor-
JjrfZtereJ my good uncle. "Sotne
t \ucD as you can answer In a
A little room? Yes, I kDow
, . . re, under the stairs. Come, I
I ¿d tbe door fl,r You
'Vh-v dltl
er wine to this wretched ball?”
Ml so answer for this. Why, in
<or a chair and scat me tn tt before
lie look up my Interrupt«! senw-ue-
and finished it?
"—would not gtve yon anything to
hull wlrteh had belonged to another
woman? Miss Vail Aredslw yon do
Mot know men. They do many things
which a young, trusting girl like your
self would hardly expect from them.”
“Not Mr. Durand," I maintained
stoutly.
"Perhaps not: let ns hope not." Then,
with a quick change of manner, fa»
bent toward me, with a sidelong look
at uncle, and pointing to my glovea
remarked, "Yon wear glove». DM you
feel the need of two pairs, that you
carry another In that pretty bag hang
tag from your arm?”
I started, looked down, and then
slowly drew up Into my hand the bag
he had mentloued. The white finger
toacle. who is a very patient man. I
ef a glove was protruding from the
L me to the place he bad picked
top. Any one could sea It; many prob
\rithcut adding a word tn the
ably had. What did it mesa? I bad
shtM In whkb he had Just al-
brought no extra pair with me.
g his Impatience to esr>eud Itself,
"This is not mine, 1 bega», fatter-
vats seated within and out of the
_ of peering eyes and listening tag hi to stle»«e as I perceived my
i M »n<>wed a sigh to escape fatal ttnrle turn and walk a step or twe
rt ejptessed the fullness of his away.
'The article we are looking for," PWT-
K t dear," be began and stopped. "1 raed the Inspector, "to a patr of long
f-bm b* again can* to a pausa— white gloves, supposed to hare Irea
ween by Mrs. Falrbrothec when she
g; y«n aboukl know"—
entered the alcovs. Do you mtad show
I managed to ask.
•jbat I do not like Mr. Durand and hig me those, a finger of which I see?"
I dropped the bag into his hand.
tat others do Dot like him.”
K It because of something yon knew The room and everything in It was
whirling around me. But when I noted
•t bln before tonight T'
what trouble it was to his ctmnsy
k Eide no answer.
Dr because he was seen, lfke many fingers to open It my senses returned
kt pentiemen, talking with that wo- and. reaching for the ling, 1 pulled it
n»>c» time before—a tang tlass bs- epen and snatched out the gloves.
iMbe
attacked for her dia- They bad t>een hastily roiled up, and
some of the fingers wen* showing.
si m l murdered T'
"list aoe hare them.” he said.
Irion tie, my dear, fas was ths
With quaking heart and shaking ftn-
r w seen talking to her. Bants
r: . yet be found who west tn gees I handed over the gtoves.
"Mas. Falrbsother's hand was not a
.** came out, but as yert he is
Mr, Itasisdsll small eno,” be observed as he slowly
ic-rei the laet.
•«polled them. 'Tours Is.
We can
rftri'l uie so."
n
:erencs." I exetataasd soon tell"—
But that sentence was never finished.
li. fte be. t of my long soi«pressed
Aa tlie gloves fell open In bls grasp bo
taint 1 am willing to stake tay
loj Ills Integrity and honor. No
attefd talk to me as he did early
%
Sewntng with any vile intentions
tart He was Interested, no doabt,
isiity ethers, In one who liad the
Dt of being a captivating 'minan.
jswd tn sudden nlerm. A look
Icrowad my uncle’s face which as-
«1 me that we were no longer
n Who could have entered so sl
ip I d some trepidation I tnrned
* A gentleman wua standing In
toorwsy, who smiled as I met his
this Misa
Van
Aredale?"
fig
w
I
-
be
«antlr my courage, which had
■traed to leave me, returned and
Ito.'' said I. “Are you the tn
nor?*
.Jgwtnr Dolagli," he explained
> i bow, which Inrinded nay unete.
bo closed the door.
' bop» [ bave not frightened you."
r«t on. approaching me with a
ftfawnlr str. “A little matter has
* -1 oencemlng which 1 mean to
Pufwly frank with you. It may
” to be of trivial Importance; if
tot will pardon my disturbing yoa.
btand- you know htin?"
1 *n engaged to him.” I declared
** Pw uncle could raise his hand,
ta «re engaged to him Well, that
“* H dlffleult. and yet, in some re-
' ’ «Mier for me to ask a certain
I
He uttered • audden, aAarp cjnruloMon.
uttered a sudden, »harp edaculatl««
and I a smothered shriek. An object
of superlative brilliancy bad roiled out
from them the diamond, the geB
which men said was worth a king's
ransom and which we ail knew bad
just cost a life!
