The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-24

of black satin and held cigarettes be-
tween lips and fingers.
For moment they scrutinized me
with insolent GOODNESS, the taller of the
two men taking the cigarette from be-
tween his lips and emitting delicate
wreath of smoke which curled and
curled into ever widening, swaying
rings. We watched il In silence until il
had all disappeared. and then, coming
forward leisurely, he addressed me:
you may as well sit down." he said.
i 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 attitude ofstrained
attention. The other man fumbled aim
lessly about the mass of papers which
Uttered the piano. My yinterlocutor had
stationed himself upon the stuffed arm
of lounging-chair In front of me.
"You have the correspondence with
you? he said.
answered simply "No"-waiting my
cue.
Then where is it?" he continued.
"It was not given TO me finally" re-
piled, at random.
"And your instructions"
"Merely TO whit for chance to tell
you this"
They seemed surprised, and madam
made some rapid remarks TO the other
in tongue with which Twas unfamiliar.
Then, moving with n long. graceful step.
which made no sound upon the heavy
rugs with which the floor was 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
answering.
Il thought it only proper precau-
tion. and one which l habitually take"
"Then you should also take care to
he less easily disarmed," she proceeded,
with some impatience. How long have
you been waiting for this opportunity
to tell us that you have 10 disappoint
us after all?"
Itold her ten days-the length of time
i had been in the house over the way.
''From whom did you receive the sig
nal?' she demanded.
For "A moment, as her eyes flashed
into mine, something impelled me to
throw up the game was playing and
.opfaec my ir,poetarSbir lut n SacnpI
thought nerved me to go on.
''It is better" 1 replied, "even here,
to mention no names.
She shrugged her white shoulders
slightly. "Your caution is admirable"
she said. See that You continue it.
Meanwhile, will you explain yourself
more fully. The message announcing
your arrival with the letters we eX-
pected you to deliver tonight, was re-
ccived two weeks ago. You have
watched your chance to communicate
with MS well, and with commendable
caution. But now that you are here
you bring US nothing. Explain, if you
please"
i stammered blindiy (for could not
see which way matters were tending),
that 1t had, at the last moment, been
considered unsafe to send the commu-
nication for which they were looking;
that certain things were discovered;
that another message must be waited
for. Madam regarded me for "a mo-
ment with no attempt towards conceal
ing her suspicion, and / saw her eye
fash darlSly through the black mask.
l stood narrowly watching the three
people before me, my back towards the
door and both hands behind me grasp
ing the blackthorn stick of which had
kept jealous hold. AS l saw the
glances which the exchanged, my
hands involuntarily tightened their
grasp. At the same moment a touch of
cold steel made itself felt against my
wrists and sharp click broke the
monetary stiffness of the room. tried
TO separate my hands and found that
they were cufIed. | made no struggle.
for knew in other eases, where had
been the operator and another the VIC
tim, that the man who submitted quiet
ly 10 his fate stood the chance of best
treatment from his cnptors. | turned
stained hands moving back TO his place
by the door, and then, without word,
brought my eyes hack To meet
madame's. She let n low, dcliciously
rippling bit of laughter escape her
lips.