Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-01-24
CHAPTER Nv.
Millionatre's Friend.


Directly ! was inside the house Saw
Dry handed me letter from Lawford:
Dear Captain Wood-When left you
IN Piccadtlly, I ran up against some
friends who are much set upon max
ing your acquaintance. They are the
duke and duchess of TERRA Sagrada.
He is Spanish don, she an American
beauty; Susette Bywater they called
her in New York, where she and her
family We're we'll acquainted with your
uncle. Mr.. McFaught
Won't you come to the opera tonight
to be introduced to the duchess? They
beg me to- say that their box is No.
27A. upon the pit tier, where they will
be entirely delighted to receive you.
Send back line at your earliest con-
venience and oblige, yours very faith
fully, Rufus w. Lawford.
1 had no engagements that night but
couple of balls, for neither of which,
after my disappointment in the park,
was now very keen. Besides. 1 had
no wish to be very late that night
saw on my table an official box
straight from the office and knew
that 1t contained the great scheme for
the attack on New York, which was
referred to me for examination and re-
port. l meant to give 1T my best at
tention in the early morning hours
next day and SO promised myself to get
to bed betimes. A little good music
would soothe me, thought, SO wrote
few lines accepting the invitation
and proceeded to dress.
1t was then, as | stood before the
window that gave a view of the
street. I caught a glimpse of the
same forlorn creature looking up at
my house. Was it mere accident?
After what | had heard that day the
smallest matter all still unexplained
assumed a certain Importance.
When left the club after dinner, my
Shadow" was still there. He sank
slowly and. as l thought, reluctantly
out of sight as l entered the hanson
and told the cabby to drive to Covent
Garden. Remembering Mr.. Snuyzer's
communication but few hours before,
this espionage caused me some uneasi-
ness. Yet it was done SO clumsily that
half believed the fellow wished rather
to attract than escape my notice. OF
this had soon a clear proof.
When l alighted from the cab just
short of the colonnade approach of the
opera house, l saw him, heard him,
just at my elbow, having transferred
himself there by the same mysterious
process that brings n trout all the way
from railway station to your front
door to unload the luggage.
Don't take any more cabs, gov'nor,'
he whispered hoarsely III my ear and
next moment he was gone. Who had
sent him in such a roundabout way to
tell me this? Who, indeed, had set
him on to watch me? 1t must have
been friend, of course, and gave the
credit to MIR. Snuyzer. They were evil
IDENTIFY smart people, Nlessrs. Saraband
& Sons. when there was chance of
business coming their way.
The night was not over vat-a pieybt
OF dark doings and unexplained mys-
teries, all Of which seemed to center in
me. 1 could not quite believe-why
should I?-that the scraps of conversa-
ton was now to overhear referred to
me. And yet, had l been gifted with
second sight-had /. indeed been more
alive to the warning l had received
might have been spared much misery.
But 1 am anticipating.
When l reached the opera the act
drop was down, and l thought to cast
look at the house before l made nv
way to the box where 1 was hidden.
Ny hosts We're strangers, and rather
wished to see Lawford first, that he
might present me to them in due form.
So l entered by one of the side ways
Into the stalls and stood there watching
the audience for time.
In the midst of this l became sud-
denly aware that pair of bright eyes
were fixed upon me from another d.
rection, and saw that was an object
OF interest-more of passing interest,
perhaps-to we'll dressed. charming
woman in a box on the pit tier.
Then suddenly lawrord touched. me
on the back, saying:
"oh. oh! So you are here. Come right
along. Let me present you to the
duchess. She's mighty set upon see
ing you" and he led the way along the
corridor to the box No. 27A.
AS we got close to it saw the door
was ajar and was attracted by the
sound of voices talking Spanish, which
] knew. Lawford held me back, pos
sibly fearing to be indiscreet and to
tntrude upon some family quarrel.
What was said did not impress him.
perhaps. for think he did not UNDER
stand Spanish. The voices We're raised
high enough to be plainly audible to
any one outside-A mans coarse. harsh