I
CIIAPTEH in.
ITFI benumbed senses and a dis
mayed heart, I stared at thè
Bwt have made it more difficult
fallen jewel as at some hateful
’
frr he <ild not Prr>coed to
thing menacing both my life
k os* <,0,*tl<’n immediately, but
1 and honor.
"I have had nothing to do with tt.”
know that Mr. Durand ristted
ntrbwither In the alcove a little I vehemently declared "I did not put
the gloves in my bag. nor did I know
her death F
'■’» been told so."
the diamond was in them, I tainted
**** **“[1 to go In, but I have at the first alarm and”—
"There, there. I know!” Interposed
W tmjnd any one who saw fatal I
net itoubt
U m °0O“"1',*ntb- we have been ! the inspector ktadly "I do
fix the exact minute when I you in the least; not when there is a
Mini
Arsdale, you
— Van
- — —
I A im WhKt
<iw matter. Mies I nran to doubt. LI
had Iwtter tot your uncle take you
fflale’ Y<,0 want to any arene
home I will see that the bail 1» ctaar
I protewed, -—■■Uterini e<l tor you. Tomorrow I may wish ■>
L _^pob* The®, as I net fats talk to you again, but I will apere ytm
»an probably tHI yra that ' all further tapwtnnl^ toolght"
I shook my head. It would require
1
sure be wetrid net best
n».r» eoorage to leave at that moment
Meertag the Inspectors
’* «»k Mm tatsr." wee the than to stay
• itor^nse "Meanwbfta. ere eye grroly, 1 qutetty dtotared
•*X Mr Durand's good t»irr»e la to
i b»
“":r” "* that ,,nc* that
suffer tn any way, I will not break»
»
D<* ,n r”"**’ Rto» with a
i btm
I have eonBdence tn hie lnteg-
to keep
s„, no> j
I rtty, if you haw sot
It was not hta
a, _/*
be iu-niro tn.
' hand, but on» much ax're guilty, which
1 ko ¿*nt d'"IDny. ■" I feti beck
* Irrepressible la<}(«Mt><>n I dropped this >wel into the ba<”
"Bo so’ Do not be too »ore of that.
I an,
"r' *“ itameod—weH. we
Itttto woman
You had better take
,hat luier tt «• aooriter
row lee-n nt ones It will he easier
• g
111 **arcti ef new. A»e
for you. and more wholesome for hlra
»
might very well
, Here be picked up the jewel
>te wto’. v1’ ban<1
reells-
"Weil, they said tt was a wsodee
•trr.
doing. Aa tt to be eiclalmed. In his sudden admire
1 • « h ”* ’° flnd th’" *rtw"' tton T am not surprised, now that 1
kb«», '** h* might very «st
have seen a great gem. at the fame«*
•*•>>
ovw to J»* when I stories I have read <* men risking
to
la th* ball with tt
life and honor for their poaseeaion.
18’* toaoturad to ask
only no Mood had been shed
» b y-T?1* * ' orrset."
"I’ncle. nncta’" I wailed aloud in my
- ■rWort** fiercely, glnd
agony
'to»-,/** * ftoom my very heart
It was all my Up" cn'1''1 nfter> but
1 H. L L01* DQtbln< to keep for
to uncle tt was enough Speaking
I, 'tnW nor -
the first time, be asked to bave a pas
•*•1
lo°* tn th» h>-
’*’
did he react, oto sage made for os. »nd »ben the a
I
Twctor moved forward to comply, be
threw his arm ahout me. and was en
deavoring to find fitting words with
which to till up the delay, when a short
altercation was heard fruui tile door
way, and Mr. Ihirand came rushing
In. followed Immediately by the in-
speetor.
Ills first look was not at myself, hut
at the beg, which still bung from my
arm. As I noted thia action, my w hole
Inner self seemed to collapse, dragging
my bappinMM down wkh h. But my
CoBDlMMca remained unchanged, too
inuuU ao, k seem*, for when his eye
finally roe, •> my faoa. ha found tbore
what ulst J» telui recoil »ud turn with
souietblHg Bhv ltarva.*«eea <m taa ewu-
panteta.
