Evening star., 1896-03-07
PART w,

Apparently he gave the alarm, for in an
instant the eyes Of all four were on me-
l hung moment in sheer surprise: then.
as the lame man and his comrade sprang
to the door in the wall, with the evident
intention of engaging me, 1 flung the shut
ter close. and, cursing my curiosity. fed
down the stairs.
window by which 1 had entered; for all
below was dark, and at the foot Of the
staircase stood, unable in my panic to re-
member the position of the door. A key
grating in the lock told me that, but told
1t me too late. Almost on the instant the
door flew open, flood of light entered, a
cry warned me that I was detected. 1
turned to go back, but stumbled before
had mounted six steps, and as l staggered
up again felt weight fall on my back
and the clutch of long fingers close on my
throat; 1 screamed. however, felt the fin
gers close in a deadly grip cold and mer-
ciless-and then in sheer terror 1 swooned.
When recovered my senses found my
self propped IN a chair, and for a time sat
wondering hazily where I was. recognized
with sharp return Of terror that shook
me to the soul that was still in the hall
of the empty house. That brought back
other things, and with a shudder carried
my hand to my throat and tried to rise. A
hand put me back, and dry voice said in
my ear: "Be easy, NJ. Prosper. am afraid
that we put you to some Inconvenience"
l looked dizzily at the speaker, and rec
ognized him for one of those 1 had seen in
the garden. He had the air of secretary
or-as he stood rubbing his chin and look
ing down at me with a saturnine smile-of
physician. 1 read in his eyes something
cold and not too human, yet 1t went no
farther. His manner was suaVe and his
voice, when he spoke again, as we'll calcu-
lated to reassure as his words were to sur
prise me.
''You are better now?" he said. YES
Then 1 have to congratulate YOU Few
PTnSnpr ha1ia
were ever SO lucky. You were lately,
think. in the service of monseigneur the
bishop Of Beauvais, president of her mai
esty's council?"
I fancied that a faint note of irony
lurked in his words. 1 kept silent.
And yesterday We're dismissed he con-
tinued, easily disregarding my astonish-
ment. well, today you shall be rein
stated-and rewarded. Your business here.
l believe, was to recover her majesty's
dog?"
l remembered that the wretch whose
finger marks were still on my throat might
be within hearing, and 1 tried to utter a
denial.
He waved it aside politely "Just So"
he said. well, the dog is in that closet:
and on two conditions it is at your SER
vice.
Amazed before. I stared at him now in a
stupor of astonishment.
You are surprised?" he said "Yet the
case is of the simplest. We stole the dog,
incurring suspicion. You, on the other
hand, who are known to the bishop, and
did not steal It, may safely restore it.
need not say that we divide the reward; /;
that is one of the two conditions"
And the other?' 1 stammered.
THAT you refresh your memory as to
the past" he answered. lightly. IF have
the tale rightly you saw man convey
lonely suburb. You watched and saw the
man leave, and followed him: he took
the alarm, fled and dropped in his flight the
dogs coat-I think 1 see it there. On that
and gave him the address of tile house,
and
And the dog"' I exclaimed.
mo. Let monseigneur come and find the
dog for himself" he answered, smiling.
''In the closet
1 felt the blood tingle through alf my
limbs. But if he comes and does not find
it?'' I cried.
will find it, he said, coolly. And slightly
raising his voice, he called "Flore! Flore!'
For answer the dog whined behind the door
and scratched the panels and whined again.
The stranger nodded. as well pleased.
There" he said. You have it? 1t is
there and will be there. And 1 think that
is all. Only keep two things In mind, my
friend. For the first, a person will claim
our share of the reward at the proper time;
for the second, l would be careful not to
tell monseigneur, the president of the coun-
cir'-again 1 caught a faint note of irony
the true story, lest worse thing hap
pen!' And the stranger with very ugly
smile touched his throat.
II will not"' 1 said, shuddering
'Then-then. think that is ALL" he an
swered briskly. And I may say farewell.
Until we meet again, adieu, NJ. Prosper:"
And setting on his hat with a polite ges-
ture. he turned his back to me. went out
into the sunlight passed to the left and
vanished. I heard the garden door close
with a crash, and then, s;lence-silence,
broken cnly by the faint whine of the
dog, as it moved in its prison.
Was alone? 1 waited awhile before
1 dared to move; and even when l found
courage tc rise, stood listening with a
beating Heart, expecting a football on the
stairs OF that something knew not what
would rush OH me from the closed doors
of this mysterious house. But the silence
endured, the sparrows outside twittered,
the cricket renewed its chirp and al
length drawing courage from the sunlight
moved forward and lifted the dogs coat
from, the floor. Five minutes later I was
In the streets on my way to the bishops
hotel, the morsel Of velvet tucked under
my girdle.