The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-01-20
DARK


mas. 1t was the second week in Feb
ruary before we met again, and then
she sent me an urgent summons to her
house.
Now" she exclaimed, before I had
been a minute in her drawing room, II
am determined that something must
be done!"
what aboutT 1 asked. not think
ing of Durand at the time.
about the colonel"
Good graciousw 1 cried, you don't
mean to say that he is still keeping
| dark?"
"As far as I can gather" she re-
turned, mo one has seen him. He has
not been to his club l can't
meet a man who has entered his
house."
Are you certain he Is thsre3"
Absolutely. l have been two or
three times this week. The butler ad-
mits he is in London, but when l ask
ed to see him I was simply told not
at home.'"
"Then," I said, there has been no
news Of Durand for longer than two
months"
IF I don't arrive at some explana-
ton before this day week." cried Lady
Waters, in her most determined man.
ner, Il shall inform the police"
But Of what?" 1 demanded.
II am tormented by all kinds of sus-
picions," she answered, HE may have
been murdered'-
."Oh, but"
1T is quite possible" she insisted,
"and his servants may be in a con
spiracy to act in this way to throw
persons of the scent"
"Durand might never forgive you If
you called public attention to his af-
fairs" l urged. "By the bye, have
you thought Of writing to him?"
"Of course I have written" she re-
torted. II have begged him to see me,
limited that his friends are anxious"
"Well?"
II received an answer in the same
woman's hand" Lady Waters contin-
ued, assuring me that there was not
the slightest cause for anxiety, and
that he would ask his son to come to
see me soon after his arrival next
month"
Earlier than you anticipated"
"Of course" said Lady Waters,
that may be a slip, and Colonel Du-
rand may not have received my let
ter"
Eager for Lady Waters sake as well
as for Durand's to prevent the mistake
Of informing the police Of her sus.
picions. l thought the matter over the
same night, with the result that l de.
termined myself to write to the colo.
mel. Sitting down at once, I made q
clean breast Of things, explaining thai
his old friends, tormented by anxiety
had made up her mind to communicate
with the authorities unless her alarm
should be allayed by the following
Monday. He must have received my
letter in due course the next morning
for at IL o'clock an answer was deliv
cred at my door by hand.
Breaking the seal with not a littl,
excitement, I saw that the short not,
was written by a woman-not yer.
we'll written-to the effect that Colone
Durand would be happy to see mt a
3 O'Clock the same afternoon. l confess
that l had seldom felt more curious o
more impatient for a few hours to pass
for, tax my ingenuity as l might,
seemed difficult to hit upon a probabl
explanation of Durand's retirement.
"Will you walk this way, sir" sal,
the butler, and, somewhat to my sur
! prise, he led me past the drawing-roon
door, up a second fight of stairs to
room at the back Of the house.
IF you will wait one moment, sir.
said the butler. as he cautiously opeI
. ed the door and about Is inches ful
ther in the Don l saw a second doc
obviously a recent addition) covere
: with black baize. When the servaI
. invited me to enter the narrow spac
between the two l confess to uncann
: ap~prehensions, the more when the on
: er door was closed and we stood In tn
most total darkness. A moment late
= was obiS " WAAhAAi AN ASoA
but this also was in such darkness ths
1t was impossible to distinguish til
position of the window. Though IL
day was cold, no fire burned In ii
crate. l heard the door shut. and a
sumed that the butler had retired, b,
1 felt afraid to go further into Il
d black room, lest l overturn some ART
cles Of furniture.
n A second later, however, 1 recognize
Durand's voice
u THAT you, Marchantf'
is Are you there. Durand7" l erie
and then l felt a hand on my arm.
II Let me lead you to a chair"
IT said quietly, and presently his hant
n were on my shoulders as he presss
d me down.