The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-04-26
BY Fred M. ~hi'e
CHAPTER II. (continued.)

He quickenei his pace again, and
finally stopped before n of the big
houses where lights were cleaning from
the hall inc dining room windows.
They were electric lights, by their
great power, and say for the hall II
dining room, the rest of the house lay
In utter darkness. The cyle bell let of
an approving staccato from behind the
blankety fog as Steel pulled up.
There was nothing abnormal about
the house, nothing that struck the adj
venturer's eye beyond the extraordln-
airy vividness of the crimson blind. The
two side windows of the big bay were
evidently shattered, but the large CEN
ter cleaned like a flood Of scarlet over
laid with a silken sheen. Far across
the pavement the ruby rack struck
into the heart of the fog.
"Vivid note" Steel -
shall remember that impression"
He was destined never to forget 1t;
but it was only one note in the gamut
of adventure now. With a firm step he
walked up the marble flight and turned
thu, handle. 1t felt dirty and rusty 10
his touch. Evidently the servants were
neglectful, or they were employed by
people who had small regard for out
ward appearances.
The door opened nolselessly and Steel
closed it behind, him. A 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 nan.
It was impossible to see beyond the
dining room door, for a heavy red Vel
49,, -.- .J,o 1uyr oar0CG l)1Vl0S
first impression was the amazing sui
ness of the place. 1t gave MIN q queer
feelin.. that a murder had been coflltllt-
ted there, and everybody had fled. leaV,
ing the corpse behind. AS DaViu
co,ehed away the lump In his throas
the cough sounded strangely hollow.
He passed into the dining room ana
looked eagerly about him. Inc room
was handsomely furnished, If a lttie
conventional-a big mahogany table III
the center, rows of mahogany chairs'
upholstered in red morocco, nne mooefn
prints. most Of them artists proofs, on
the walls. A big marble CLOCK, nankeu
wv a pair of vases on the sideboard.
red distemper had faded to pale
pink in places.
"Tottenham Court Road" Steel
smiled to himself. Modern, solid,
pensive. but decidedly inartis:ic. Gin
ger. lars, fourteen guineas a-pair, worth
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 a small, flat parcel, addressed TO
David Steel, Esq. The novelist tore OH
tho cover and disclosed a heap OF
cracking white papers beneath. .Rap-
idly he fluttered the crisp sheets over
seyenty-nve Bank of England notes for
e10 each.
It was the balance of the loan-the
price paid for Steel's presence. All ne
had to do now was to place the none
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 a 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 e of the COM
Sng day now.
"And yet" he murmured, what OF
the price 1 shall have to pay for thls!"
Well, it was worth a ransom. And,
so long as there was nothing %dishonor-
able attached to it, Steel was prepared
redeem his pledge. He knew per-
fectly well, from bitter experience, that
the poor man pays usurious rates Tor
fortunes favors. And he was not With
out a strange n of gratitude. II
Click, click, click! The three electric
were snapped off almost ST.
simultaneously outside, and h dining
room was plunged into pitchy darkness.
Steel instantly caught up a chair. lie
no coward but he was a novenst'
with a novelist's imagination. AS ne
there, the sweetest. most musical
laugh in the world broke on his ear.
caught the swish of silken draper
and the subtle scent that suggested the
fragrance of a woman's hair. 1t was
vague underlined, 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 an
earnest Of good faith. Is not that a
correct English expression""
David murmured that it was. But
what did the speaker mean? She
the question like a student Of the Eng
1ish language, and yet her accent and
phrasing were perfect. She aughed
again, noiselessly, and once more Steel
caught the subtle, enhancing perfume.
II make, no further apology for drag
eing you here at this time" the sweet
voice said. we knew that you were
the habit of sitting VI late at night,
hence the telephone message. You will
wonder now we came to know
so much of your private affairs. Rest
assured that we learned nothing in
Brighten. Presently you may gather
why i am so deeply interested in you; I
have been SO for the past fortnight.
see, we were not quite certain that
YOU would come to assistance UNI
less we could find some means Of co..
you. Then we go to one Of the
smartest inquiry agents in the world
and say: Tell us all about David Steel
without delay. Money is no object In
less than a week we know all about
Beckstein. We leave matters until the
last moment. II you only knew how
revolving It all ,was!"
ESQ your tone seems to imply. ma
DAM Steel said, 5dryly. sf883
"Oh, but truly. You were In great
trouble, and we found q way to get you
OF 1t. But your trouble IL nothing
compared with mtne--which brings
me Ito business. AZ fortnight ago last,
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