'Tea tarts *»■ talking to hoc." be
x-.’MMuwUy |>roto»tod “Itorfaaps y«a
have g.tw fsr'toa- than U—t
What
brs Imppovsl here? I think I ooght
to klitre
b , ,, galtotaea. lmtpector
Dstewfi; so perfecMy free fnou all oon-
ae«tlon with this crime
Why have
you shut her up lie»», and piled her
with «inestiona, ami uinde her look at
me with such an axnreaslon. when all
you have against me Is just what you
have against ooms half doren others—
that 1 was weak enough, or unfortu
nate snotigh, tn spend a few minutes
with that nnheppy » .man In the al
cove before »he died?’
"It might be well If Miss Van Are
d^le herself wwtld answer you,” was
the inspector’» qttlet retort.
"What
yon have »a'd rr.sy oonst'tute all that
we have against yon, but It Is not all
we have a<rin«t fa*»«."
1 <«»¡»*4. not ♦>
at this Meemlng
aecnearion. the motive of which I bo
Mors«I myself to Tm4erstand. bwt at
the fata slag Mush with which tt WSS
received by Mr. Durand.
■MhoI do y»j» mean?' Ke !*•«'»oded
with rertata odd bre«ks la hla votes.
“WKst <oa yes have ¡Masiaa* her?"
"A trivtskiy,” retmood the laepevtor,
with a look In my direction that was.
I felt, net to be uitatakea
"I do net osll It a triviality," I bsret
•ut. Tt avesns that Mm. Falrbvertisv.
tor all her elaborate toilet, was fsusd
a ltbent gtoves on her arms. As rt»
rertalabv were thetu on entering the
atanve, tlie pol'.ce hare ns rurally twea
looking for thean. And where do yen
think Ney he»e found them? 5et In
the al**ove with her, net hi the penaee
ston ef rhe man who nadeubteitly one-
rtad tier.i away with him, but"—
"I know, 1 knew," Mr. Dera nd
heoraely put la. “You need net ray
any neve Oh. tuy peer Rita! What
have I lirowgtit npe« yen by my weak-
new?’
"Wea knees 1”
■ e eterfed I started. My refca was
totally rr»res»ga cable.
T ebonld give It another name," 1
aglsvl ceM1y.
For a moment he eeeiaied te I ms
heart, then lie lifted h1s hear! »gala and
looked as handsome as when be plewd-
ed for my hand In the little conserva
tory.
"You have that right,” said ho. "Be
sides, weakness at such a time and
under rnch an exigetx-y ie little short
of wrong. It was nntnaniy In roe to
endeavor to secrete these gloves, mere
than unmanly for me to choose for
their bld'ng place the receeees of an
article belonging exclusively to your
self. 1 acknowledge it, Rita, and shall
meet only n>y jr.st punishment If you
deny me In the future both your sym
pathy and regard. But you must tet me
assure you and three gentlemen also,
one of whom can make tt very unpleas
ant for me. that eonsrideratlon for yon,
much more than any lutxerable anntety
about myself, lay at the bettraai of
what must strike yon all as an ar< of
unpardonable cowerdtee
•'From the moment I learned of this
woman's murder In the alcove, where
I find visit ml her. I rea lined that every
cue who bad t>eeu aeeu to approach
her within a half boor of her death
would t>e subjected to a more or lose
rigid Investigation, and I feared If h»r
gloves were found In my possesstou
some special attention might be direct
ed my way which would cauiw you un
merited distress. So, yielding to an
Impulse which I now recognize as a
most unwise as well aa unworthy one.
I took advantage of the buntle a lx, nt ua
and of the Insensibility Into which yon
had fallen to tuck these miserable
gtoves into the tmg I saw lying on the
floor at your aide
1 do not ask your
pardon. My whole future life shall be
devoted to winning that.
I simply
wish to state a fact.”
"Very good!” It wan the Inspector
who spoke; I could not bare uttered a
word to rave my Ilf». ’Terhaps yon
will now feel that you owe it to ttas
young lady to add h«w you came to
have these gtoves is your possession."
"Mrs. Falrbrvxber handed them te
BM.”
•»IsBdevI them te yea?'
"Yes, 1 hardly knew why myetaf.
•be asked me tn take cere of them ter
her I know that this most strik» yen
as a very peculiar etatement It was
my realization of the unfavorable ef
fect tt conM not fall to produce uj»«
tbooe who beard It which made me
>r»ed any Intevvogatton no the sub
j»ct. But I assnre yoa tt was as I
sny Hb» pot the glaves into my teaad
white 1 was miking to her saying thev
tnc< .tivm< *1*d her.”
"And you?"
