The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-22
CHAPTER IIi.-continued

~ RooK stepped out, and found
himself before a detached house
VI of moderate size, standing
scarcely dozen yards back
from its front railings and the road.
Such small part of the gar
den as was visible seemed to be in
very bad order; but what gave the
house its distinctive look-and a very
desolate look il was-were the win
dows. Truly SymonS had not exag-
gerated and it would have been diff
cult to believe that the house was in
habited were it not that the doorsteps,
the door. the knocker, and its other
fittings We're clean and bright, IN al
most uncanny contrast to the rest or
the house front-IiIxe smiling eye in a
dead face
Crook paid his fare, pushed through
the iron gate which creaked aloud,
mounted the steps, and placed his hand
on the bell pull. He did not ring, for
at that moment the door opened.
The contrast of the door with the
griIny windows was more than main
tained by the hall. It was large, and
clean, and cheerful, furnished with old
oak, and spread with a Persian rug.
On the rug stood a thin, grizZled man
of about fifty-fve, bowling and smiling.
How do you do, Mr.. Crook?" asked
the smiling man, extending his hand.
Il am Mr.. Clifton. I heard your cab,
and l came to the door myself. Pray
come in. My housekeeper, unfortu-
nately; is just taken rather unwell, and
the housemaid, my only other servant,
has her evening out. Let me take your
hat. The absence of the housemafd,
fear. is wholly due to my own care
lessness. I said nothing to my house
keeper about your visit till an hour
gore. But no doubt you will pardon
any little inconvenience-you are so
very kind to come. And is this the
precious parcel -
1t was growing dark outside, and
here in the hall lamp was necessary.
1t had been already lighted when Crook
entered, and now his host took it up
and led the way past the staircase end.
The library is rather in confusion,
and 1 fear the fire is out" he said. II
think we shall be more comfortable
in the dining room. There is just one
step here-be careful
Everywhere the house was most
handsomely furnished, and the walls
We're hung close and thick with pic
lures. The dining room looked large
and somber in the single light of the
lamp, but very speedily candles were
lit on the mantelpiece and in large
chandelier, and very handsome room
was-7disclosed. A set of early Georgian
chairs, with elegantly carved backs,
stood about many-legged dining table
of the same period, and elsewhere the
room was a medley of books, pictures,
and bfic-a4Bfac.
It's really almost the only decently
habitable room / have said the mas
ter Of the house, as he set down the
lamp at last. True, there is confusion
enough here; but in the other rooms a
yf1%-n 1rr1- Il r,41
ing some terrible damage"
Il have heard that your collections
are very large Crook remarked
Enormous! Enormous mean, OF
course, for the size of the house. And
all in the most admired disorder, I give
you my word, Mr.. Crook You may
observe that I say admired disorder
words are so commonly misquoted.
cannot bear to hear classic misused;
but there, that is not our business to-
night. after all! l need not say I am
all impatience TO see the-ah-the
specimen"
Harvey Crook took the wrappings
from his precious roll and spread ou,
the ancient picture tenderly on the
polished table. Looking up suddenly
as he did so, he was not a little sur
prised to note that his hosts eyes, in
stead of being directed eagerly on the
spread silk were turned toward the
door of the room, rather with the ex.
preston of man who intently listen:
than that of one who looks.
There it is, Mr.. Clifton" Crool
said; and this is the certificate 1 hat
with it,
The others eyes came quickly bacl
to the table. ..Ah, precisely" he said
Precisely. A very wonderful and in
teresting specimen, to be sure. Ant
ole
am really infinitely obliged to you, MI
Crook-qufte infinitely obliged to you.
This connoiSSeurs manner puzzled
Harvey Crook. Where was the pas
sionate enthusiasm, the delighted won
der, that Mr.. Clifton's letter had le
him to expect as matter of course
The words were the polite words of on
who is expected to admire somethin
that fails to interest him; though Ger
tainly they were delivered with muc
emphasis and a tone of great warmth
L got it in China Crook explained
''at Soochow. 1t was an exchange fo
some manuscript that / knew couldn
sell anywhere else A Japanese exper
thought "a vast deal of it. You know
of course, that in Japan the work c
the ancient Chinese painters is NOR
highly priced than in China itself"
Indeed? Oh, yes, of eourse-ye
certainly, SO it is. Very extraordinar.
isn't it? You know 1 can't tell yo
how Immensely obliged am to you fc
coming and showing me this, NJ
Crook, rea1lyl'
you mentioned some copies you has
which you wished to compare wit
this. Perhaps"
eAh-of course. so I did. had a
most forgotten. Well just-what We
that?"
He stood stock still, his face palli
his palm raised, his eyes directe
toward the door, listening intentl.