Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-02-17
THE Sc c r ET


II was there when It happened" Miss
Artois quietly replied, "but to this day
they have not the slightest suspicion
that Miss Artois is an acquaintance"
Belle Hampton opened her eyes wide.
what on earth do You mean,
BlancheT' she exclaimed.
"Only that ! was there as parlor
maid," Miss Artois coolly responded,
her naughty eye sweeping the magnif
icent width Of the handsome conserva-
tory through which they were saun
tering.
GAS parlor maldP' echoed Belle, up
setting a rare exotic as she hastily
turned to look at her companion. "a
parlor maldl What would mamma
say?"
At this little ripple of laughter
parted Miss Artois' handsomely curved
lips, but the next moment she said
gravely:
''You need not tell her. am in the
confessional to you alone, remember"
And then she continued abruptly:
when the world said | was rusti
eating among the Yorkshire hills was
playing parlor maid at Red Moor.
wherefore? That IL my secret.
"The three old ladies Of Red Moor
reminded me more Of three little
sprites than aught else. When prop
erly disguised, aproned and capped
was presented for their approval. But,
fortunately for me, their keen, bright
eyes rested fayorably upon me, and
with my good star in the ascendant
entered upon the somewhat promiscu-
GUS duties assigned me.
Il had not been In the house three
weeks before discovered that 1t con-
cealed mystery.
"The discovery was made by me In
this way One night. after restlessly
tossing for hours with an aching face,
I rose. intending to go down to the IL
brary FIRE.
II softly crossed the upper hall. al
ways kept dimly lighted. and was
about proceeding downward when the
weird sight of old Mrs. Vasser. the
eldest of my three mistresses. sudden
" arrested me.
''Instinctively paused and gazed,
She was standing with her back to-
ward me in a dark, narrow angle OF
the building at the extreme end Of the
hall, her splendid waves Of snowy hair
floating In Wild disorder over the blood
red dressing gown sweeping far be-
hind her But the spell binding me
was broken by what appeared to be
her sudden disappearance through the
solid wall.
stranger I exclaimed under my
breath. The servants told me that
part Of Red Moor was fearfully haunt
ed and consequently had been walled
up and rendered wholly INACCESSIBLE
"Of course was curious, but re-
turned to my bed and fell asleep
"a month later | was passing along
one OF the many narrow, winding cor
ridors with which the house abounded
when at a sudden turning came upon
the old gray headed butler bending
under the weight OF large tray filled
to overlooking with all the luxuries of
the season.
1 "'Jasperg | involuntarily exclaimed.
Where In the world are you taking
that repast? Everybody in the house
has been served
/ silent and motlonless. he stood gaz-
ing at me in blank dismay The next
instant there was soft rustic OF silk.
and the old housekeeper's voice rang
sharp and stern from the other end OF
the corridor:
Jasper. attend to your businesst
Myra, come here adding still more
sternly as obediently approached.
'and do you attend to yours, girl What
brings you here at this houry
"She listened to my excuses and
then sharply dismissed me.
1.-TWO days after us Bradley and !
slipped our tea together we were star
tied to our feet by the sudden clank
ing of heavy chains In the adjoining
room, and the next instant the door
flew violently open, and an old man of
hercuiean proportions dashed in upon
us, his trailing chain, wild, hloodshot
eyes and disordered apparel proclaim
ing too plainly the frightful truth.
"'Not here eitherr he shrleked,
stamping his foot in foaming rage as
his glance rested upon u.s. Not here!
Not hereg
Bradley, apparently paraly2ed with
horror, looked appealingiy at me and
said.
"sYour mistressesl Save them! Run.
II got to the drawing room door
when the creature seized me by the
shoulders and sent me whirling 70 the
door. was on my feet again in an
instant. but his Wild eye had caught
sight of poor Mrs. vasser, who. with
her sisters. had started up and stood
gazing at him In petrlfled horror The
next instant he caught her. with j
fierce shout Of triumph and delight. il
his arms.
'swift as lightning he bore her oui
to the great winding staircase. You
know the rest. In a seconds time shs
lay dead below. and he In leaning oyel
, the baiustrade to gloat over his fear
i AL ~ -,