"Well. I held them tor a few mta
■toe. then I put them In my pecBet.
bnt quite automatically and wltlxtot
thinking very mtx h about It. f5e wee
a woman arc’ietorred to have her owe
way. People seldom questioned it, I
jndige"
Here the tension about my threat re
laxed, and I opened my lipa to apeak
But the inspector, with a glance of
some authority, forestalled me.
-Were the gtoves opeu or nulled up
when she offered them to youT’
"TT m y were toiled up."
"DU! yen oee her tans ttera off?"
"Asawedly “
"And roll them tip?"
« uri ». THURSDAY. FEBRUARY ■>'. loo«
“Certainly.”
"After which she passed them over
to you?’
"Not Immediately. She let them He
In her lap for awhile."
"While you talked?”
Mr Durand bowed.
"And looked at the diamond?*
Mr. Durand bowed for the second
time.
"Had you ever seen so due a diamoud
before F*
"No."
"Yet you deal In precious stooee?’
’That is my busbies*.”
“Awl are r«gar<tod as a judge ef
ttwwr
T have tlmt rapntatleu.”
"Mr Durand, woe id yen know Hate
attawowl If yon saw It?'
"1 oactuiuly should."
"The eotth* was au uii<-oca«Mt> om .
1 hear ”
"Malto au annminl ouc.”
The iaspsetnr opened his hand.
"Is this the article.“
“tjood Hod! Where”—
“Don’t you know?’
T do not."
The Inspector eyed him gravely
'Then I have a bit of news for you.
It was hidden In the gloros you took
from Ur». Fairbrother. Miss Van Are
dale was present at their unrolling”
Do we live. move, breathe at rertatn
»oineuts? tt hardly se>*ms so. 1 know
that 1 was conscious of but one sense,
that of soelng. and of but one faculty,
teat of judgment
Would ho fllaeh.
break down, betray guilt, er simply
»how astonishment? I chose to be
lieve tt was the tatter feeling ealy
which Informed hla slowly whitening
*«.1 dietrvrt’ed feature»
Certatnly tt
we» a.1 hts wartis oxpresaed^ as hla
gtaeoes Sew frrau the steao to the
flu'«* and bask sgata to the l.mpeol
era face.
"1 ramiot beil»«» It I caand ta>
B»v» It“ And hte head tlcw wlldty to
hls foreltood
'Tet It is tee tSTrik, Mr. Du rea 4, sad
•no yeci hav« now to face. Hew will
yen ds tfate? By ■»; further erptaas
•tens, er l»y what yen may < uas riar a
dtecroet »lienee ?'
T have nothing to explain—the facte
•re ■« 1 have stated."
The Inspector csgarrle-t him with an
eennratnswa whleb made my heart rink.
"Yen <*an fix tbe time of ttrtn visit,
I hope; twll m. I mean, just when yen
left tite alcove. Yea »mat have eeen
•ante eue whe can »peak foe you.”
T f»ar not"
Why did he took an disturbed and
■nvartelii ?
“Tbsre were but few pernees In the
halt jk»t then,” ho west on te erptatn.
Tt» eoe was altchag ea the ysltaw
«van."
"Yna know wker» you went, tJwregh?
WNooi ven saw »nd wliat yon did be
fore the alarm ^rewd?’
"1 BOj.1 n-trr. I am qalte <wnftraed
I
did
somewhere; I did net remain
la that part ef the hall. Bat I can
toil yon notlilng definite, save that I
walked about meetly among strangers,
till the cry rose which sent no all tn
one direction and me to the side of
my fainting rweethrart.”
"Can you pick out any stranger you
talked to, or any one who might have
noted you during thia Interval? You
see, for tbe sake of this little woman.
I wish to give you every chance.”
"Inspector, I am obliged to throw
myoetf on your mercy
I have no
wich witness to my innocence as you
call for. Innoeent people seldom have.
It is only the gnUty who taks the
teoubto to provide tor such coatlsgen-
cioa."
This wa» all rosy well, if tt had
bora uttered with a atralgtrtf»wwrrrd
air and la a clear tone. But It was
not I who loved him felt that It was
not, and consequeatly waa more or less
premia red for tbe otaaaga which new
took place la the Inspector's nmnw.
Yet ft piervod me to tbe heart to ob-
oorve thl» chango, and I Instinctively
dropped my face lato tay banda when
I »aw him more toward Mr Ihirand
with some final order or word of can
tlon.
