The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-10-31
which would lend themselves very

| the panels of the rooms. See," she
said, drawing a curtain aside as we
entered the Venetian chamber, "here
is little door you would hardly OBJ
serve, even were the curtain absent.
The passage behind runs the whole
| length of the house. 1t is dark and
dusty, and I should not advise you
to venture on a voyage of discovery
'It certainly looks very ghostly,'
I said, as we sat on low sofa, COM
fortably slipping our coffee.
The old lady's eyes rested upon me
benignly.
81 feel so happy tonight" she MUIR
INJURED. "You have made me realize
how lonely my life isl
She took my hand and stroled it
softly. 1 half expected to hear her
| purr. Then came one of the most
startling moments of my life.
Mrs. Shepperton, whom that very
| day 1 had seen only for the first
time, made an amazing proposition.
| She told me I reminded her very for
chilly of daughter she had lost long
years ago. She expressed an intense
| desire for my company, and begged
me to go abroad with her on the fol-
lowing morning.
'sIt won't be for very long," she de-
clared soothingly. Sand I will buy
you some lovely Partisan clothes if
your wardrobe is insufficient. / will
write to your mother tomorrow, and
explain what 1 have done. I am sure
she could not possibly mind, especial
ly as we were introduced by a mu-
tual friend"
Somehow I still felt under spell,
and the delightful suggestion proved
too tempting. I have always been
impressionable and somewhat hot
headed, I fear. Assuring myself that
my family could have no objection, I
joyfully consented to accompany
Mrs. Shepperton on her pleasure
trip.
AS we talked over the many de-
lights of foreign travel, I suddenly
started forward, grasping her elbow.
"What is the matter, child?" she
asked.
81 saw figure" I gasped, hiding
in that curtain opposite. I could
have declared the form of a man
stood behind the velvet. The out
line of his shoulder showed quite dis
tinctly."
Mrs. shepperton started up, trem-
bling.
eft must have been your fancy"
she cried, begging me to look behind
the curtain; but, of course, this was
useless. Had anyone been there, he
would have retired through the panel
door into the long, dark passage be-
yond.
I tried to forget what had seen,
telling myself it was only magma
ton; but the memory haunted me
as I went up to bed.
''Never mind" 1 thought. "To-
morrow you will be far away from
this lonely building"
1 dreampt of the pleasure of wealth
and of the many luxuries I was about
to enjoy.
The following morning Mrs Shep-
perton appeared somewhat depressed
at breakfast.
81 want you, if you will, my DEAR"
she said, in her soft, cooling voice,
''to do an errand for me on the way
to the station. I shall drive in
closed carriage, but you must go
round by the town in the victoria,
which will be at the door in a few
minutes. I need little spare money
for our travelling expenses. Please go
to the bank and change this check
for e1OO, which you must bring me
in notes."
I took the check, and drove away
cheerfully, glad to feel 1 could do
her a service.
The drive was a very billy one,
foot of steep descent. AS the car
rage proceeded at slow pace, a
well-dressed man sprang forward,
apparently from the hedge, and took
off his hat to me.
felt myself turning very red, for
hardly knew what to do, since he
was total stranger. Before I had
time to think, he jumped into the
carriage, and seated himself beside
me. nervously grasped the pres
cious check in my hand.
"What do you want?" I asked
sternly, quivering with Indignation
at his impertinent action.
Excuse me, MISS" he said, "but I
want that check for s. 100 which you
are going to cash at the bank"
"You may want it," 1 said, con-
vinced this was case of highway
robbery, "but you won't get it,"
"Don't be alarmed" he answered,
reading my thoughts. "After all,
you are quite right not to give it up.
I suppose you are unaware that you
are being made the victim of very
cruel trick? I saw you arrive yes
terday, and judged by your looks you
were not an accomplish, though the
accomplices are many of the Mrs.
Shepperton, you know. One has
| played her false, and very large
scheme is about to end in failure.
''The old lady who received you so
affectionately last evening, and