The Washington herald., 1907-11-17
CHAPTER XIX.
The Mysterious Fire.

70 believe that nothing he undertook
could possibly fail But he was not con-
scious OF any particular progress which
his suit had made. He had advanced no
further in the good graces OF Vida Bryan
than at first. There was some obstacle.
lie was sure Of that-something or some
body he could not put his finger upon.
For after taking Phil CalmOnt into his
Office to be under his eye. he had not
given that rival another thought He
could pretty we'll account for every hour
Of Pills time. and besides. he knew him
20 be working hard at his new pro
fession-
At the end Of The dark avenue OF trees.
bat drawn aside from the public high
way. Vic Morris came upon the red
sideHght OF a little automobile. Its head
lantern had been covered with a mask
OF black velvet like the cloth which
photographers use for their stand cam
eTss. II could only have been there a
few minutes for the whole body was
stiil a-trembe with the purr and throb
Of the prisOned forces. Yet there was
no one 10 be seen anywhere about. Bot
Vic Morris had no difficulty in assuring
himself that the car was one OF those
belonging 10 Mr.. Kahn. No one else
thereabouts had anything OF the kind.
What was it doing there at this time
Of night?7 he wondered Had he any
thing TO do with the gift Of the piano
made 70 Vida by means OF Billy Bryan
Was IL likely or possible that light
hOuseman. even one OF long service. could
have been able, with all the good viii
in the world, 20 spend such q sum on a
present 20 a daughter who was not his
daughter"
This appeared SO suspicious 20 VIC
hit L. lf~aT.-
business Of HIS. ne considered that the
circumstances justified q tour OF iuspec-
ton round the cottage. IN the gable
window "a light still burned in Vida-s
room. But all else was dark. He dis
covered nothing till he fell over the
empty piano case, with which he en-
tangled himself producing between them
such a noise or rolling thunder as il
tumbled down the steps that he brought
the angry face Of Billy Bryan 70 an up
per window
Get away out OF that. We sneakin'
hound he cried trying % steal the
piano case that l have 20 return carriage
paid or pay Ter meself-sure- 70 are that.
III be afther putin "a good navy bullet
through ye. ye sneakin' villain. I have
got the range Of that case. and the next
man that touches il Wild the toe OF his
rumber sixteen shoe. goes a good bit
farther than purgathOry door"
The patience and circumspeCtion with
which Vic retired were ouch as he would
have used in an old and dangerous work
ing OF which be DID not know the land
marks. But he reached the outer gate in
safety. perhaps a little ashamed OF hin
self. II was. Of course. possible that the
| "Confdential' might have gone I'D 10
visit his master, Jacob Romer. secretly.
and that he had merely left his car there
drawn up out OF reach OF the casual
paSser-hy while ne transacted his business.
Yes; Of course. that was IT, WHAT jeaI-
I Gus fool he was, after all, Would any
! have believed II of him, Ludovic Morris.
hitherto as inseasible as the average
. lamp-poSt % the frOu-frou OF feminine
skirts
The car was still there. bedded in 4
niche Of shrubbery. and sending out upoa
the night m unfamiliar 0Cor of oil and
hot iron, which strove all too success
1 fully. with the hale pine scents and the
/ Keen night breath OF dew-wet Iaurels
. Vie listened From the cottage there
came no sound Of pursuit one OF .Jscob
1 Romtr s pheaSants down in some dell not
lar away sent up a curious haIf-hunlan
cry, mere signal 20 its mate doubtless
but IN the dank darkness expressive :
! I4c JUN u EccieSlaSIeS OF the painful
and transitory nature Of all things" Per
maps II foreSaw the day when Jacob
Romer's clients and friends would c,rns
forth arrayed for carnage and yyben al
the pheasant kind. hitherto mere .dor,,es-
tic poultry. would suddenly be slaughtered
with arms Of precision and counted by
the hundred head" Ike so many dad
Beers on a South African battlefield
couble glimmer on the steel levers
uncertain duh reflections Of the padde5
leather, something which reduced the re-
Of the side-lamps by the incursion 81 =
more lurid light. caught Vic Morris At
tention.
He glanced behind him. He had beer
absorbed in the examination of the do.
serted car Indeed his fingers had al.
ready been itching to get hold Of the
steering gear. Each CULVER Of the chassis
TOOK him in the fibers OF his being.
But now there WIS something vaSter in
force and bearing behind him. From the
dark mass of the buildings which were
the general Offices Of Incubus. Romer q
Co, a clear. straw-colored flame mounted
Vic could see very little smoke. but be
knew to = moment that the fire must be
a serious one He sprang into the driv.
er's place without a thought. But before
he had drawn the lever OF started the
machine a figure sprang over the wall
What are you doing with my car.
Get outr'
It was James Kahn. But Vic. reeogniz.
ing his man. simply pointed with his nm.
ger.
It's time we were both yonder." h
said. up with you. Mr. Kahn"
And neither even thought OF askine
what the other had been doing there
They kept their eyes on the road. which
in the nearing light OF the burning build
ings became as day.
let her out, Let her rip" said Kahn
excitedly. reaching over TO grasp III,
speed lever.
One at a tEne. IL you please SAID
Vic. holding him at a distance with :
car at present Hands of. Mr.. Kahn,-
They raced down the long hill. and vi,
had just time 10 slow before they strucI
a crowd Of watching miners which fllec
all the wide square IN front of the burn
ing Incubus offices. There was an omi
. nous growl al the sight OF the yellow car
That was for its master. Then a chez,
as Vic Morris was discerned In the drfv
er's seat. A way was made for him, an,
Vic stopped the motor in a bricked court
yard. the buildings about which were no
connected with the burning pile.
Where is the fire engineer he demand
ed. fUriOusly.
1T is useIess-the piping all cut 10 rib
bons." said one OF the two men whose DO
sition compelled them to be faithful {,
, the company, Hector McKiu and Waite
, Grinding.
And the engine of No pit2''
The men 10 man ii could not b
found" cried Hector McKilL They Ia,
taken French ieave-thats your teaching
Mr.. Engineer Morris"