Instantly (and who can account for
each phenomena?) there floated Into
view before my retina a reproduction
of the picture I had seen, or imagined
myself to have seen. In the supper
room; and ns at that time It o[>encd
before mo an unknown vl»ta qalte re
moved from the surrnuadlng scene,
so tt did now, and I beheld again In
faint outlines, and yet with the effer't
of complete distinctness, a square of
light through which appeared au opeu
passage jiertly abut off from view by
a half lifted curtain and tbe tall
figure of a man holding hack thia eur-
twin and gazing, er seeming to gese.
at Ma own farneot, eo which bo had
already Iwtd one qotvertSg fiamv
Whet did R meas? !• the »xetto-
meet of rtie h-rrtbi» .►crarrrrx'e wbteh
had wng r i T orad ne all, I had fnrgnttaa
this carteos experience, hwt on teetlwg
enow tbe vwgue soaoatton of shock
end expectatton which seemed ttw het
oral arcompanlmoot, I berame erm-
•rfcrai of a »’>4<len rouvlcttoa ttiat the
ptetore »blcti bad ofomed lotero me
to tbe supper room woo the reeolt of
a reflartton to a glass er mirror of
setnethtng than is>tng oa la a ptoeo
•ot otherwise with fa the reach ef my
vtwtoc. a reflection, tbo importarse of
wtiteh I soddMriy realized wtam I re
rail at wbat a critical moment tt bad
occurred
A man tn a state of dread
tonktng at hts breast, within five min
utes of tbe etlr and rush of tbo dread
ful event which hod marked thia even
toff!
|
A hope, great ao tbe despair tn wbteh
t had J’jet twn sunk, ga«» ma eonrage
to drop my bonds an<l odvarvw Im
petuoosly toward tbe Inspector.
’’Don’t speak. I pray; don’t Judge
any of oa further till yon bare beant
what I have to any ”
In great astonishment and with an
aopact of srverttF. bo asked too wbat
I bad k> any now which I had not bod '
It
tRe opportunity of saying before. I case. by which they can reach the up
replied with all the passion of a for stair» dressing rooms without crossing
Is that what you
lorn hope that It was only at this tiie main hall.
present monu-ut I remembered a fact naea n ?"
"Yes. that Is what I mean."
which might have a very decided bear
1 stHred nt him In wonder. What lay
ing on this case; and. detecting evi
dences, as 1 thought, of relenting on liack of such questions us these?
"You catne tn. as others did. by this
his part. I backed up this statement by
an entreaty for a few word» with him aide entrance," be uow proceeded.
apart, as tho matter I bad to tell who "Did you notice, ns you turned to go
private and possibly too fanciful for upstairs, an arch opening Into a small
pnssuigeway at your l»4’t?"
any ear but hla own.
“I dM uot" I iwgati. tii’slilfig. for I
He kokod as If b» appretiauided some
loss of valuaMe tliua, but, touched by thought I undoratoxid blui now. ”1
tbe Involuntary gaeture of appeal with was too «Kigwr to tvacb tbe dresalug
which I euppleuieuted my request, tat room to look about me."
"Very w»U," lie replied; “I luny want
led uw into a earner, where, with just
au «ekSHireglMg gieiuiv toward Mr to show you that arch.’’
Durand, who wteuiml »truck dumb by . The owtUae of eu ar»-ti, hawking the
my Motion, I told the UutpectMr of toot | ■arwre we weev uu.teu»»»ring to Identi
uwiutoutary pk-ture wkluli 1 had oeeu i ty. w ■•* a iiNirkvd feuture ki Uie ahe»»-li
rvflaMried la whet 1 was sow »eve was I had shewn trim.
"V.’lil yoa take a »eat nearby white
soma window paae er Lulrroc
Tt was at a time MiLuclAent. or very 1 Make a etady of thia matter?”
1 turned with alacrity to obey. There
nearly coincident, with th« perpetrs-
tk>n of the crime you are now investi was something tn hla air and manner
gating.” I concluded.
"Within fivr wbteb made u>u almost buoyant. Had
uiluutee afterward cauie itw shout mv fenetful Interpretation of what I
which roused us all to what had hup tuvd »oen I'ouclxsl him with the eon*
(Mined in the alcove I do not kuow vI m tkoi It tied me? If so. there was
wbat passage I saw or what dour or tioiH» ho[»e for the man I loved, who
even wbat figure, but the latter. I am had gone In and »»nt lietween curtains
sure, whs that of tbe guilty wau. aud not through any arch such ns 1 m >
Something of tbe outline taafi it waa h<v»I m»uttoned or I hud descrtl>ed.
