Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-06-11
Continued.

Inc man looked GOWN at Hlm sCIu-
tinizingly by the light of his lamp, and
shook his head.
"Td rather be paid my fare now, sir,
If it's the same to you" he said. 1--WE
driver. parties hereabout before, that
have stayed some time, and when they
come out they didn't always happen to
have the money for fare about then.
No offence to you, gentlemen; but,
you see, know Liverpool, and | know
the house you want, though you do get
me to stop in the next street. | knows
'em by the quality, and when | bring
regular swell tip-toppers this way, it's
always 50, Blank Street, they wants,
though it's only the young 'uns as
gives the address"
"I'lI take your number, and give you
a sovereign as a retaining fee," said
Lord Kildonan, quietly. That will re-
store your confidence, will it not?
When | return, will give you another
sovereign to drive me back to Lime
Street Are you ready to waltz"
"Well, yes sir, under those circunl-
stances, certainly"
This colloquy took two or three min.
utes, and when Lord Kildonan and
Armathwaite returned to Blank Street,
the persons whom they were pursuing
had disappeared. They walked the
whole length of the street looking for
No. 50, as the cabman had luckily given
them an address which Lord Kildonan
fr, he hz q Oh, 4.
We're in search. For long time they
looked in vain. Such houses as still
retained traces of figures on their
shabby doors, seemed to have been
numbered and then REMEMBERED at
they heard footsteps coming quickly
random. There were lights in a few
windows, but there was nothing to
along the street on the opposite side
OF the way-a man who seemed, by
the glimpse they caught of him, to be
well.dressed and OF the so-called ere
spectacle" class, crossed the road, al
most brushing past them, and went up
narrow court or passage which di-
vided one Of the small houses of fne
street from one of the largest. In the
windows OF the large house there was
not a single light. Lord Kidonan
gripped his companions arm, not
with nervous excitability, but with the
satisfaction OF discovery, and led him
up the court in the rear of the strang-
er. The latter was so far ahead of
them already that they had only tine
to see him pull bell, which gave a
faint, single sound. like that of a
small gong and, turning the handle of
door in the wall of the big house,
disappear through it rapidly and with.
out noise.
Lord Kildonan and Armathwaite
came up 10 the door. By ray OF
moonlight which pierced into the mar
row court and showed the woodwork
to be shabby and unpretentious, they
saw to the left OF the door a small
barred window with no light in it,
which suggested a watchful eye be-
hind. and under the bell the number
So in very small figures. Lord Kildonan
pulled the bell, opened the door, and
walked in confidently, Armathwaite
following, with a sense that all his
youthful nerve did not enable him to
put on so bold front as the old
Scotchman seemed to wear with ease
They were in a small, bare, stone
paved passage, with nothing to dis
tinguish it from the kitchen entrance
of an ordinary private house. There
was a knife-cleaning machine against
the white-washed wall to the right. a
ehild's hoop, a broom. and two or three
tlower-pots containing halfdead plants,
in various corners; all this was dim
ly visible by the light of small oil
lamp that flared on bracket to the
left. Straight in front of the door
was a passage. down which Lord Kill
DOMAIN promptly proceeded to make
his way. Armathwaite, who was fol-
lowing, heard step behind him. and
a mans voice saying; 81 beg your par
don. sir Turning. both gentlemen
saw little man, with a haize apron
on. innocently occupied in brushing
boots. Nothing could have seemed
more genuine than this diligent man.
servants surprise at the intrusion Of
two strangers. but for certain look
of shrewd inquiry in his little black
oves. which the visitors did not fail to
u te. Armathwate would have been
ampletely dsconcerted but for Lord
Kildonan. WHO tossing the man a
sovereign, said briefly. Members" and
turned again to walk on. Armath-
waite remembered. with flash of in
telligence suddenly grown keener, a
suspicion which had occurred to him
before; by the time they had reached
the end of the long. dark passage. he
knew into what kind Of house they had
come. and was prepared for the sight
which met their eyes when, directed
by the sound of voices which broke
upon their ears when they pulled omen
a baize-covered swing door on the left
at the end Of the passage. they entered
a room, the atmosphere of which was
almost unbearably close, containing
four or five small card-tables. These