Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-07
CHAPTER XIV.
Bred in the Bone.


need any elaborate explanation on the
part of Maria Delahay for him to know
that. in some way, the danger came from
the man whom he knew as Waldo. Wal
ter did not doubt that this was not the
first time that the Corsican had visited
the studio, though. as yet, he was utterly
unable to grasp how 1t was that the at
tempt had been SO successful.
There was danger here, and Walter
knew it perfectly WELL but he was too
filled with indignation to think of any
thing else. So far as he could see. moth
ing had as yet taken place The studio
was absolutely empty, and the full blaze
of the electric lights disclosed no danger.
Watching eyes were probably not far
off. and it behooved Walter to be circum-
spect. He whistled an air. He strolled
from place to place, ever and again CLAN
cling upward to the roof. He felt quite
convinced that 1t was the roof from which
danger threatened but there was nothing
to be seen, no sign of movement in the
branches Of the acacia.
Still, the miscreant must be near at
hand. He might even be watching the
solitary occupant of the studio at that
moment. Walter made up his mind what
to do. He switched off all the lights and
shut the door of the studio, at the same
time affecting to turn the key In the lock.
II Waldo were hiding close at hand. he
would take this for an indication that
the studio was locked and closed for the
night.
This being done, Walter crept back
again and took up a position at the foot
of an acacia. If Waldo entered the
studio at all he was bound to come that
way. Doubtless he had made his way
over the roof. and presently it would be
an easy matter to flutter from the dome
on to the top OF the acacia. Such plan
as this would present no difficulties to the
flying man. Therefore, Walter braced
himself for the effort. which would be re-.
quired of him presently.
He had not much doubt as to the issue
From the point Of physical strength he
was q match and more than a match for
the Italian. There was just the chance
that the latter might make use of his
knife. but that had to be risked. A quar-
ter Of an hour passed slowly and Walter
was beginning to get impatient. What
he most feared now was that Lord
Ravenspur might return and demand to
know why the studio was in darkness.
This would probably have the effect of
soaring Waldo away. and Walter would
have all his trouble for his pains.
The minutes passed along and no one
came, but at length Walters patience
was rewarded. He heard slight swish
and sway in the branches of the acacia
overhead ne cOulQ near deep ana TeBu-
lar breathing coming nearer and nearer
to him. Then. presently, in the darkness.
he discerned the 1.-THE figure of the Italian.
A moment later and the intruder was
caught below the elbows in a grip that
made him fairly grunt again. He strug-
gled just for a moment, but the steady
grip seemed to crush the life out of him.
and he desisted. Walter bore him back
until his left hand shot out, and the whole
studio was bathed in flame once more.
Before Waldo could realize what had
really happened, Walters hands were all
over him in a search for weapons. Moth
ing more dangerous came to light than
small sheath-knife. which Walter swept
INTO his pocket He was quite calm and
self-possessed now. He coolly indicated
sullenly
Now 1 should like to have a little con-
versation with you,' he said. You will
recollect that we have met before"
II have not forgotten the fact" Luigi
Silva said sullenly. 1T was at the I'M
perial Palace Theater."
Quite correct" Walter said. Il came
to see that remarkable performance of
yours. / was very much interested, and
1 must congratulate you warmly. At the
same time, it seems to me that yours Is a
dangerous kind of entertainment.
A contemptuous smile fiickered over
Silva's face.
There is no danger whatever" he muir
INJURED; ANYBODY could do it If they had
arms like mine"
Il am afraid you don't quite take my
meaning" Walter murmured. There
are some cigarettes by your elbow. You
had better help yourself, especially as /
am likely to detain you some time"
With a defiant air the Italian took and
lighted a cigarette. He did not appear In
the least unnerved, though the furtive
glances which he occasionally turned in
the direction of his captor showed that
his mind was not altogether at ease. He
would have given much to know what
Lance was driving at. He did not like to
see the other quite SO sure of his ground.
my time is my own" he said. Go
on"
"Oh. 1 beg your pardon, your time is
mine. But l dare say you will wonder
why I am OBTAINING you like this TO
tell you the truth, since your last visit
here"
THAT is not true" Silva cried. Il have
never been here before"
why play with me-" Walter asked
contemptuously. 1T IS some days since
you were here last. To refresh your
memory. 1 am abiding to the night when
you came here by way Of the ventilator
in the dome, and made a murd arous at
the fact that l was not very far away.
1t is no use denying this, because L am
in position to prove 1t. l dare say you
congratulated yourself upon the fact that
to think how mystified we all were Here
is murderous onslaught made upon
public man in his own studio from which
there is no exit but the door. and on the
night of the strange affair the door was
locked. No one but a bird could have
escaped through the ventilator. You can
picture to yourself what a sensation the
business would have caused If tn. police
had been called in and the affair mad.
known to the press. Now / dare say
you wonder why the police We're not
called in at once?'
Silva pulled at his cigarette savagely
but made no reply.
well, I am going to be more polite
than you are Walter said. and l am
going to tell you. l had fancy to play
the detective myself l looked around
for some sort of a clue, and at length
found one. An. l see You are Interested"
"Only In my own safety" Silva NUT
tered.
We'll. that is the same thing On the
floor close by where you ar ut ID |
found a shabby yellow playful. advertis-
ing the performance of Waldo, the flying
man, at the Imperial Palace Theater.
The bill was neatly folded and was of
recent date. Now | know perfectly well
that neither Lord Ravenspur nor any of
his friends would be interested I'm that
kind of thing. Therefore, how did tie
bill get here? Probably left by the flying
man himself, and a flying man would be
the only kind of human being capable
of getting in and out OF this studio in
that mysterious fashion. Upon this |