The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-02
B !Y'. ANTHONY HOPE.
;o$feStGt6Ey6Z 49, $50

Ing gently 70 and fro, with a subdued
lang at each encounter with the doorpozt.
without moments hesitation the duke
pushed 1t open He stood Ia dark pass
age lie turned the glare Of his bull g
eye on the gloom. which melted as the
column o. light pierced Ii. and he saw
There Is nothing al ALL" said the Duke
OF BsIsville, with Z sigh.
Nor indeed was there save an umbrella
rack, a hat-stand. and an engraving OF
me queen's coronattoa-thing which had
no importance for the duke.
They are only what one might expect
said he
1et he perseyersd and began 10 mount
the stairs. with a silent. cautious tread.
he had not felt Il necessary TO pat or the
poiiceman'S boots, and his tnia-soled.
~eii-tnaz!e BOOTS neither c-e1kAd nor
crunchsd as he climbed, resting one hand
on the balust,ade and holding his Ian
tern IA the other. Yet suddenly some
snins touched his hand. aud u bell rang
out. loud, clear and linking. A moment
later came a scream; the duke paused IN
some oewldsrmert. Then he mounted a
few more steps till he WAS on tie Landing.
A door TO his right was cautiously
opened: an cid gentIeman'S head ap-
peared.
AAdHn LtAfEl, II y the pOtACes CIlsI
the Old gentleman. Then be pulled his
head In and said. ''Only the police, my
dear" Then ne put his head out again.
and asked, What In the world is the mat
teri / thought you were burglars when
/ heard the alarm
Your hail door was standing open"
said the duke. accuslngly.
tut. tut. tut. How very careless OF
me, TO be sure, And I thought I locked
III Actually open. Dear mel I'm much
Obliged TO you.''
A look of disappointment had by now
spread over the dukes face.
Didn't you leave IL open on purpose ?"
he asked. Come, now, You can trust
me-
On purpose? Do you take me for a
fool?'' cried the Old gentleman.
"A man who leaves his door open on
purpose may or may not be fool" said
the duke. But there is no doubt about
a man who leaves il open without a pur-
pose. and SO saying the duke turned.
walked downstairs, and. going out
slammed the door behind him. He was
deeply Disguised.
When. however. he had recovered lit
tie from his chagrin, he began TO pace up
and down the lane. 1t was now past mid
night. and all was very quiet. The duke
began to fear that Fortune never weary
Of tormenting him. meant TO deny all its
interest 10 his experiment But suddenly.
when he was almost exactly opposite his
own house, he observed young man
standing in front OF il. The stranger was
tall and weli-made. He wore a black
cloth Inverness. which, hanging open at
the throat. showed a white tie and a
snowy shirt front. The young man seemed
20 be gazing thoGghttuliy at the dukes
villa. The duke walked quietly up to
him. az though he meant to pass by. The
young man. however. perceiving him.
turned TO him and said:
It's very annoying. but have lost my
latch-key. and l don't know how to get
iato my house."
Indeed. sir" said. the duke. sympa-
theticaily. Which Is your house?''
This" answered the young man. point
ing TO the dukes villa.
The duke could not entirely repress a
slight movement OF surprise and pleasure
This your house? Then you are
he began.
Yes. yes. the Duke of BellevilIe." in
.errupted the young man. But there's
nobody in the house I'm not expect
ed"
II suppose not" murmured the duke
There are no servants. and ! don't
know how TO get In. It's very awkward.
because I'm expecting a friend to call
with my assistance" said the duke.
deferentsally. your grace might effect an
entry by the window"
.'True.' cried the young man. Bring
your lantern and give me light. Look
here I don't want this talked about"
1T IS a matter quite between ourselves.
your grace the duke assured him. as he
led the way to the window.
by the bye you might help me- in an
other matter If YOU like. I'll make IL
worth your while
FL shall be very glad" said the duke.
Gould you be spared from your beat
for an hour?'
1T might be possible"
Good. Come with me. and Well talk IT
ever
The duke had by this time opened the
window Of his villa: ne gave the young
man a leg-up, and afterwards climbed In
himself
shut the window again. commanded
the stranger. ''Oh. and you might as well
close the shutter"
Certainly. your grace" said the duke.
ard he aid IS he was bid
The voun~ man began 10 move round
the room. examining the articles that fur
nished the side tables and decorated the
walls. The Duke OF Bclleville had been
Ter T. year o. two an eager collector OF
q
specimens in both gold and silver. Some
Of these were now IN the villa. and the
Young man scrutiniEed them with close
attention.
Dear me-" said he in vexed tone. as
he returned to the hearth. Il thought the
Queen Ress fiagon was here. Surely
sent It here from Be!icvtlle castle"
TIE duke smiled. the queen Psss iiagon
had never been AZ BelleVilie castle. and il
was TOW IN small locked cabinet which
stood on the ul2ntylpiece. He made no
remark: y suspicion had begun TO take
share ia his mind concerning this strange
visitor Two thousand seven hundred
and forty euineas was the price Pc had
paid for the Queen Bess hagon, A.. The
other specimens In the little room. taken
together. might Do worth perhaps 4 guar
ter s$ much.
YOUR grace spoke - some ether matter
II which might aSs;S; You" Re suggest
"a. FOR the young man seemed 20 have
fallen int Il revere.
.sVyhy. YES. A ten you. I expect
frient. ard u locks very absurd 10 have
no servant. You're sure 70 fiua sui; II
dress clothes IN nv bedroom. Pray Put
tAsrn on and represent NY Tat.t. You can
resume your uniform Afterwards
The duke Bowed ard left the room. The
moment ina door closed behind him he
made ire best y MS way - the Kitchen.
A few words acre enough - lupart his
Suso!csonS q IRE policeman. \ daring
ard ingenious scheme was evidently nu
f,.,. lis uhfece evidently being the theft
90 ire queen BaSs 1sEon- Even row. IN
1.xS thev acted quickly. the you1s ~ A.
might iay ~ hands GA ere cabinet -
which he treasure asy ana ~ OF Wiz Il
In rTice 'Ae daSe had discarded the TO