1
tbe outline only I could catch) ex j I’rovlilence was working for me.
pressed an emotion trn'oraprebeualble sow It In the way the men u»<w moved
to me at tbe momeut, but wblcli tn about, swlugtng the wiodow to an»i
my remembrance tmpreese« mo as that gM. under the Instruction of the tn-
of fear and dread. It was not the eu ; specter, manipulating the lights, open
trance to the alcove I t>»liri<l that ing ilxxira and drawing l»ack curtain«,
would have struck me at once—but j Frovideixe was working foe nw, and
some ether o|>enln* which I might re* l when, a f*w minutes later. 1 wu»
ogufns If I saw tt. t enant that •(«« asked to reevet myoelfOTi my old pliwe
tug tie found, and may tt net piv» ■ i at the ao[»per tabte Itxi take another
riew to tbe man I aew »katkkeg took tn that etlgtitly deflected giasa 1
thfough it wtte terror a ad remorse k
bte heart?*
"Was thia Bgnre when yra saw It
tur!HKl toward yon sr away?" th» la
■[lector Inquired, with aneipeered In
terest
'Turned partly a »ray He waa going
from mo."
"And yon eat where?’
’•Shall I »how yen?’
The Inspector bowed, then with a
tow word of rantteu Famed to iuy
uncle.
"I am going to take thio young lady
Into tbo hall far a room«nt at her owe
reqoest. May I a»k you and Mr. Du
rand to await me here?'
Without paesfng ter reply b" threw
o|>ca the door, and peeeently we wove
partog the deserted rapper rooa» seek
Ing the pbire where I h»d set I fownd
tt al moot by a miracle, every th tag be
Ing la great dteoeder
Grilled t»y a»?
bonqaot. wbleb I had left hehtnd me
tn my eeuaipe free» tka tabte, I laid
koto of the etietr before wMch tt ley
and declared ijsilto cnaBdately to the
taspeetor:
"Thbi la where I rat.”
Naturally his ria nee and in toe Imtk
few to tbe <q>periri* wall
A wtndew
was before no nt aa nanewel site aed
make,
rnllko any which had ever
t-efore conie undec my eheervntton, tt
swung on a pivot and, though shut at
the present moment, might very easliv
when opened present Its hups pane at
an angle capable of catching reflecttmie
front some of the many mirrors dec
orating the reception room situated
dtapnnally acrons tbe hall. Aa all the
doorways oa this lower floor were of
unusual width, an open path was offer
ed. as It were, for theso reflections te
pass, making it possible for nrewea te
I* Imaged here which to tbs persons
involved would neetn ao eafe frewi any
ene's acrutlny aa If they wee» taking
place tn tbe adjotnlog house
As we realised this a took passed
fact ween us of mors than ordinary st*
atflcance. Totnttng to the window, the
Inspector tnrned te a gronp of waiters
watching im frew the ottwr side of tbe
room and asked if it had been opraed
that evening.
The answer cam« quickly.
"Yes. sir—just t»efore tbe—the”—
T nndtautand,” hrofce la the tnapeck-
or. and. leaning over me, be whispered,
'Tell me again exactly what yon
thought yon »aw."
Bnt I could add tittle to my former
description.
’Terhnps you can ten me this," be
kindly persisted.
"Waa the ptetwra,
when you saw ft, on a level with your
eye or did you bare to lift your bead
In order to aee It?’
"It was high up—In tbo air. as It
were That seemed Its oddest feature."
The lnapector's mouth took n satisfied
•urve.
’Tosalbly I might Identify the door
and paaaage If I aaw them,” I sag
tested
"t'ertalnly, certainly,” waa hla rtieer
fnl rejoinder, and, summoning oka of
hla Ben. he w»« a I »out te «•*» some or
dec when lile Impulse «h«»p<l. end ho
askart If I c<»nl4 draw
I assured him. hi sooie earprtoe. that
1 wea far from l»etng an adept la that
tflrectton, but that poraibly 1 Bight
masHp» a rnogh »ketch, whereupon ba
pulled a pnd sn<1 prari from fate
pocket and requested me to make seme
sort of attempt to reprortn-w <m pep*r
my memory <>f this paseage and tbe
door
My heart waa beating violently, and
ttie pencil alieok la my band, hot 1
know ttrtt It would not da toe aae to
show any heel tat ton la Rah»« for all
eyee what, imaceonatatey to mye»tf,
continued to be perfeetty plain to By
own Bo I endea cored to do as tie bode
me ami surx-eeded to aome extent, for
be uttered a sll^rt ejaculation at on»
of its features and. white duly ex press
log hla thanks, honored me with a very
sharp look.
