Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-01-21


ruary before we met again, and then
she sent me an urgent summons to her
house.
Now" she exclaimed, before had
been minute in her drawing room, II
am determined that something must
be donel"
what abouti" I asked, not think
ing Of Durand at the time.
About the colonel"
Good gracious" l cried, you don't
mean to say that he is still keeping
dark p
"As far AS l can gather" she re-
turned, no one has seen him. He has
not been to his club l can't
meet man who has entered his
house"
Are you certain he is theref"
Absolutely. l have been two or
three times this week. The butler ad-
mits he is in London, but when | ask
ed to see him l was simply told not
at home'"
Then" l said, there has been no
news of Durand for longer than two
months"
IF l 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?" l demanded.
Il am tormented by all kinds OF sus-
plcions," she answered. He may have
been murdered"
"Oh, but"
1t is quite possible" she insisted,
"and his servants may be in CON
spiracy to act in this way to throw
persons off 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 l have written" she re-
tOrted. Il have begged him to see me,
limited that his friends are anxious"
"Well?"
Il 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 antlcipated?"
"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 | de-
termined myself to write TO the colo
mel. Sitting down at once, l made a
clean breast of things, explaining that
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 little
excitement l saw that the short note
/
well written-to the effect that Colonel
Durand would be happy to see me at
3 o'clock the same afternoon. confess
that l had seldom felt more curious OF
more impatient for a few hours to pass,
for, tax my ingenuity as l might, II
seemed difficult to hit upon a probable
explanation Of Durand's retirement
"Will you walk this way, sir" said
the butler, and, somewhat to my sur
prise, he led me past the drawing room
door, up a second flight of stairs to a
room at the back of the house.
IF you will wait one moment, SIR"
said the butler. as he cautiously open
ed the door and about 10 inches fur.
Their in the room l saw a second door
obviously a recent addition) covered
with black baize. When the servant
invited me to enter the narrow space
between the two confess to uncanny
apprehensions. the more when the out
er door was closed and we stood In the
most total darkness. A moment later
was able to advance within the room
but this also was in such darkness that
it was impossible to distinguish the
position of the window. Though the
day was cold. no fire burned in the
CRATE. | heard the door shut, and as
sumed that the butler had retired, bu
l felt afraid to go further into the
black room, lest overturn some arti
Giles of furniture.
A second later, however. recognized
Durand's voice
THAT you, MarchantT"
Are you there. Durand?" l cried
and then felt hand on my arm.
LET me lead you to a chair" b,
said quietly, and presently his handi
were on my shoulders as he pressed
me down.
"But what on earth makes you sit II
the darkT l demanded.
I'm going to tell you-though
should have preferred to tell nobody