The Washington times., 1907-05-26


Dunfrey drummed necessarily on the
arm Of his chair. why. they may
both be dead. SeQersP
Cheerful little conceit''
10"
Sellers looked at him keenly. do
you yourself?'
L believe it to be a solid fact that
both men have disappeared into that
housed"
"Hum-waitr'
He left abruptly snd for full fifteen
minutes remained invisible He re-
turned then and sat down with far less
skeptcism showing on his thin fea-
lures.
You we're right. at least in part"
he said slowly. weldon hasn't been
at home since the evening before last.
Carr since breakfast yesterday. Peo-
pie at both their hang-outs seem rath-
er mystihed. Oddr'
"Odd,' snapped Dunfrey. impa-
tiently. IT'S not odd-its@
''oh, don't get excited Sellers said.
"Of course, tho whole thing does look
a bit queer. but II may be nothing
more than a coincidence. Ordinarily.
you know. we wouldn't think much Of
either OF them disappearing Like the
rest of us, they're unattached, and
II isn't at all unusual or startling for
either you or OF any OF the others
10 clear out on our own concerns for
days at a time"
Granted. but when we know that
Carr started for this COMPOUNDED House
OF Suspicion"
When we know that he said he was
starting, you mean"
Have It your own way. then. Per
sonalIy, I am absolutely certain that
those two fellows have come to grief
there"'
Notify the police!"
Il don't want TO do that. Suppos-
ing that they really are all right, they
wouldn't appreciate the notoriety and
all that. II they're not all right. some
thing most extraordinary is afoot, and
we must go at It as cautiously as pos
slble. Sellers"
''Weu?"
I'm going 10 visit that House OF
Suspicion tonight
TTush!"
Yes, stree! And you're coming
with me. too!''
Leave this comfortable spot and go
out into the nasty. unreasonable mist
and then journey-wherever II Is? No.
sir!''
IT'S way uptown and you're COM
ing" said Dunfrey. firmly. Il want
to take somebody along. I mean 20 go
into the place myself and fnd Weldon
and Carr, and II may mean a little
roughhousing before we're done. Get
your coat on, old man. I'll be back IN
a minute
He disappeared toward the elevator.
bound for the room he occupied at the
Wanderers while in the city.
He came back shortly to find Sellers
arrayed for the outdoor air alone and
somewhat rueful OF appearance.
Here. Sellers. Drop that into your
pocket; don't examine It here; It's all
right"
What on earth is ftp" gasped the
other.
"A revolver, Of course. I'm carrying
its mate"
And do you imagine that we're
going to give Wild West rehearsal7''
Sellers inquired mildly.
II imagine that we're going UP
against something extremely unusc1!.
and don't propose to be caught nap
ping II carrying a gun will prevent It,
March" HIS head shaking dubious
~. Sellers followed him out OF the club,
shifting uneasily once or twice as the
heavy weapon struck his side.
u 1o
Dunfrey. usually so calm, was distinct
ly agitated. He was, as well, thorough
" determined. and. adding the six
feet and some inches Of hardened mus
Gle and trained wind TO the DOW
erful revolver In his pocket, evil was
brewing for the powers behind the
mysterious house.
Sellers, staring mournfully out Of
the car window now and then as they
passed the more thicloly populated re-
gions and rolled eternsIly through sub
urbs and suburbs. wondered why ne
had come at all 1t was of course, ut
terly absurd that anything could have
happened to the two men, and this
crazy trip to the wilds meant simply
that he was losing the dearly beloved
comfort Of his club for an entire even
ing. Indeed. he doubted greatly If
such a house even existed
When a hoarse voice announced
"Shoreley avenue" he grunted and fol-
lowed Dunfrey silently. Much to his
own dissatisfaction and disgust. Sellers
had been on the point OF admitting
mentally that the mystery Of the thing
had had something 10 do with his &C
quiescence.
'Oh, Lord!' he murmured. as the
car hummed away and disappeared and
they were alone with the few houses
and the fewer lights. This is nice,
DunfreyI"
at might be pleasanter." Dunfrey
admitted. However, come along. HoI-
ly streets up that way, believe"
Their steps rang loudly in the still
ness. Sellers turned up his collar and
groaned. The mist was thick, a warm.
spring-like sort Of fog, with just
enough winter 70 make It wretchedIy
penetrating, too. The gray and yellow
haze lent an air OF mystery to the
whole scene. Trees were tall. gaunt
specters. looming amazingly where the