The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14
PAGES 1T TO 2s

I, apostrophizing her retreating figure. "Who plays with you has dangerous opponent But there is such thing as overreaching oneself. Today l should have left you without a sign. NO" remain to see the game out, even though l am beaten"
 That night went to the same room. As 1t had been thoroughly ventilated begged that no change be made l was just drifting into doze when stealthy footstep fell upon my ear. seeming to come from the corner of the room behind me, I was wide awake tn an instant, but I suppressed the impulse to betray myself by motion The footstep was re- peated again and again. and seemed ap- preaching, accompanied by deep sup pressed breathing. The sounds ceased at the bedside, with a long sustained inspir- ation At that moment with sudden twist of my body, brought myself 10 my feet on the floor. prepared to grapple with the intruder. To my consternation there was no one there.
 My first thought was that my imagi- nation had played me a trick by misin- terpreting some distant sound; but. no. almost in my face I heard the same long breath expelled in sigh, while the foot steps turned and retreated to that corner whence they had first issued Then, in a nervous fury, I sprang after the re- Ir6atlnR SOuHuS anu bHsceS tiAoA es~As cue my blows met with no resistance. lit the gas and searched the room. only to find that 1t had no occupant but myself
 The next day was Christmas, and, de- spite my exciting experience. l was It, erally "up with the lark" went out into the garden for a stroll. for the weather was delightfully."- oalmy for that season of the year. had taken turn out as far as q little piece of woods on the edge of the estate and was nearing the house on my return when became aware of the fact that was followed had just passed the weather beaten oak on the edge of the garden This one- time giant had been denuded of it's su- perstructure by the gales of decades. but it's trunk had grown until now it was pointed out to visitors as the tree of larg- est girth on the estate. On the side whence I had come there was a large cavity in the trunk. In this had been fitted a small shelf, with seat below 1t.
 turned about quickly. but saw no one. was about to proceed whom I ob- served a small portion of the bottom of a woman's dress obtruding beyond the edge of the tree. walked back and found Mrs. springthorpe sitting in the recess of the tree apparently engrossed in the con- tents of a book which lay open before her.
 She looked up and cheerily greeted me. I Mrs. Springthorpe was worse than any woman ought to be, but her smile of greeting was so ingenious, her surprise at seeing me SO genuine, that for the mo- ment my suspicious were dissipated She observed that she was about to return to the Grange and rose as though to ac- company me. At the time 1t did not occur to me that the ordinary person would not select Christmas morning for an an outdoor reading, but this was not an ordinary woman.
 Christmas passed at Gravelly Grange as it usually passes in the country houses of wealthy persons. There were the usual services at the church. the usual good cheer on the table and the usual Christmas tree in the evening for the guests. At the latter function Mrs. Springthorpe was at her best. She greeted every woman and child with a condescension so charming as to rob 1t of the implication of superiority. She was undoubtedly the most popular per- son present and Springthorpe's eyes fol- lowed her with an eagerness and affec- ton that to me, were almost pitiable.
 After the Christmas tree festivities, host, hostess and guests danced merrily together, and the celebration was kept up until a late hour When we went to our rooms, we were a very tired lot of mortals; but, despite my fatigue, I de- termined to remain at my post to await developments threw myself half dressed upon the bed. resolved that noth- ing should tempt me to go to sleep. But the flesh is weak. and in short time was in as deep slumber as though noth- ing were on my mind. Suddenly l start ed up. awakened by the siuddeEtng sound of my slowly rising window.
 There, without the window. outlined against the sky, appeared & dark robed. hooded figure. like that of Capuohin monk. Slowly the sash ascended to its full height, and noiselessiy the figure mounted upon the aill. and. stepping up on the window seat, reached the nooN whence 1t glided into the shadow that Alied the corner of tho room and was lost to sight.
 After an anxious interval I again saw its dark outline encroaching on the area of diffused light that lay between me and the window, and knew that it was slowly drawing toward me- As 1t ap- preached the same stealthy footfall and deep. suppressed breathing I had heard the night before became audible. By the side of the bed 1t halted. with deep lnspir- ation, and a hand holding something which gleamed was lifted above the head Dropping, my feet to the noor, l sprans up, seiztng the uplifted arm with my left hand and with my right arm pinioning the figure against my breast.
 There was a womans cry, the gleaming thing fell to the floor. and the figure lay limp in my embrace I placed It in chair and hastily lit the gas.
 Then saw the insensible form of MrA Sprinethorpe and on the floor one of my own surgical knives, which had thought secure in the case In my portmanteau. I had solved the mystery.
 As Mrs Spirngthorpe recovered her sonses we remained gazing at each other In silence.
 Well" she said at last. 'you have conquered. You know everything"
 Unhappy woman, said. T know that you caused the death of your former mis- tress because she stood in the way of your ambition, and that you have twice attempted my life"
 She slipped to the floor at my feet.
 Mercy mercy!" she cried. If you knew how I dreaded this moment! It was your life against his love. All night I paced my room. crying. You shall not part us!' "
 "I heard you in my sleep.
 "Yes; years ago I discovered the se- cret of these two rooms. the curious acoustic fact that at certain points in one low. intense sounds are reproduced in the other, with such vivid disdnctness as to seem actually present. and so I heard you breathing as you slept and the thought came to me as it came to