Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-30
Copyright, 1895, by Bachelor, Johnson and
Bacheiler.l
Continued from Saturdays Starr
SYNOPSIS.

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Continued from Saturdays Starr
SYNOPSIS.
The junior member of private firm Of
detectives in New York becomes Interested
In a deserted house, opposite which he hap
pens to take room. While watching 1t
during q cOnyaleScenee from Illness. the
blinds of one of the windows are opened
suddenly, disclosing the figure Of a small
man, who waves his hand and disappears.
Three days later the detective receives a
mysterious letter, appointing ali hour to
call. He looks across at the deserted house,
shading his eyes With the letter. The figure
reappears and repeats its signal. That
evening the detective arms himself, pushes
open the iron gate of the deserted house and
enters,
PART H.
There was not glinmer of light in front
of me. but. as advanced into the passage
way. l was distinctly conscious that was
not alone there. Weakened as I was by my
illness, and at the disadvantage under which
man must always be In a place which is
both strange and dark, found myself for
the moment quite ready to turn tail and
make good a retreat. I knew well, however
that as great danger (were danger near
would attach itself to such course as to
go forward, so L cursed myself inaudibly for
perspiration which had gathered on my
face, reached out boldly and gave a re-
sounding rap with my stick upon the near
est wall. At the same moment I detected a
soft movement near me, like the swish of
womans gown. Something gently touched
me. and l wheeled rapidly about My left
hand lnstinctively sought my trousers
pocket 1t was empty. 1 tried the other.
That, too! Both my pistols were gone. For
the space of three or four minutes. as 1t
seemed to me. 1 stood still and breathless,
not knowing what next might come. And
then. suddenly, burst of strong light
struck me full in the face door, against
which should have been brought to a
standstill in a moment more, opened and
upon the threshold stooo the same figure
winch l had already seen upon two occa-
Sions. Blinded for an instant by the sud-
den illumination my hand went quickly to
protect my eyes. The man who confronted
me went through the same performance.
he then began to back away from me in to
the room beyond, motioning me to follow
once inside, with the door closed behind us
he took in either hand lamp from one of
IN sne tapies IN the room and guided me up a
hight of steep stairs which led from IL to
the room above. AS upon the former occa-
sions when had seen him, he was without
coat or waistcoat, and still wore the cotton
nlshtcap tied closely under his chin A
pair of haggy trousers, worn and shiny.
completed his attire. I noted that his
hands were dfscolored with stains of brown
and yellow, such as are left by contact
There was slight scarcely percep.ible
Imp in his walk. and when he turned to-
ward me saw that he had recently lost
the brow and lashes which properly belong
ed to his left eye
NO word passed between us, but now. as
we reached the top of the stairs my guide
,st d, suddenly about, and flashing the
light full In my face, stood gazing steadily
into it Then he turned and went on again.
muttering audibiy to himself:
Three times he has given the signal" I
,,eara MN say. Yet he should not be
desperate. They have / could not catch
the rest of it, A subdued murmur of other
voices reached me from room beyond
Wy suide deposited his lamps upon table
Fear at hand and pushing open the door of
tnls room, again motoned me to enter
OEce more the extreme brilliancy of the
iisht which flooded 1t struck my eyes pain
went quickly. up. The three peonlc Who
were IN the room languidy mimi elk led me
ana began to perceive another light
~. nree tlmes he has given the signal" my
late guide mad said. Apparently l had now
raised the count to four. 1t was a hs ndv
thing TO know, but this knowledge also in.
formed me that, through some misappre-
henston, l was looked upon by NV new a r.
intahces as a confederate. Should I he
unable to keep up the delusion it occurred
10 me that my situation might not he an
enviabie one, and began to have an un-
comfortable longing for my reyolyers The
room into which I had entered was annar.
entity, the large drawing room of the bousa
Rich and heavy draperies hung at all the
WING SO arranged as to carefully pre-
vent any ray OF light from within being Wis.
lpIe from the street, and making the air Int
and sitting This was further intensjGad
oy the an-pervading odor of Turkish cigar
cites. VI the three occupants, two were
men in the full resalia of evening H..
the third was woman whose superb white
shoulders fairly glistened above the folds of
PACK and gold lace which outlined them
All wore half masks of black satin and haIJ
cigarettes between lips and fingers.
For a moment they scr1tindzed me with
.nSeleht coolness. the taller of the two men
tak.ns the cigarette from between his Inns
anu emitting a deEcate wreath of smoke
which curled and curled into eyer-widenInp
sWaying rings. We watched 1t in silence
until II had all disappeared, and then. com.
ing e. forward le.surely, he addressed me:
You may as we'll SIT down." he said
deposited myself upon the nearest chair
MY guide remained standing near the door.
Madam of the White Shoulders tossed aside
her cigarette and leaned forward in an
htt'1ude OF strained attention. The other
man fumbled a.mlesSly about the mass of
papers which Uttered the piano NV inter
locutor had stationed himself upon the
stutted arm OF lounging chair in front of
me.
You have the correspondence with you?,
he said
answered simply No. awaiting nv cue
Then where Is it?'' he continued
1T was not given to me finally" replied
at random.
"And your instructions?
Merely to wait for a chance to tell you
this
They seemed surprised, and madam made
some rapid remarks to the other in
tongue with which l was unfamiliar Then
moving with long, graceful step, which
made no sound upon the heavy rugs with
which the floor covered she came in
her turn and confronted me.
why did you come armed? she de-
manded.
She was standing before me, her mag
nificent figure drawn up to its full height
and l arose and faced her before answer
ing.
Il thought 1t only a proDer preeaution
ana one which 1 habituaIly AXE"
Then YOU should also take care to be less
easily disarnIed,' she proceeded, with some
Impotence How long have you been
waiting for this opportunity to tell US that
you have TO disappo!nt US, after ALP
1 told her ten days-the length of time
had been in the house over the way.
From whom did you receive the signal?'
she demanded.
For moment, as her eyes flashed into
mine, something impelled me to throw up