Middletown transcript., 1905-03-18

buL aFeH you eoAne - - 'y
thing?' I asked. 1T is all confusion
to me.
"And to me at present, but | will
tell YOU to have little or nothing to do
with SergaIi, and to keep as near to
Lady Verriker as possible. She may
be in need of your protection.
"But, Nigel, who is the Signor r.
aSergali? He is the head of a very
large Italian revolutionary society that
Furnishes with death the detection of its
members. Sergali is dear old man
III his private life, but he is relentless
where his society is concerned. 1t may
be that these two men have fallen under
its ban, in which case they will be
pursued to the death." J"
When Nigel left me I returned TO the
house with changed feelings. All my
indefinite fears vanished at the know
ledge that Nigel Buchanan had taken
in hand the unravelling of the mysteries
Of Verriker Court ! knew that if any
man could do it, lie would.
The Signor was in particularly amia-
Bile temper that evening. lie talked
to me in his liveliest manner, and was
almost polite to his hostess, who however
seemed to dislike his attentions even
more than his rudeness. watched him,
half afraid, half fascinated, and wondered
who and what manner OF man he might
be who had SO boldly assumed the name
Of the very man who had marked him
for death. My thoughts worked me into
fever Of excitement which even Lady
Verriker noticed at last.
"You looked so flushed, Ethel" she
said. 'Do you find it too close ?"
"Mademoiselle has once more bright
eyes and pink cheeks" the Signor re-
marked, reflling his glass, and noticed
that at no time was it allowed to remain
empty that evening. "She looks as if
she had heard good news. | was afraid
that the loneliness and depression OF
our society were telling upon her"
was almost afraid Of his quick -witted-
ness, and | murmured something about
the heat and the likelihood Of thunder
storm. Lady Verriker blanched visiblv
at the last word, and the Italian laughed
MADAME has no love for Natures con-
WILSON'S" he remarked coolly. "Doubt-
less she has guilty conscience. =
Lady Verriker rose hastily, and I fol-
lowing her example. 1t seemed to me
that the Signor was not quite sober, and
I'hinted as much to Lady Nerriker. She
made no reply beyond heavy sigh, but
a little later she remarked under her
breath
HE will be going away soon-in a
day or twor'
"Pm very glad to hear it y | answered
heartily; and she seemed to agree with me.
"Do you think that it is going to
thunder ~ she asked anxiously. am
50 terrified by it Y
made some reply to reassure her, but
my thoughts were on the Sgnor's de-
parture. | wondered if it would make
any difference to Nigels plans to know
Of it, and | determined to send him a
note to the hotel in Muddleham to which
he would return from London | made
an excuse to Lady Verriker and ran
up to my room.
'The Signor is leaving in day or two. "
That was all wrote, but knew that
Nigel would understand it. I waylaid
Roberts on his way to the lodge and gave
him the letter, with strict injunctions
to give it to the driver Of the mail
cart that passed every evening about
ten o'clock.
"Ask him to post it in Muddleham, 2
| said impressively, "and be sure you
don't forget tit is very important. =
He assured me that he would not and
went back to the drawing-room.
The Signor did not come into the
room at all that evening, and we re.
tired early. As | was going upstairs
l in my usual hurried fiight-for | never
cared to 60 slowly along the deserted
staircase and dreary corridors-I found
him standing at the head OF the stairs.
He was in the centre and tried to bar
my progress with outstretched arms.
It was apparent now that he had been
drinking, and he eyed me with bleared
red eyes. cannot conceive anything
more repulsive than he appeared then.
evil you allow me to pass, signor
Sergali y said frigidly. spoke in
French as usual, but to my surprise he
replied in English.
"Must pay toll Pretty little girl 2
he said, but his words recalled him to
his assumed character again, for he
muttered something in Italian, as he
caught my hand and drew me to MIN.
| could feel that my face was scarle,
with anger at the way in which he
had deceived me, and at the remem.
brance of all his enormities | wrenched
away my hand and dealt him sharp
stinging blow on the face.
"You wicked old hypocrite n | cried
and the response he made as he rubbed
his cheek proved that his knowledge Of
a certain kind Of English was unlimited
| was SO angry with him and SO pleased
with my own prompt action that all idea
Of sleep became out OF the question
Consequently, when the storm which |
had foretold broke over the house with
fearful violence, | was still dressed
although several hours had elapsed.
For sometime I remained in nv bio
gloomy room whilst the blue zigzaos
OF lightning pierced the darkness and
the peals of thunder echoed round the
exposed house, when suddenly, above
all the din and clamor, fancied that
II heard a scream. Nige's WARNING
flashed across my mind instantly. and
without stopping to think, l ran down
the corridor and flung myself into LADY
Verriker's room.
i The room was brilliantly lighted j, 4