The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-12-05
CHAPTER XIII
A Striking Likeness

Venables regarded the painting
with deep interest. All his journal
istic instincts were now aroused. 1t
appeared to him that he was on the
eve of tapping perfect gold mine
of sensational copy"
,, Now are you quite sure you are
not making mistaken" he asked.
There is no mistake here" Wal
ter Lance said definitely. II am
prepared to swear that that por-
trait was painted by my uncle. OF
course, you remember the sensa-
| ton there was at the time when
the pictures were stolen. They
vanished from the studio in the
most mysterious fashion. Two Of
them were Of comparative unlmpor
lance, but yonder work my uncle
reckons to be the best thing he has
ever done. And | quite agree with
him."
"a portrait, I suppose?" Venables
asked.
well, my uncle denies it. He
says the face is more or less a
fancy one. But I can see like
ness there"
"Of course you can, and a very
strong one, too" Venables ex-
claimed. do you mean to tell me
that your uncle cannot see that
that picture is Miss Vera Rayne?"
THAT Is the point I have put to
him more than once. He says he
can't see it at ALL
my word" Venables said, 1--WE
appear to be only on the fringe of
this mystery, 1t occurs to me that
the thief who stole that picture did
not steal it for the mere sake of
gain, but merely because it is what
it is. don't wish to appear curl
Gus, but what relation is Miss
Rayne to Lord Ravenspur or your
self"
"Ah, that I can't tell YOU" Wal
ter replied. Strange as it may
seem, all know is that she is well
bred, exceedingly beautiful and per-
feet in every way"
ooh, of course" Venables said
hastily. But here is Stevens back
again. 1t wouldn't be a bad plan to
ask him point blank where that
picture comes from"
Walter nodded his approval as
Stevens came back into the room
with a notebook in his hand. He
started uneasily as Venables liter
ally fired the question at him. But
there was no time for the man to
prevaricate.
ut doesn't belong to me-" he
said. "As a matter of fact, it is
the property of man who used to
lodge with me some time ago.
well, it is very nne piece of
work." Venables said in matter
of fact voice. do you think he
would like to sell the picture?"
Stevens replied, with obvious
confusion, that he could not say.
His friend was not an Englishman
and where he was to be found at
that moment Stevens could not
say.
perhaps | can stimulate your
memory" Walter said. Isn't your
friend an Italian? Hasn't he got
something to do with he variety
stage? Come, you can answer my
question; surely it is an easy one.
Isn't your friend in London at the
present moment?"
Stevens stammered and hest
tated. There was something like
fear in his eyes. Lance felt quite
sure that he was on the right
track now.
"Now look here" he said. 1--WE
have come on important business,
and If you refuse to help us, we
may find some other way Of Undue
ing you to tell the truth. On the
other hand, there is no reason why
you shouldn't put five note note
in your pocket Now isn't that pic
| tuIt Tic plOpclly VI hiuh udhlCu
Waldo who is at present under en-
gagement at the Imperial Palace
theater? Now, yes or no."
81 don't know how you found it
out" Stevens said, wrlggling about
uncomfortably. But it is true
enough. Waldo was living with me
about three years ago. He came
back one night with the picture in
his possession"
Not in a frame, suppose? ."
Lance asked.
"He brought 1t rolled up. The
: frame was put upon it a day or two
later by Silva himself"
"Silva." Venables exclaimed. 81
thought his name was Valdo?"
THAT is his stage name" Ste
vens explained. You see, Silva
! had not come to England very
long. He was very poor then, and
| understood that he was looking
for some Englishman who had
promised him employment when
ever he crossed the channel"