The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-27

 swiftly into porch which gaped in front of us. We stepped. as 1t were flghl on. of the carriage and into the hall. so that l failed to catch the most feeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind Us, and heard falntly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage drove away
 ''It was pitch dark inside the house. anu the Colonel fumbed about looking Tor matches and muttering under his breath. Suddenly door opened at the other end of the passage, a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew broader and a woman appeared with 3 lamp In her hand. which she held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. l could see that she was pretty. and from the gloss with which the light shone upon her dark dress l knew that it was a rich material. She spoke a few words in a foreisn tongue in q tone as though asking question: and when my companion answered in a gruff menosylable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly fell from her hand. Col. Stark went Up to her whispered some- thing in her ear, and then. pushing her back Into the room whence she had come, he walked toward me again with the lamp In his hand
 Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a few minutes said he, throwing open another door. It was quiet, little, plainly furnished room with round table in the center on which several German books were scattered. Col Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmoium beside the door. T shall not keep you waiting an instant said he, and vanished into the darkness
 q glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my ignorance of German, l could see that two of them were treat ises on science, the others being volumes of poetry Then I walfsd across to the window hoping that I might catch some glimpse of the countryside. but an oak shutter heavily barred, was folded across it. 1t was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise everything was deadly still. A vague feel ing of uneasiness began to steal over me. Who were these German people and what were they doing, living in this strange out of the way place? And where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford that was all that I knew but whether north, south. east or west 1 had no idea. For that matter Reading, and possibly other large towns, were within that radius, So that the place might not be secluded, after all. Yet it was quite certain from the absolute stiffness, that we were in the country. 1 paced up and down the room humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits, and feeling that I was thoroughly earning my fifty guinea fec
 Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the utter stiffness. the door of my room swung slowly open, The woman was standing in the aperture the darkness of the hall behind her, lsnu yellow light from my lamp beating snon her eager and beautiful face l could see at glance that she was sick with fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few whispered words of broken English at me- her eyes glancing back. like those of frightened horse, into the gloom behind her.
 would go, said she, trying hard, as IL seemed to me, to speak calmly; T would go. I should not stay here. There is no good for you to do.'
 :" But, madam said I, I have not yet done what came for. I cannot possibly leave until 1 have seen the machine q
 It is not worth your while to wait, she went on. You can pass through the door; no one hinders. And then seeing that l smiled and shook my head she suddenly threw aside he- constraint and made step forward, with her hands wrung together For the love of heavenr she whispered, get away from here before it Is too later
 But am somewhat headstrong by na- ture, and the more ready to engage in an affair when there is some obstacle In the way. I thought of my ffty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey. and of the un- pleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was 1t all to go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having car ried out my commission and without the payment which was my due2 This woman might for all knew. be a mono maniac. With a stout bearing, therefo'>l though her manner had shaken me m / than I cared to confess, I still shook L head, and declared my intention of re- maining where l was. She was about to renew her entreaties when a door slam med overhead, and the sound of several footsteps were heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and as noiselessly as she had come.
 ''The newcomers were Col Lysander Stark and short, thick man with chin chilla bea1d growing out of the creases of his double chin, who was introduced to me as MT. Ferguson.
 lHlS ls ny secretary ana manager said the Colonel By the way, was un- der the impression that left this door shut just now. l fear that you have felt the draught.'
 On the contrary said I, I opened the door myself because felt the room to be a little close.'
 He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. Perhaps we had better proceed to business, then said he. MT. Ferguson and I will take you up to see the ma chine.
 T had better put my hat on, I sup pose.'
 Oh, no. 1t Is in the house.
 What, you dig fulers earth in the house?
 No. mo- This Is only where we com press it. But never mlnG that. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us know what is wrong with it.
 "we went upstairs together the Colonel first with the lamp. the fat manager and I behind him. It was labyrinth of an