The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-03
A Secret Of the Sea
A MYSTERY STORY.
By MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON.
Copyright 1909 by the National Press Agency.
Rights
BY MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON.
Copyright 1909 by the National Press Agenc
\ MYSTERY S
CAN Rights Reserved. J

let to strangers 1Or the winter. He had
asked the old man what he did there and
Sidi Mahrez had replied that he danced
in the courtyard to amuse an old Italian
lady, who was unable to leave the house. !
This Italian lady must have been very
generous because Sidi Mahrez would not
dance or do anything else for nothing,
and he Went often to the villa on the hill
Indeed, he had probably been there that
very afternoon. for the boy had seen him
on the way. There was nowhere else he
would be going in that direction, for it
! was lonely place A governor who was
now dead had had the villa built for him,
because his doctor had told him he must
live out of the smells of the town, and
have plenty OF good air straight from the
sea. Yes, he was dead, and strangers
had his house. which was let with all it's
furniture. That amused eccentric for
eigners, for they liked the novelty of
things unlike those to which they were
accustomed, and the villa which was con-
sidered very splendid, was never empty.
though to rent it it was necessary to pay
a good sum.
Perhaps the Italian lady will go away
soon.' said Dick "as it is now nearly the
end of the season. I might like to have
such a place, if it were to be let for next
year. will give you twice what I prom
Used If you will take me out to see this
villa on the hill'
1t was almost dark, and doubtless the
looked SO tired, and wore his arm in
sling should care to go so far when night
was at hand, and so little to be seen. But
| that was not his business, and Englishnen
were all eccentric. as he knew to his own
advantage; therefore he willingly gave his
| services as guide.
1t was a long walk, and Dicks pale face
told no lies as to his bodily sensa lions but
II he had been twice as weary, and the dis.
lance twice as far he would have under
taken the expedition with the same eager
| ness. There was just possibility that
ne was on his way to find Eve; and the
hope was a tonic. He was thankful that
few overheard sentences had given him
this clue, if clue 1t could be called: and he
was thankful, too, that the had borrowed
a revolver from Fox-Smith although he
could only make left-handed use of it, in
case the nee darose.
| When they reached the gate of the villa
on the hill which overlooked Tangier and
| the sea, Dick was about to dismiss his
guide, when an idea occurred to him. He
was working for Eve now as well as for
| himself, and caution was worth more than
courage. He took out pocketbook, in
which were three or four stray visiting
cafds Oh MS own. On one of these he
wrote few words in English, very slowly
and clumsily. yet not ilegibly, with his
left hand. Take that to the Hotel de
Paris, he said, land say it is for Sir
Peter Markham; or; if he is not there, it is
to be given to Lady @Drayton. Can you
remember those names?''
| The boy was sure-that he could and re-
peated them to prove it.
| Very WELL" said Dick. 'IIere is vour
money; and you may ask for another tip
at the hotel. Say I asked for YOU to have
1t. and it will certainly be given. This
was to make sure that the message would
be delivered and when his guide had: gone
ioor
rang the same jingling bell which old Sidi
Mahrez had rung i'll the afternoon. While
he waited for an answer his brain worked
quickly; Tor there was no time to lose in
deciding upon a definite plan Of action.
After few seconds review of the siti1a-
ton ne resolved to take it for granted that
ne had come to the right place, and risk
nothing by beating about the bush. If he
found himself upon the wrong tack. he
would pretend to have mistaken the house.
TO begin with therefore, his theory was to
be that the woman who came to him in
Gibraltar had gone away from this house.
Hardly had he arranged in his mind
what the next step was to be when a small
grille in the toll gate opened and a pair
OF dark eyes peered at him through the
deepening dusk In a few moments now
the quick falling eastern night would blot
out the lingering daylight; but there was
still red glow, as Of a dying bonfire. III
showed Dick that the face behind the
: grille was that of woman.
II have come with a. message from your
mistress" he said, boldly, in Italian.
| The dark eyes widened. MY mistress?'
? she echoed in the same language.
YES" Dick returned, in practical
business-like tone, which he made i'm
7 pressive. "She has been detained in Gil
braltar by something unexpected. an
. friend. She sent me here with a mes
sage to relieve anxiety. But 1 shall b.
3 sorry I undertook this trouble if I an
Y to be kept waiting outside much longer
4 He spoke resentfully, though his hear
t misgave him lest holiness and assum
: ing all things were not the trump care
l.. after all. But it leaped again with tn
e woman's response.
il Il am sorry, but T cannot let you fl
d without my masters permission, she sail
r with an apologize air which made Dic]
e feel like giving a shout of triumph. N
r need now to pretend that had come t.
r the wrong house. This was the RICH
: one Here, behind these high, white walls
he believed that Eve. Markham was hid
$ den, and-perhap s-the one missing lin
: of the Xenia's secret. IF you will wal
here, signor, will go and speak to him
q but do not think that he expected you"
+ mo, I am sure he Doesn't retorte
4 Dick. "But give him this from me. H
h may or may not know the name; but
d Is uOI one WHICH is uSeO TO Delng KEEP
# waiting" He took from his pocketboo
a another visiting card, but this time it wa
n not his own. He had remembered on
a which had been given him few week
d before, when leaving the Riviera with ST
! Peter on the Lily Maid, by an italian
IL the Marchese Contarini, who had take
d a fancy to him at Monte Carlo. He ha
i kept the card, little guessing how he Nigh
:. one day make it useful.
T; The woman took it through the grill,
>, and left him standing outside the locke
1. gaze. Inc moments passed, Sne olo NJ
ID come back.
1T (To be Continued Tomorrow
IT -.