Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-12

"Yeu must have been mistaken,
Schweitzer." O'Dare heard him mutter.
There's no sign of any trespass, and. As
you know. the studio opposite is already
empty. saw to that The lumber
rooms locked. I think we're quite safe
from outsid interference"
There are fresh footprints on the stair
since 1 went out" answered a sullen
voice from the next room. and
"Oh. cease your croaking!' cried Con-
zalez, irritably. The janitor, no doubt,
came up to make the other door fast
Come this way, senorita, IL you please.
Pardon the poverty OF my apartment.
but. after all, it may serve we'll enough
for waiting ROOM
\ woman appeared in the doorway. a
Young woman. almost girl. and. paus-
ing for an instant on the threshold to
look about her. came bravely forward.
Her hands were bound behind her. her
lips sealed by a silken handkerchief, but
the handage with which they had also
blinded her had been loosened from about
her eyes. and these spoke Of overwhelm-
ing anger.
She crossed to the chair and sat down.
IT seemed to O'Dare, looking on, that she
did not stand in any awe OF her captors.
Gonzalez gave way before her and she
vas followed by a lean. dwarf-like dried
Up manniIdn of furtive mien and most
unpleasant personality. "A dangerous
little divil that said Dennis O'Dare to
himself.
You see. senorita." the former re-
marked. with wave of the hand, that
n will be quite useless to attempt to es-
caps. We are alone here. at the top OF
an empty house.
IL you will grant me your solemn
promise not to cause any disturbance,
shall be glad to remove the gag you have
forced me to employ. Please nod If you
agree"
She appeared TO consider for a moment,
and then accepted his condition with a
naughty inclination. He stepped behind
her. unloosed her remaining bonds and
came forward again.
II trust you absolutely" he reminded
her. and braced himself to meet the
storm of her displeasure.
She did not speak at once. but. when
she did. he shrank away with an uneasy
movement.
There is that between us now. Con-
aalez.' she said. in a quiet. level voice.
a. II addressing a delinquent servant.
which will one day be wiped out very
thoroughly-and you with it,
The yelled threat was brief. but served
It's purpose better than more voluble de-
nunciation.
She looked past him at his companion.
but did not deign to address that evil
0Oer k10r count was With the cn1eI
criminal; with his accomplices she need
not now concern herself.
May I remind the senorita that l am
acting under instructions from his excel
lency.' Gonzalez ventured in a pro-
pitiatory tone. land that. he added.
more Indignantly. she came here with
out
You trapped me very cleverly," she in
terrupted and her eyes flashed again.
THAT also l shall not forget"
tfv,k nf M nj M ha
swered, deprecatingly. His exceilency' q
orders were most stringent. and had l
failed, I should have incurred heavy pen
ally. The senorita knows that 1 serve q
hard taskmaster. II is with him that she
should cast accounts--not with his serv-
ants"
Enough" she said. please leave me.
IL you will.
He bowed obediently. DESTROYS TO pro-
initiate her II trust YOU he repeated,
:.s;nce YOU have pledged your word.
Step outside, SchweitZer
HIS underiing obeyed. but he himself