The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-27
No. 3--The Swing
of the Pendulum

al danger. ON the Derby day l had
thrown down the gauntlet with a VEN
geance-her object henceforth would be
TO put me out OF the way. ! lived I'm an
atmosphere Of intangible mystery,
which was all the darker and more
horrible because It was felt. not seen.
BY Dufrayer's advice, L left the
bringing OF this dangerous woman to
justice in his hands. He employed the
cleverest and most uD-to-date detec-
tives to have her secretly watched, and
from time to time they brought us their
reports. Clue after clue arose; each
clue was carefully followed. but il in
Variably led to disappointing results.
Madame eluded every effort to bring a
definite charge against her The money
we were spending, however, was not
entirely I'm vain. We learned that her
influence and the wide range of her
acquaintance were far beyond what
we bad originally surmised. Her fame
as a healer, her marvellous and occult
cures, the reputation Of her great
wealth and dazzling beauty increased
daily. and / was certain that before
long I should meet her I'm the lists. The
encounter was destined to come sooner
even than / had anticipated, and in a
manner most unexpected.
1t was the beginning of the following
November that i received an invitation
10 dine with an old friend, Harry. de
Brett. He was several years my
senior. and had recently succeeded to
his fathers business in the city-an
old-established firm OF bankers, whose
house was i'm st. Marks court. Grace
Church street Only a few days pre-
viously il had been announced in the
society papers that a marriage had
been arranged between De Bretts only
daughter, Geraldine, and the Duke of
Friedeck. a foreign nObleman. whose
name l had seen figuring prominently
at many a function the previous sea-
son. I had known Geraldine since she
was a child, and was glad to have an
opportunity of Offering my congratula-
tons.
At the appointed hour. I found my
self at De Bretts beautiful house in
Bayswater, and Geraldine. who was
standing near her father, came eagerly
forward to welcome me- She was a
pretty and very young girl. with a
clear olive complexion, and soft dark
eyes. She had the innocent and naive
manner Of a school girl. She was de-
ligted TO see me, and began TO talk
eagerly.
Come and stand by this window.
Mr.. Head. L am so glad you were able
TO come.
4 want to introduce you to Karl
the Duke Of Friedecl, L mean; he will
be here in a minute or two" AS she
spoke she dropped her voice into a
semi-whisper:
You know. OF course. that we are
to be married sOon?" she continued.
Il have heard of the engagement"
answered. and 1 congratulate you
heartily. 1 should like much 20 meet
the duke His name is. of course. IA
miliar TO anyone who reads the society
papers"
"He is anxious TO make your &C
duaintance also" she replied. Il told
him you were coming, and he said
she paused.
But surely the Duke of Friedeclz
has never heard of me before?" 1 an
swered. i'm some surprise.
i think he has she replied. He
was quite excited when I spoke of you.
/ asked him if he had met you: he said.
No but that you were very well
known in scientific circles as a clever
man. The duke is a great scientist
himself Mr.. Head. and 1 know ne
would Ike to have a chat with you. /
mcertain you will be friends
Just a that moment the duke was
announced. He was n tall and hand
some man of about five and thirty, with
the somewhat flOrid complexion. blue
eyes. and fair, curling hair Of the Teu-
ton. He was well dressed, and had the
understandable air of good breeding
which prOclaims the gentleman. /
looked at him with much curiosity, be-
ing puzzled by an intangible memory of
having seen his face before-where and
how I could not tell.
Geraldine tripped up 20 him and
brought him TO my side.
Karl" she cried, "this is my friend,
Mr.. Head. Don't you remember we
talked about him this morning.?
The duke bowed.
Il am glad TO make your acquaint-
ance." he said to me. Yours is a
name of distinction in the world of sci
ence."
THAT can scarcely be the case" I
answered. ut is true I am fond OF
original research. but UP TO the present
I have worked for my own pleasure
alone"
Nevertheless. the world has whis-
pered Of you" he replied. 81, too, am
fond OF science. and have lost myself
more than once in fits tortuous mazes.
I have lately started a laboratory of
my own, bot Just now other Matters
lie broke Off abruptly. and glanced at
Geraldine. who smiled and blushed.
Dinner was announced. / happened
20 sit not far from the duke, and no.
ticed that he was a good conversation
alst. There was scarcely a subject
thing TO say; and on more than one oc-
casion his repartee was brilliant and
his remarks touched with humor. Ger
aldine. in her white dress. with her soft
rather sad. eyes. her manner at once
bright, sweet and timid. made a con-
trast 10 this astute-looking man of the
world.
glanced from one 70 the other,
and an uneasiness which I could scarce
" account for sprang UP within me.
Notwithstanding his handsome appear
ance and his easy and courteous man.
neT. ] wondered if this man, nearly
double her age, was likely to make the
pretty English girl happy.
AS dinner progressed I observed that
the duke often took the trouble to look
at me. also noticed that whenever
our eyes met he turned away. How
was it possible for him to have heard
Of me before2 Although / was a. sci
enlist. my researches were unknown to
the world. / determined to take the
first opportunity of solving this mys-
terry.
soon after II O'Clock the guests took
their leave. and L was just about "a
fo3Iox~ fhafr. eva r,ot,Ia xx-1re,, n r-oes