Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-04-18
GERS were standing in a little group.

| "GeNtlemen, she said, In the low
quiet tone only high-bred woman car
assume, II commanded you, few mo.
ments ago, to leave my room, since
you had surprised and angered me by
entering it by force. am mistress
not alone here, but of all this house
The house now place at your dispos.
al for your search, begging that YOU,
will begin it here. My cousin, Mr.
Chester, is familiar with every nook
and corner. You Can have no more
valuable assistant. To my knowledge,
my roof liarbors no criminal; but since
the spies surrounding my house declare
it otherwise, beg that you viii. salts.
fy yourselves
She motioned with her hand that
they should enter, then turned and pre-
ceded them back into the room.
They stood, uncertain what to do.
but Randolph Chester. livid with an
ger. and trembling with the fear born
of Beatrice's cold and naughty ~llm,
that some strange mistake had been
made. roughly ordered that they begin
the search.
Once more Beatrice threw herself
| listlessly back upon the cushions of the
lounge. and watched them with quite o
smile of inexpressible scorn.
The opened closets and peered be.
hind curtains: ruthlessly invaded pos
sible and impossible places where a
man might be concealed; but, at the
end of fifteen minutes, they were fain
to confess themselves defeated, and to
acknowledge that at least in the pri-
vate apartments of Grey Oaks young
and beautiful mistress no one was in
hiding.
"Are you satisfied?" she asked her
cousin. in cold, cutting tones.
| Satisfied" he echoed. Satisfied
that Bertram Talbot is under this roof?
| Yes; and am also satisfied that you
could disclose his hiding place.
II thought that you were searching
for thief" was the reply she deigned.
"Aye, and we will find a thief" re.
piled Chester.
"You know the house." she said. 81
trust you will see that these gentle
men Slightly emphasizing the latter
world will have no cause to. complain
that any portion of it has been over
looked
He drew to her as she spoke these
words. and leaning over, whispered in
her ear so that only she might hear:
''Take care, Beatrice!" he said. "Do
not try me too far. Remember that
am master here!"
"Of Grey Oaks-yes, perhaps" she
answered, aloud, the blood rushing hot
ly to her cheeks. But of Beatrice
Markham-no!"
''Of Beatrice Markham" he ques.
toned, drawing out the latter name.
us there a Beatrice-Markham?"
"Coward!" she rejoined, and he
WINGED as though she had struck him
with her open hand.
But he turned and led the men from
the room.
For two hours, from turret to cellar,
the search was carried on without re-
suit.
1--WE must have been misinformed.
Mr. Chester" said their foreman: land
we have lost valuable time, I fear.
Could the man who first gave you this
news have any motive in leading you
on a false track?'
'None," answered Chester. gloomily.
tered this house; but unless he pos
sesses the power to render himself in
visible, it cannot be-"
:lu0Ii, l0lI Lie ScdiCu dUdIlu>
oned, and the officers gone in pursuit
Of some new clue, he gave himself up
to black thoughts and baffled anger.
"Again the officers words occurred
to him:
Could the man who first gave you
this news have had any motive in lead
ing you on a false track?"
Surely, all Tyrrell's interests lay in
serving him; but suppose-suppose he
were attempting double game?
Tyrrell was still Thy his orders) hold
ing his vigil beneath the windows Of
Beatrice's room. Beset by this new
doubt, he walked to the window, and
gave a long, low whistle, which would
indicate to the man that his master
wanted him.
The summons was almost instantly
obeyed.
With slow, shuffling step, Tyrrel)
approached.
st wish to speak with YOU" said
Chester, noting that the mans eyes
sank beneath his gaze. "You gave us
false information last night. What
prompted you?"
II told you the truth, sir!" was the
half -sullen, half-dogged answer.
''The TRUTH" repeating his question.
Where, then, is the man you swore
you saw enter the house. We have
searched in every nook and corner, and
can discover no trace of him.
Its Tot my business, sir, to know
his hiding place; but saw him, plain
enough; saw him climb the tree, and,
as he sprung from it to the balcony
outside Miss Beatrice's window, the
light streamed on his face and rec
ognized him, quick enough"
"You are sure there could be no mis-.
take?"
"Id swear to it, sir.''
Chester laughed, ironically.
I'm afraid your oath would not go
for much in a court of law, Tyrrell.'
cit d be as good as some other mems.
sir"
Chester's face flushed holly.
"What do you mean?" he Numbered.
''Take care, you scoundrel! Remem-
Der that I have q moose about your
neck and can make you swing; and, by
heaven, If ever hear of your playing
mo false Til do IT. Now pOi Won need