The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-11-06

"a hOh tuFee udyS thompson
" body lay enthTOned on its
fsssTgT'zssSsss couch at the morgue, but of
sSsMSsy the thousands of people who
fled past it not one could give single
clew to its identity.
Public interest waned and dwindled
and passed on to other things. Even
with me, living at the very scene of
the crime, it faded in an astonishing
way; it no longer occupied my
thoughts. Over my evening pipe it was
not the details of the mystery l con-
jured up, but a vision of dark face.
An inquiry of the janitor developed
the fact that it was my neighbors. Mr..
and Mrs. Tremaine. whom | had met
that evening as l left the elevator.
They had the apartment just across the
hall from mine. and | had thought, OF
course, that l must meet them fire.
quently, but three days had passed and
| had caught not glimpse of them;
their hours for coming and going
seemed radically different from mine.
l heard the sudden opening of door;
a scream. shrill, full of terror.
Rarely have l been SO startled as l
was by that voice. IN an instant l was
in the hall. A red light streamed
through the open door of the apartment
opposite, silhouetting woman's figure,
staring. with clasped hands.
l sprang past her. pulled down the
burning curtains and threw them into
the hall. where Higgins, who had run
up the stairs. stamped out the flames.
The room was full of smoke, but it
was evident that the fire had spread no
farther. | opened the window and the
smoke was whirled away.
"Ah. bon die" cried Mrs Tremaine
in a queerly broken but very charming
mixture of French and English. What
chance! What good fortune that you
Were in your room. m'sieur,'
She had closed the window with
nervous shiver at the cold and then
stepped back into the full light.
fairly gasped as | looked at her.
Charming she had been gowned ac
cording to the New York fashion,; now
she was radiant in a costume whose
gorgeoUsness seemed just the setting
her beauty needed. At the moment it
completely daZzled me. but l was able
afterward. in calmer mood, to
analyze 1.-THE crimson petticoat, the
embroidered chemise with its fold upon
fold of lace, showing through the silken
shoulder scarf; the necklace of gold
beads and bracelets. studs, brooches
what not The sight of Higgins stand
ing staring at this vision with open
mouth brought me to my senses.
Il am very happy to have been there,
madame" | said, and started toward
the door
But you will not 60" she protested.
"M'sieur Tremaine Will be here in a
moment. He will desire to thank you"
The words were accompanied by a
smile there was no resisting. l falter-
ed. stopped.
Higgins was still staring from the
hall Mrs. Tremaine stepped forward
and calmly shut the door in his face.
In that instant a quick SILVER ran
through me- as though l had been
suddenly VII Il " ilt bN1Sl
"a shiver that had in it something
fearfully delightful. And let me add
here that the emotion which Cecily-
for so | came to know her-raised in
me was not in the least admiration in
the ordinary sense of the term. but
rather an overpowering fascination,
such as one sometimes feels in watch
inc a magnificent t. pacing back
and forth in her cas- :. lch, l believe.
was the feeling she i-s.-red in most
men even in Tremaine himself.
She smiled at me again as she swept
past me to a couch in one corner and
sank upon it.
.'Sit. m'sielIr" she said, and notion
cd me to q chair close at hand. Il was
very lonesome. | was weary Of talk