Oakes Republican., 1902-04-25
By Fred M. Mhite
CHAPTER III. tContinued.)

nnally stopped before one OF the big
houses where lights We're cleaning from
the hall and dining room windows.
They We're electric lights. by their
great power, and save for the hall and
dining room. the rest Of the house lay
I'm utter darkness. The cyle bell let off
an approving staccato from behind the
blankety fog as Steel pulled up.
There was nothing abnormal about
the house. nothing that struck the ad-
venturer's eye beyond the eXtraordin-
airy vividness of the crimson blind. The
two side windows of the big bay We're
evidently shuttered. but the large CEN
ter cleaned like a food of scarlet over
laid with a silken sheen. Far across
the pavement the ruby track struck
into the heart of the fog.
Vivid note" Steel murmured. Il
shall remember that impression"
He was destined never to forget it.;
but it was only one note in the gamut
of adventure now. With firm step he
walked up the marble flight and turned
the handle 1t felt dirty and rusty to
his touch. Evidently the servants were
neglectful or they We're employed by
people who had small regard for out
ward appearances.
closed it behind him. \ Morrish Ian
tern cast a brilliant flood of light upon a
crimson carpet, a chair and an empty
oak umbrella stand. Beyond this there,
was no atom of furniture in the hail.
1t was impossible to see beyond the
dining room door, for a heavy red vel
vet curtain was drawn across. David's
first impression was the amazing still
ness of the place. 1t gave him queer
feeling that murder had been commit
ted there, and everybody had fed, leav-
ing the corpse behind. AS David
.coushed away the lump in his throat
the cough sounded strangely hollow.
He passed into the dining room and
looked eagerly about him. The room
was handsomely furnished, if little
& -conventional-a big mahogany table IN
the center, rows of mahogany chairs,
upholstered in red morocco, fine modern
prints, most of them artists proofs, on
the walls. A big marble clock, f1anked
bw a pair of vases on the sideboard.
The red distemper had faded to pale
pink in places.
.Tottenham Court Road Steel
smiled to himself Modern. solid, ex-
pensive but decidedly inartis:ic. Gin
ger lars fourteen guineas a pair, worth
about as many pence. Moneyed people,
solid and respectable, of the middle
class. What brings them playing at
mystery like this?"
The room was brilliantly lighted, both
from overhead and from the walls. On
the shining desert of the dining table
lay small, fiat parcel, addressed TO
David Steel, Esq. The novelist tore OF
thu cover and disclosed a heap OF
cracking white papers beneath. Rap
idly he fluttered the crisp sheets over
seyentv-five Bank of England notes tor
G10 each.
1t was the balance of the loan-the
price paid for Steel's presence. All he
had to Go now was to place the money
in his pocket ami walk out of the house.
A few steps and he would be free, With
nobody to say him nay. 1t was tempt
alton, but Steel fought it down. He
slipped the precious notes into his
pocket and buttoned his coat tightly
over them. He had no fear of the COM
ting day now.
"And yet" he murmured, "what of
the price I shall have to pay for this"
Well, it was worth a ransom. And,
so long as there was nothing dishonor-
able attached to it. Steel was prepared
to redeem his pledge. He knew per-
fectly WE'LL from bitter experience, that
the poor man pays usurlous rates LOT
fortunes favors. And he was not With
out strange sense of gratitude. II
Click. click, click. The three electric
switches We're snapped off almost ST.
simultaneously outside, and the dining
room was plunged into pitchy darkness.
Steel instantly caught up chair. lie
was no coward. but he was novelist,
with novalists imagination. AS ne
stood there the sweetest. most musical
laugh in the world broke on his ear.
He caught the swish Of silken drapery
and the subtle scent that suggested the
fragrance of a woman's hair. 1t was
vague undefined yet soothing.
Pray be seated. Mr.. Steel the sill
very voice said "Believe me. had there
been any other way. I would not have
given you all this trouble. You found
the parcel addressed to you? 1t is ar
earnest of good faith. Is not that
correct English expression?
David murmured that it was. But
what did the speaker mean? She asked
the question like a student of the Eng
1ish language. and yet her accent and
phrasing were perfect. She laughed
again. noiselessly. and once more Steel
caught the subtle. enhancing perfume.
"I make no further apology for drag
ging you here at this time the sweet
voice said. 1--WE knew that you were i'll
the habit Of sitting up late at night
hence the telephone message. You will
perhaps wonder now We came to know
so much of your private affairs. Rest
assured that we learned nothing in
Brighton. Presently YOU may gather
why am so deeply interested in you; I
have been so for the past fortnight.
You see. we were not quite certain that
you would come to our assistance un-
less we could find some means of CO.
.arcjng you. Then We go to one of the