The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-18

10 him 10 promise her twenty francs
more when We were through, she left off
talking of q sudden, and led US down
some dark stairs to striking kitchen
where ] wouldn't have housed dog.
| TWO minutes after We were out in the
back yard, and she had left us.
now" said Jim, "we're the better
Tor wanting her. though she's wonder
| ful woman when you lake her right.
lhe TACT Is, she's just as crazy as the
Others about the house yonder. and is
hali AFRAID OF having nythlng To do with
us. But she's lent me- the steps, and
that's all care a crack about"
IL was raining cats and dogs now, and
| Ditter cold, but We were both excited by
what we'd come TO do, and didn't feel
1t more than the touch Of a feather. For
| my part, I'd thought little OF the danger
up to that time, but when stood out in
! that dark yard and looked up 10 the
black shape of windowless and prison
IKE house, must say that got shivsr
through me.
Jim, - said 1, "two's not many for a
Ion IKE tnts; Did you bring your pistol
II did Sc" he whispered, "you don't
fnd me going far without it in Paris.
Will you 20 first, or shall I?''
You go, said "since you know the
way. I'm on your heels--though what
you're to see through that wall I'd like
to learn.'
There's window on the lower story. -
CRIED ne; put keep your mouth shut and
tread light"
Saying this, he went up the steps, and
followed him. l have made II clear, /
think, that the CO sbaret, or beer-shop, or
whatever you like 10 call it, stood back
10 back With the house we'd come TO
inquire about. There was only a yard
and high wall between them, but at
the end OF this yard, and jam bled up
against the wall, was shed for lumber,
so bum that when you set the steps on
It's roof you could put your fingers on
the top OF the bricks above and haul your
self up. II didn't take Jim and / a min
ute TO do this, and, once sstride the wall,
we had our first view of the Maison dor
L must sey,and i always have said, that
there was something uncanny In the very
look OF that house. Its heavy blackened
shape seemed to rise up like the shape
OF desd-house or prison. Many of its
lower windows were heavily barred with
iron bars The paved yard around IL
was reeking with filth aud rubbish. No
sound, no light came out of it. 1t was
Just great mass of brick work looming
up IN the darkness, and could under
stand easily enough how all the wild
tales about 1t had come to be told. Sit
ting there, astride on the wall, and peer
Ing at such easements as faced the back
OF the cabaret, i should not have been
surprised IL I'd have seen some inhuman
thing stalking the yard below me. MY
feart was in my moufh-my nerves
txitched like Moman,s, and Jim was
not whit better.
do you make anything of it?" he
whispered, after we'd been on the wall
q minute or two.
:. ''The devil q bit, !" said /.
1t amt exactly palace of varieties,
Grey's in there right enough. 1t was |
through that mite OF a window on your
left that got sight OF the place last
night. There was a light there then.
don fancy we'll do much tonight"
Nor me, neither" said /, for / was
risht down scared, and that's the fact OF
'Shall we try again tomorrow night?'
'ays be, and could see he was in hurry
10 be of.
"We might as well, for all the good
we're doing, said /, and with that /
.urned TO put my foot on the steps again.
moment later saw thing which fair
y took my breath away.
The window which was dark had sud
ienly become light. A man with a lamp
n his hand passed it, and following him
With quick steps, was no other than nv
master, Nicholas Steele.
Nv.
"Good God" said /, half aloud, i'm
pite OF myself, "what are you dong In
|
o tremoie But Jim had already turned
pa me.
"Biggn cried he, "you're PLAYING me
iouble. What's Nicolas Steele doing in
hege!p
ASK me another, (" said i, SITS a thing
can't tell you. y
"But can, F" said he, and be was angry.
90; "he's gone TO get Grey out and
lain the money!
''Jim, shut your mouth. {" said ]. "sno {
ion't make him out the biggest fool
You're playing me false" cried he. .
aislng his voice shrilly.
"No such thing said /. "and lool,
lere, III prove Il. I'm going in after !
him.. +"
Z" You are?'' exclaimed he, "then I'll
ay good-evenipg' 10 you"
Jim, said i, "don you sec il NAV $
,e matter OF life or death with him.
ieip me IN THIS and IN give you an
Help you-how can I help you?r
'lll tell you in word. Run into the
eer-sho2-there and bring all the men you I
an tnd to these leads. Promise them
francs apiece TO shout when ! cali To- q
nem. They'll do itquick enough II you 7
~ the police are with us on the other
de-. j
"But you, yourseifY" .
"pm going TO throw those steps across /
De gap there, and force that window. 4
fter that. Pm trusting TO bluff
- You take your life In your hands" y
I'D he. [
Don't you trouble ABOUT that. You get I
le men. Quick's the word for this Job. 4" I
lie didn't wait for any more, but tum- d,
ed down to the shed again, and when 4
q waited five minutes ana had seen u
IN come out with half dozen loafers at O
n tails, dragged the steps up TO the "
all, and then used them TO bridge the n
~ which lay between the little window "
id myself Luckily, the sin was old a
id broad; and though the window itself n
as not more than three feet square, il t'
as unbarred. At any other time I %
lght have been bit giddy clambering
ross that gap, for there was a drop OF w
ar ~ teet below me. but there were X
. many things running i'm my head to
me think of that, and half minute
ION gone before I'd forced the window
TN my pIe1Set-knife and dropped into
narrow passage on the second floor OF +,