The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-11-30
CHAPTER X.-CoNrINuEp.

IeH9 EOOtbteUas anu UuNlUH Eu uitUu NUt
strange attempts TO play spy on US. ] made
no doubt but that here was the culprit, and
followed up. ! saw the figure turn at the
end Of the corridor and enter another gal
icry, then another. md yet another. finally
vanishing M II were against the wall. Owing
10 my not knowing the way properly. and to
che scmi.gloom, ! was unable TO follow fast
enough TO ovcrtake the spy. who fitted
before me like ghost. but IN n very human
hurry. When at length ] came up to the
wall, ! looked 10 &c u there was a door Of
any kind; but could discern nothing. and was
% astonished that for a moment felt n IT.
tle chilled. thinking that u may have been
Q spirit after all. Fortifying myself, how.
ever, with the thought that " II was spirit
u seemed in no way anxious to meet me, ]
went 10 a closer examination. and saw by
che moonlight that ] wns before n door.
painted in exact imitation Of the marble
wall. This settled my doubts, and. putting
my shoulder to u, ] made q trial, with all
any strength. to force passage. but In vain.
] therefore gave up the matter, and turned
10 Rnd my way back. This was, however,
easier said than done. ] could not find the
gallery ! wanted, and, after cropping about
bopclessly for a little time. thought ] had
best give q shout, which would no doubt
summon some one to my aid. ] was just
about 10 curry this into execution, when, on
further reflection. II struck me that might
be landed In other difficulties thereby. and
thnt ! might make another try To free my.
self, without bringint the house about my
ears. and perhaps compromising the sec.
retary, who had, ! saw, nm cntcrprising and
active enemy under his roof. So stillcd my
tongue and made further exploration, with
the result that found myself before stair
way that led to the floor below me, and de-
termincd to see where this would take inc.
Accordingly ] descended M softly M pos
sible, aud arrived IN lew steps ut a small
landing, covered by a carpet so thick that
] felt ms u ! was treading on the soitest moss
At the end OF the landing. and opposite to
me, was halfopened door, the room IN
side being In light. stepping nolselcssly up
TO the door peered IN. and saw chamber
furnished with the utmost luxury, and ap'
parently just vacated by it's occupants. In
corner OF the room stood harp. lying on a
table close to low luxurious seat were some
articles of dainty feminine embroidery; soit
silken curtains shrouded the walls, and the
ceiling was painted, apparently with some
approximation oi the history oi the house.
white marble figure OF Cupid held out at
arms length lamp, whose opal shade soit'
cned its bright light and ON gilded tr'.
angie. set IN IN aleove' swung . oiue ana
scarlet macaw- rare eastern b'rd-who'
with his head tucked under his wing, slept
In position which would be 'ntolerabie
torture to any other created thing except a
bird. u was cieai that J had invaded tue
private. sitting'room OF the ladies', or lady,
Of the household; ana ! was about TO beat
Q nasty RETREAT, when the screen OF an inner
room was swung inside, aud saw before me
my two unknowns of the garden OF st
Michael, and the giyer oi the tari winch had
saved me from death. IL was too late To go
back now, as the sound OF my feet on the
saarblc stairs would certainly reach and
perhaps alarm them, tread ever no softly;
~ ! resolved TO stay where was until they
tct'red again, ana then go bocR' ihs
Judged. would be very shortly as Il was
late. had not, however, Shihclen' expert
nocturnal confidenccs, IN whieh the inir seN
indulge with each other, extend. In the
meantime ! could not but admire the grace
ful figures before me, and especially OF her
who had given me the tari. Clad IN SOFT.
clinging robe. clasped by jewel ut her
throat, una a silver girdle round her waist,
with her pale, proud features act ~ mass
~ot dark hair, she seemed TO me an embodi'
nent OF pure womanhood, and thought
how lucky the man would be VINO ronld nave
such companion To hc'p MN through NE
] guessed also that the other was the whc
Of Machiavelii, beins aidcd thereto ny her
statement, when drove In'gi OIL that her
husband was one who con'd hc'p me hnch'
At the same time could not but ieel some
pity In my heart tor her, when Thought she