The Washington times., 1905-12-31

III the DIdnk rear or the unknown.
when 1 heard the swift tap OF feet
upon the road beneath me. Round
the corner OF the wing came a man.
running with a patter OF little strides.
while a dozen yards behind him were
a pair OF less active followers What
they wanted 1 did not consider: for
at that moment the sight of my own
kind was joy enough for me- The
electric lamps in the room behind me
threw a broad golden patch upon the
STOW, and as the leader reached IL he
stopped, glancing up at where stood
The light struck him fairly In the
face. 1t was Addington Grey
Did you hear that cry?" he painted;
and then, with a sudden nod of recog-
milton: II see who il is. Mr. Phillips
well. and did you hear it?"
1T came from over therein the
fir avenue said 1. pointing with a
trembling finger. Il don't understand
1t, inspector; 1 don't indeed. There
was something that came up that yew
walk behind you about a minute after
ward. I should have thought it would
have passed you"
mo. I saw nothing. What was it
like?"
"A sort Of a dog" 1 stammered:
for under his steady eye L had not
nerve enough to tell him of my private
imaginings.
"A dog-that's curious. Are all the
rest of you In bed?"
NO; they're gambling
VERY good. 1 see there is door
at the back there. VIII you come down
and let me in. after I've had look
around the gardens?"
Certainly"
IF you meet any of your friends you
need not mention that 1 have arrived
Do you understand"
l nodded and he hoped away across
the lawn with his two companions at
his heels.
I slipped on an overcoat and made
my way quietly down the stairs. From
the roulette room, as i passed 1t, came
the chink of money and the murmur OF
many voices
They would not disturb US. that
was certain. I reached the garden
doors IN the center of the main build
ing, turned the key. and walked out
into the gloom Of a great square
porch.
As have said, the temperature was
scarcely below freezing-point. and if
I shiyered IN my fur-lined overcoat It
was more from excitement than any
great chill in the air. For a good
twenty minutes l waited listening and
peering into the night 1t was not a
pleasant time. for my nerves were
tangled. and 1 searched the shadows
with tirnorous eyes, half fearing. half
expecting. heavens knows what hid
eous apparition. 1t was with start
which set my heart humping that l
saw Grey turn the corner of the right
hand wing and come trotting down the
drive toward me- There was some
thing in his aspect that told me story
of calamity.
what is it?". asked, as he panl ed
up: -
sI want you-eome along" he wfis-
pered. and started back by the way
he had come
We passed round the right-hand
wing under my bedroom window, and
stopped where the yew walk ended
Te, fight. and left of the entrance two
stone fauns ieered upon US under the
starlight
-This thing you caii a dog-could you
see 1t as far as this?"
No: the angle of the wing prevented
me-
lyon saw it pass in this direction.
Are you certain II did not go back the
way it came?"
Eyes. I am quite certain"
.sThen. it must either have turned up
the road, in which case should have
met 1t, or down the road. Where you
would have seen IL as It passed under
your windows or else have run
straight on If we take these facts
as proved. il must have run straight
on"
THAT is So
We had our backs TO the laughing
fauns. Before US lay broad triangle
of even snow, with the chapel and
wing of the house for its sides. and
for its base the carriage drive on which
we stood. There was no shrub or tree
in any part of il that might conceal a
fugitive. Close 10 the wall Of the
house ran path ending in small
side door. The chapel, which was join
ed to the mansion. had no entrance on
the garden side
IF IT entered this triangle and dis
appeared-for I am certain 1t was not
here when I ran by-we may conc4ude
that it found its way into the house
Kindly stay here, Mr. Phillips. Ihis
snow is fortunate, but l WISH the
sweepers had not been so cohsclen-
tious about their work on the paths
He draSc a little electric lantern from
his coat. touched the spring. and, with
an eve OF light moving before him,
turned into the path under the wall
He walked slowly, bending double as
he swept the brilliant circle on the
snow ridges TO right and left. The siIIs
OF the ground floor windows We're care
fully examined and when he reached
the door he searched the single step
before II with minute attention. y
curious spectacle he made. this little
atom Of man, as he peeped and peer
ed his way like. some slow-hunting
beast on cold scent.
II was not until he left the path for
the snow-covered grassploJ that l saw
him give any sign OF success He
dropped on his knees with a little
chirrup of satisfaction like the note of
a bird Then he rose again. shaking
his head and staring up at the windows
above him in cautious, suspicious
manner. Finally he came slowly back
to me. with his head on one side. star
i,s. a the ground before him.