Ta this your first visit to this tamoe’"
be asked
"No I have been here before"
Tn the evening ar In tiie afternoon?"
"Ia the afternoon."
T am told that the main entrance Is
not In use tonight.”
"No. A »Me door la provided for oc
casions like the [»resent tlnoata enter
ing there dud a epe<-tal hell and stair
'
!
IVlri» a quick fnrk ha bxrrvri Ma ahlrt
tat»w that my effort had nari with IB
rowant and that for the secood time
I waa to receive the linprooatoa of a
place new Indelibly Imprinted on my
ennaetonsruwo.
"la not that It?” asked the loapeetnr,
polnttag at tbe glara with a Inst took
at tha Impeafect »ketch I had mntle
him and which he still held In hla
hand.
"Yea,” I eagerly t<vqx»inled "All but
tl>e man. II» whom» figure I see there
is another person rati rely; I see ne
remorso or even fear In his lottks.”
"Of cowrso not. You are looking at
th» reflection of one of my man. Miss
Van Aredale, do you recognise the
plaoa now under your eye?’
"I do not. Yon spoke of an arch tn
the hall, at the left of the carriage en
trance, and I see au arch In the win
dew paae 1»e<ore me, but"—
"Yon are looking atvalgt't thconrt
the alcove— porhapa y»m did not know
that anothre door opened at Its hack —
Into tbe [Moaage which rone l»ehtnd It.
Farther on la the nerh, and beyond
that arch the ride hall air! statrease
tending to tbe drraelng nxima. Tills
door, the one In tbe rear of the alcove,
I meau. te lihldra from thone ratering
from tiie main hall by draiwriee which
have been hung over It for this octet-
slon,’ but It te quite visible from the
back passageway, and there can t»e
no dout»t that It wan by Its means
the mau wh >se reflected Image you
saw both entered and left the alcove.
It Is an Important fact to establish,
and we feel very much obliged to you
for tbe aid you have given us lu thia
matter."
Then, an I continued to stare nt him
In iny elation und surprise, be lidded,
In quick explanation;
"Tiie lights In the alcove and lu the
several parlors are all hung with
shades, as you muat perceive, but tbe
one In the hall, beyond the arch, la
very bright, which accounts fjr the
dlstlnctne«» of tills double refiertlon
Another thing—and It la a very inter-
anting point—It wieild have twra tin
[Ms»»lble for this reflectiou to be not tee
at»le from where yoa »it If tha level
of the alcove flooring had not bran
«Hwlderably hlgtier tliau that nt t!»o
mala floor. Bnt for thia freak of tbo
archttecg the owillnual ¡»aestog to and
fro of peopl»* would ten prevented tlte
reflertluu In Its pneeage from surface
to »nrface Mtas Van Aredale, It would
seem that by one of th<«H ■baocra
which liatarai bt>< once or twice In a
lifetime every loixlrtton ws« [»capttloua
at ’he naomrat te make tlila refiertlon
a possible occurreuee even the tova
tlon and width of t)»e several doorways
sad the HiH-t [xrint at which rite por
tiere wa» draws aside from tbo rn-
trance to tbe atoove."
Tt la wonderful.” I cried, ’wonder
fnl!” Then, to tils astontahment por-
haps. I asked if there waa not a ama'I
door of communiration tie tween the
passageway bock of the alcove and tbe
large i-ratral hall.
”Yea.” be replied. "It opens Just he
yond the fireplace Three small steps
lead to It”
"I thought so.” I murmured, but more
to myself than to him. In iny mind 1
was thinking how a man. If be so
wished, could pass from the very heart
o( thia a seem triage Into tbe quiet pra-
■ageway, and so on Into the alcova,
without attracting very much atteu-
tb»n from his fellow guests. I forgot
that there was another way of ap
proach even less noticeable—that by
til»’ small staircase running up beyond
the arch illnx-tly to the dressing rooms.
”Aml Mr. Durand?' I stammered as
I followed the Uis[»ector back to tbe
room where he had left that gentle
man "You will bdlleve his statement
uow and look fur this second Intruder
with the guiltily hanging head and
frightened uiien?’
"Yea." he replied, stopping me on
the threshold of the door und taking
my luitxl kindly In hla. "It—don't start,
my dear; life 1» full of trouble for
youtri and okl. and yoath is the lieat
Unie to face a nail experteuce—If be te
uot himself the man you saw staring
in frlghtoaed horror at hla breast.
