Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-02-23
LOST MAN S LANE.
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
I CHARTER XyI-GoNTINUED!

tai, f,,f~Iaffrp( miI *. . t.iil' En- ~
AZ CHARTER XyII-C CONTINUED! nf
not yet seen proJruu1ng from unuer a
cushion of one of the lounges had a
curiosity to see if it were similar to the
rest, and quickly d'awing it out took
one look at it., -.,,,,-...,-.-..g t.,,n, am
need not tell what it was, but after
hasty glance here and there through
it's pages put it back, shuddering. If
any doubt remained in my breast that
William was one of those monsters who
feed their morbid cravings by expert!
ments upon the weak and defelseless, it
had been dispelled by what I had just
seen IN this book. .,.,J
/ did not leave the room, however,
Immediately AS it was of the greatest
importance that should be- able to To-
cate in which of the many apartments
on the floor above the supposed prisoner
was lodged I cast about me for the
means Of doing this through the loca-
ton Of the room in which then was.
As this could only be done by afixing
some token to the window which could
be recognized from without thought,
first, of thrusting the end of my hand
kerchief through one of the Stats of the
outside blinds; secondly, Of simply
leaving one of these blinds ajar, and
finally of chipping off piece with the
penknife l always carry, with innu-
merable other small things, in the bag I
invariably carry at my side. Fashion,
I hold, counts for nothing against con-
venience.) ..u... :. .lgi rq-.... .u
This last seemed by much the best de-
vice. A handkerchief could be discover
ed and pulled out, blind could be
shut, but silver once separated from
the wood nothing could replace it or
even cover it up without itself attract
ing attention, .~,r,..i Il .I.. ~ .a.
Taking out my knife, 1 glanced at
the door leading into the hall, found it
still shut and everything quiet behind
it, Then l took look into the shrribs
and bushes of the yard outside, and, OBJ
serving nothing to disturb me, shipped
off a bit from one of the outside edges
of the Stats and then, carefully reelosed
the blinds and the window. If .u.i
was crossing the threshold when I
heard a rapid footstep in the hallway.
Miss Knollys was fastening down the
hall to my side.
"Oh, Miss Butterworth," she ex-
claimed, with one quick look into tho
room was leaving, this is William s
den, the one spot he never allows any
of Us to enter. | don't know how the
key came to be upon the string. 1t new.
er was before, and am afraid he never
will forgive me. ''..'
"He need never know that have
been the victim of such mistake"
said l. my feet leave no trail, and as
use no perfumes he will never suspect
that I have enjoyed glimpse of these
old fashioned walls and ancient cabi-
nets. "
1.-THE blinds are little open," she
remarked, her eyes searching my face
for some sign that 1 am sure she did not
find there. "Were they so when you
came I'M"
"Some, but not so much as now.
Shall put them as found them?"
mo. He will not notice. - And she
hurried me out, still eying me breath
lessly as if she half distrusted my COM
posure.
Come, Amelia" 1 now whispered
in self admonition, "the time for exer-
ton has come. Show this young wom-
an, who is not much behind you in self
control, some of the lighter phases Of
your character. Charm her, Amelia,
charm her, or you may live to rue this
invasion into their secrets more than
you may like to acknowledge at the
present moment"
A task of some difficulty, but rejoice
in difficult tasks, and before another
half hour had passed had the satisfac-
ton of seeing Miss Knollys entirely re-
stored to that state of placid melancholy
which was the natural expression of her
calm but unhappy nature.
We visited the shell cabinet, the blue
parlor and another room the peculiari-
ties Of which have forgotten. Fright
ened by the result Of leaving me to my
own devices, she did not quit me for an
instant, and when, my curiosity quite
satisfied, limited that q short nap in
my own room would rest me for the
evening she proceeded with me to the
very door of my apartment. ...
THE locksmith whom I saw thi:
morning has not kept his word" I re-
marked as she was turning away. '.'
None of the tradesmen here dc
that" was her cold answer. II have
given up expecting having any attention
paid to my wants. +" '.
"Humph," thought I. Another pleas
ant admission. Amelia Butterworth,
this has not been cheerful day.. ..,
I'd, CHAPTER XVIII.
-. THE SECOND NIGHT