The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-11-28


AS he spoke Ravenspur switched
on the electric lights until the
whole of the beautiful apartment
glowed to the illumination of the
| shaded lamps. The studio itself was
circular in shape, and finished in
great dome of stained glass The
floor was Uttered with rare old Per-
parts of the world were dotted about
here and there Round the walls
was an almost unique collection of
armor From the center of the floor
rose a fine acacia tree, the vivid
| green foliage of which seemed to
suffer nothing from being cut off
from the outer light and air. Alto
gether the place was quite unique
in its way, and striking evidence of
Ravenspur's originality and good
taste. On little tables here and
there were hundreds of photographs,
most of them signed, testifying to
the great popularity which Raven
spur enjoyed amongst all classes of
society.
you will have to leave these to
the nation" a guest laughed. what
cosmopolitan gallery it is-a
prince on the one side. and a promi-
nent socialist on the other. Yet,
after ALL photographs are very COM
monplace things. You might look
over thousand before your fancy
is taken by a face like this
AS he spoke the guest took up a
portrait from one of the tables and
held it out at arms length, so that
the light fell upon the features. Tn
like the rest. the photograph was
not framed, and, judging from the
edges it had had a certain amount
of rough usage in its time. AS to
the picture itself, it presented the
features of a young and beautiful
girl, with a great cloud of hair
hanging over her shoulders. There
was something almost tragic in the
dark eyes; they seemed to tell a
story all their own.
"a beautiful face" the guest went
on. The sort of face that a poet
would weave an epic around. I don't
want to be impertinent, Ravenspur.
L
: is"
Where did you get that FROM"
Ravenspur asked His voice sound
ed hard and cold. so that the man
with the photograph in his hand
turned in some surprise. where
did you find it?"
, MY dear fellow, l took it up off
this table, as you might have done.
OF course. it is no business of mine,
and l am sorry if any careless words
I have spoken"
The apology is mine Raven
spur put in quickly. Il was annoy
ed, just for the moment, to think
that that portrait should have been
left about l could have sworn that
1 had locked it carefully away in a
safe You're perfectly right, my
dear Seymour, there is a tragedy be-
hind that charming face. But you
, will quite understand that l cannot
discuss the matter with anybody"
"Oh. quite" the offending guest
said hastily. still. it is a most
lovely face. Now who does it re-
mind me OFF,
The likeness is plain enough
Seton put in. "Why. it is the very
ina e of our hosts young ward
Miss Vera Rayne Is there any re-
: lationship between them, Raven
spur"
why, so it isl Walter Lance
p cried "Who can she be, uncle?'
Ravenspur had crossed the studio
in the direction of safe let into
the wall. He placed his hand in
one of the little pigeon holes there
as If seeking for something. APP
parently he was unsuccessful in his
search, for he shook his head doubt
fully
Not there" RaVenSpur said tc
himself. Most extraordinary lapse
Of memory on my part OF course
| must have taken that photograph
from the safe when | was looking
for something else. and"
The speaker broke off abruptly
He slammed the door of the safe be
hind him, and returned to his
guests. But the light had gone out
of his eyes; he seemed to have sud
denly aged.
Let us have some Coffee" he
said. as it true, Marion, that there
is likely to be a serious split in the
cabinet?"
CHAPTER V.
Vera Rayne.
The conversation became more
general now. so that it was possible
a moment later for Ravenspur tC
slip out of the studio without his
absence being observed He wen
swiftly away to the library, where
he hastily dashed off a note, which
he handed over to a servant to b'
delivered Immediately. He seemed
to be somewhat easier in his minC
now, for the smile had come bacl
to his lips. The smile became deep
er, and a shade more tender, as ;
young girl came into the room. Sh
had evidently just returned from
some. social function. for she was IL
evening dress, with a light silkel
cloud thrown over her fair hail
l. Save for the brillancy of her eyes