Have you not noticed that he Is not
dresred lu all respects like the other
gentlemen present that, though he
bus uot donned Ills overcoat, he has
put on, somewhat prematurely, one
might say, the large silk handkerchief
he presumably weuni under it? Have
you uot noticed this and asked your
self w by ?"
I had noticed it. I hud noticed It
from the moment I recovered from my
fuintlug tit. but I had uot thought it
a matter of suttklent Interest to ask.
even of myself, his reason for thus
nullug his shirt frout. Now 1 could
not. My faculties were too confused,
my heart too deeply ahakau by tbe
suggestion which tbe Inspector's words
conveyed, for me to l»e eonsclous of
anything but the devouriag question
ns to what 1 should do If, by my own
mistaken aval. 1 had auoewded in
pRioatnc tbe mnu I loved yet deeper
hito th» tells in w hk'ii he bad t>eeotB»
enmeshed.
Tbe lnspe»*tor toft me uo time for tbe
settlement of this question. Ushering
me back Into tbe room where Mr. I>t>-
raitd and my uncle awaited our return
In apparently unrelieved silence, he
dosed tbe door upon the curious eyea
of the various persons still lingering In
tbe hall and abruptly said to Mr. Du
rand:
‘The exptannttons you have been
pleased to give of the manner In which
this diamond came ink» your possession
are uot too fauclful for credence. If you
oan satisfy us on another point which
has awakened some doubt In the nrtnd
of one uf my men. Mr. Durand, yon
appear to have prepared yourself for
deysriure somewhat prenwitnrely. Do
you uilntl removing that handkerchief
Dor a inoanent? My reason far eo pecul
iar a i*qe*"t W'H presently appear.”
Alas, for my last fond hope! Mr. Du
rand, wttb s face as white as the back-
grnuad nt snow framed by the uncur
tained window against which be lean
ed. lifted fate hand ns If to oomply with
the tuspeolnr'a request, then tet It fall
again with a grating laugh.
”1 are that 1 am not likely to escape
any of tt»« results of my Imprudence,”
be cried, and with a quick Jerk bared
his «lifrt front.
A splash of red defiled Ita otherwise
uniform whiteness! That It was the red
of heart's blood waa proved by the
shrinking look he unconsciously cast
at It.
CHAPTER IV.
Y love for Anson Durand died at
sight of that crimson 4>laab—
or 1 thought It did. In this
»pot of blood ou tiie breast ef
btm to whom I had given my heart I
conM read but one woul guilt—hein
ous guilt, guilt denied a tri now brought
to ligtrt tn language that could be seen
and read by all men. Why should I
stay In swh a presence? Had not tbe
ln«i>e<-tor hlmatilf advised ma to go?
Yas, bnt another voice bode ma re
main. Just as I reached the door An
son Durand found hla voire, and I
heard, tn tbo full, sweet tones I loved
so well:
"Walt! I am not to be jiriged Ilka
this. I will explain?'
But here tbe Inspector Interposed.
"Do you think tt wise to make any
such attempt without the advice of
counsel, Mr. Durand?’
The Indignation with which Mr. Du
rand wheeled toward him raised in mo
a faint hope.
(Continued Next Weak.)
JUNCTION CITY' NOTKH
It may not be generally known
that Junction City has ad’orchestra,
although ot recent origin, its mem
bers are making rapid progress and
will soon be able to furnish flrst-
rlaas music for any and all occasions.
Membership and Instrumentation are
as follows:
L. IS. Cook. leader and
Instructor, 1st violin; William Pear
man, solo
B-flat
cornet; Richard
Thom, trombone; W. 8. McKee, clari
net, R C. Roberts, second B-flat cor
net; H. E. Leppert, piano; L. W,
Clark, drum.
In The Guard contest which haa
been absorbing local attention for
several weeks past, closed Saturday
evening
There were six candidates
in District No. 3, and Miss Hattie
Cook won first place with 588,170
votes. This will entitle her to a free
trip to bo« Angeles. For the grand
prize Miss Cook held second place.
Miss Hattie Is an excellent young lady
and her standing In the community id
well exemplified by her very flatter
ing vote. She warked faithfully to
secure thia splendid trip, and we cer
tainly congratulate her in her succsso-
ful effort. It Is not stated when the
California trip will be made.—Times.
CASTOR IA
For Infaata »xd Ch.xdrea.
Thl Kind Yoi» jtp Ah'iyt Boug^r
Bears the
8!<aatare of <n