The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-12

station, wondering, yuely, where she had
heard Mrs. Andrews voice before.
1t was musical educated voice. and came
rather as surprise from so otherwise home
ly person.
Madeline was very sure that they had never
met before.
The woman was quite a stranger to her
a quiet person, evidently belonging to the
lower middle class. a
They conversed in desultory way as they
drove through the streets, and Medicines
thoughts were so busy conjecturing what
could be the nature of the service Ambrose
desired to ask at her hands, that she scarcely
noticed how long the drive was.
Mrs. Andrews cast a furtive glance now
and then at her companion, glance which
Madeline did not see, fortunately for her.
Are we nearly thare? | had no idea that
it was so far to Chelsea she sad at length,
in a tone of anxiety. Il am afraid 1 shall
never be able to catch the return train at
quarter past three.
| They were passing through a succession Of
dull streets. thanked on each side by rows of
what had once been respectable private
houses, out were now evidently let out as
| lodgings, while now and again there were
few poverty stricken shops thrown out from
the fronts of these buildings.
"The man has chosen a rather circuitous
route, but we are nearly there now miss.
thoroughfare account of the drains being
up" explained the woman, looking anxiously
out of the window.
She called to the driver, and babe him take
the second street to the right.
I'VE will get down at the corner, miss, if
you have no objection. Mr.. MILFORD particu-
larry wishes not to attract attention to his
whereabouts. l an, afraid the poor young
gentleman is very awkwardly placed just
now. He seems frightened at his own
shadow
Madeline turned pale.
These precautions seemed to verify her
worse fears; there must be some terrible COM
! plication this time.
Mrs. Andrews stopped the cab at the end of
cIahI INV tno1 ctc eho oy,I
Madeline alighted
She paid the driver, and watched until he
had driven away.
ct is just as well to be careful Mr.. Will
ford has made me that lately; indeed, he has
made me downright nervous
+ They walked along together, past dilapi-
! dated oak paling, that enclosed garden, In
which still fourished some large sycamore
and chestnut trees the foliage of which was
very dense, and affarded a welcome shelter
from the sun.
When was girl, there were some beau
| tful old houses about here, but the ground
has been sold for building lease or most
of them. This, place rs still left, though it is
very poorly inhabited: Come through here,
Mss it is Sho Tt,c cut b into the Desborough
Madeline followed her guide through the
crazy carriage gates and along the damp,
moss-gr drive.
| AS they were nearing the house. a tall
woman, dressed in black, down the steps.
| "Oh Mrs Andrews!" she sad with an air
of relief; Il glad you happened to
come through this way. The police have been
after the young gentleman at your house
Mr.. MILFORD his name is, isn't it? AS luck
would have it, he had just looked in to see the
master, and he's here now.
"Bless me, are you the young lady he wants
to see?" she exclaimed, compunctiously, as
Madeline turned deathly pale. well, 1 am
sorry 1 spoke before you. You mustn't take it
! to heart, miss; the young gentlemans sure to
get out of it all right He's in the laboratory
with the master. Had the young lady better
see him here, or risk going back with him to
your house?" she asked, speaking in an aud
| ible aside to Mrs Andrews who was looking
anXiouSly at Madeline.
Il think you had better see him here, Miss
Haldane, if you have no objection. This house
belongs to DR.. Grimwade-he is a friend of
Mr.. Wilfords.'
Madeline made gesture of assent for she
too much agitated to speak; and the
woman in black led the way UP the steps and
into the dark-panelled hall.
Madeline followed her along the passage to
a room in the of the house.
IF you will wait a few moments, I will run
and tell Mr. MILFORD you are here she said,
as Madeline entered.
She and Mrs. Andrews both withdrew
closing the door behind them, and Madeline
sat down to await Ambrose's advent with
what patience she could command.
| Some time elapsed, and she began to feel
vaguely uneasy.
delay, and. rising from her seat, she looked
round the walls for bell.
! 1t a very oddly arranged room she
| thought, noticing for the first time that it
was, like the hail. panelled with oak
Where was the door? she wondered look
ing round with sudden alarm.
| Every panel was precisely like every other
and, far she could see there was no
sign of any means of egress.
| Madeline's heart began to beat heavily and
| wild fear possessed her.