Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-28
CHAPTER NIX.

CHAPTER xxx.
Whether it was Kariue whom I he
2ieved had heard weeping or not, /
could not be sure. / could not have
taken my oath that there had been n
sound at all, but was morally certain
OF it.
1 ran all round the house irving in
vain to batter in a side door, and was
met everywhere by silence and dark
ness. AT the side, however I came
at last upon the extension, from the
tower from which 1 had seen the sus
picious smoke and flame pouring on
that memorable Christmas afternoon
Over the roof of the low Studio"
which possessed no windows, I could
see faint yellow glow, like a lumi-
nous halo or crown, and SUDDENLY. as
stood regarding it in some bewilder-
Lnent, recollected the skylight which
i had observed from within.
II could in some way climb to the
top. break through the glass and let
myself down, the problem as to how
/ should get into the house would be
effectually solved.
/ dragged a rustic seat across the
grass and set it in an angle between
the tower and the low building of the
studio. 1 gave it a certain slantipg
inclination, that it might not fall when
burdened with my weight and then /
scrambled up, not veuturing to pause
for an instant ut the top. for 1 could
feel that the thing was slowly begin
ming to slide from under me.
With leap caught the ledge of
stone that ran around the roof and
setting my knee against the wall,
helped myself up. 1t may read SIM
pie enough when written down in
black and white, but IL was rather n
difficult task in the accomplishment.
and felt that had reason to congrat-
ulate myself on my own success when
1t was done.
Framed in a margin Of dark roof
eight to ten feet in width was the sky-
tight, through which penetrated a sub
dued radiance.
Cautiously, noiselessly, I crawIed to
the round bubble OF glass and looked
down. A curtain OF embroidered In
dian silk was drawn half across, but
through the open space that was left
] could see something of the interior.
AS / looked a figure passed into nv
tine OF vision. 1t was Wildred walk
ing restlessly up and down with his
bands behind him. could hear the
murmur of his voice, though through
the glass OF the skylight the words
were not distinguishable. Suddenly
there came a sharp exclamation In n
woman's voice, and my heart gave n
responsive bound. Wildred was talk
ing to Karine, and IL was she who had
answered him with n cry.
had not expected, when decided
upon trying to enter like n burglar
through the sl<ylight, that Karine
would be in the studio. 1t would
doubtless frighten her very much If
7 should suddenly make my appear
Rnce beside her amid q shower of bro
ken glass, and l hesltated so to alarm
her, unless the man down there was
already commencing to use his power
10 torment her. If she would only
20 out and leave me to give MILDRED
4 surprise / should have been thank
ful but as I could not hope for her to
DO that, / determined to know what
her companion was saying to her.
which had caused her to exclaim In
establishment or perhaps in fear.
| took out my pocket knife, and,
with great care to avoid all noise be-
gan To loosen one of the small panes
from its leaden setting. AS soon as il
was released at one end 1 slipped the
point OF the knife underneath and so
raised it that there might be no dan
ger or its falling downward and start
ling those within the room.
bent my ear over the tiny aperture.
IT made ali the difference in the world.
could now hear every word that VIII
dred was saying.
Il have always, and with some rea-
son, j Think" was the first sentence
that l caught, considered myself
man of more than average mental
ability. 1 am usually prepared for
any traps which can possibly be
sprung for me, but in this instance L
nnd have made my one mistake l
believed in womanS devotion Proba-
bly, 1t serves me right to have been de-
celved. Since you have found 1t all
out through her, may as well admit
10 you that it is true. She was here.
Nobody suspected her presence, or
even her existence. She was very use.
Gul to me in many ways. If she had
proved troublesome l could have rid
myself of her at any time, and she
knew 1t. Instead of doing what l
ought to have done, I believed that
she was willing to go away without
oetraying me, and i let her go free,
with present of a thousand pounds
she could even have asked for more
when that was gone, and would not
nave refused her. l was a fool ever
TO marry her, but she was the hand
soonest woman / had seen at that
time, and, as you know, 1 was some
years younger some degrees more i'm
pulsive. than / am now. / was still
more of fool not to have put her out
OF the way, knowing what she did, but.
as L remarked, that was the mistake
of lifetime. She has told YOU my
secrets, she has shown you certain
things in this house which have very
naturally displeased and shocked you.
She timed her return to this house
very well-jealous idiot!-but she will
pay for what she has done"
How will she pay?"
1 could not see Karine, but l could
near her voice, vibrant with the fear
and horror that she felt.
Better not ask; the question doesn't
concern you. She will simply become
familiarized with the secrets of the
House by the Lock in manner upon
which she didn't count-thats ALL"
81 had never pictured Satan himself
so cruel, so horrible as YOU" cried
I[arina "I fbanl. IIaaUan now % 4