The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-03

the foreigner in London. he remembered,
often engages servants without sufficient
inquiry into their past
For few moments he stood notion
less, his ears strained, at the door.
The movement was repeated. Some one
seemed to be leaving the dining-room, for
ne distinctly heard the light football
Therefore, with scarce a sound. lie crept
down the steps to the pavement and de-
scended the winding flight to the area
door With great caution he turned the
handle. but ALAS the knob went right
round in his hand. the door remaining
stif fastened
A light showed in the kitchen, but
whether any one was there he Of course
could not tell Again he tried the door.
but without avail II was securely fas-
tened. while. as far as he could ascertain.
there were no marks OF any forcible en-
try.
Should he rap ar the door? Or would
that further alarm the intruders? He
had knocked many times al the front
Fdoor, ii was true. but they would no
doubt wait until they believed he had
sone. or else they might escape by the
rear OF the premises.
What should he do?
He hesitated again, with bated breath
Next instant however. he heard upon
the stone steps above him. leading from
the pavement 10 the front door, the light
tread OF feet quickly descending. Some
one, having watched him descend there
was leaving the house. And yet so noise
lessly that at first Max believed himself
mistaken.
In a second ne had dashed I'D the area
cro nd
already he realized the truth The front
door stood ajar. and the intruder was
flying as fast as his feet could carry him
in the direction of Brompton road.
Swiftly. without looking back. the man
sped lightly along the pavement to the
next corner, which he turned and was a
moment later lost to view.
Max Barclay did not follow He stood
there like a man in a dream
What al heavens naHse Is the mean
ing Of this?" as. held powerlesS. ne stood
staring in the direction the fugitive had
taken.
His first impulse had been 70 follow. but
next moment. as the escaping intruder
had passed beneath a street lamp. he rec
.ognized the figure Enthusiastically both by
the clothes and hat, as none other than
his friend Charles Rolfe,
He fell back, staggered by the discov-
cry.
For quite brief space he stood. unable
TO move Then. seeing the door aiar
he assembled the steps and entered the
house. The lights were switched on
everywhere, but. on going in, something
what IL was he could never describe
struck him as peculiar. Hardly had he
crossed the threshold than he became
instinctively aware that some mystery
was there.
In a few seconds the amazing truth be-
came apparent. for when ne entered the
dining-ro0m, 20 the LEFT Of the hall. he
started, and an involuntary exclamation
OF surprise escaped him. The place was
empty. devoid Of every stick Of furniture,
From room 10 room he dashed. only TO
find that everything had been mysterious
ly removed. In the few brief hours Of his
absence DR.. Petrovitch had apparently
fed. taking with him all his household
effects.
He stood in the hall utterly dunn
founded.
Why had Rolfe been there? What had
he been doing in the empty house?
The swift manner in which the removal
had been effected increased the mystery
for he had not left the doctor TIL O'Clock
Besides. he had no doubt dined with his
daughter Maud and with Marion. and
they would not leave until about o'clock.
Again. q removal of that magnitude re-
curing az least. two vans. after dark
could not possibly be effected without at
tracing the notice OF the constable on
duty.
Perhaps the police really did know who
carried out the sudden change OF resi-
dence Anyhow. the whole affair was
complete enigma which amazed and stu
pefed him.
Presently when he had somewhat re-
covered from his surprise. he assembled