The Washington herald., 1908-04-12

dow to the roof OF the house.
Back he came 10 his companion in
order TO obtain the rope. and then, with
| it buIging in his pocket, he stole along
and ascended- the second pipe as he had
done the FIRST This proceeding was how
ever far more dangerous, for to fall
with the glass beneath him meant almost
certain death.
Charlie watched his form ascending in
the darkness. scarce daring to breathe.
Slowly he went up, until, on the level
with the window, he halted. Around the
ledge, six inches above. was an iron bar
let into the wall IL order TO prevent
flower pots from being blown down upon
| the conservatory roof. This Iron proved
Max's salvation, for gripping II he
steadied himself while be secured the
rope to the spout as he had previously
done on the first ascent
Then. with a firm grip upon the strong
bar. and his knee upon the stone ledge.
he tried the window.
It was fastened. The green holland
blind was drawn, but as far as ne could
ascertain. the shutters were not closed.
From his pocket he drew glazier's
putty knife, and inserting It between the
sashes, worked quietly until his heart
gave a bound of satisfaction at feeling
the latch slowly give
A second later it went back with a
sharp snap, and the window was free
He lifted the sash, pushed the blind
aside. and crept within.
Then, leaning forth. ne whispered 10
Charlie TO follow. Up the latter came
by means of the rope as quickly as he
was able. and a few moments later both
men stood within the room
BY its sound. and by the fact that It
was carpetless. they knew If was devoid
Of furniture. Max flashed on the light
and the truth was at once made plain.
The apartment was square and of fair
size, but within was not a single thing
It was perfectly empty
In a second a thought occurred 10
Charlie.
IF the doors locked on the outside
we're done" he gasped,
They both crossed TO the door in an in
stant, and Max placed his hand upon it.
The handle turned slowly. and the door
yielded. BY great good fortune it was
not locked.
Creeping noiselessly outside, they found
themselves upon a big square landing
above a half dozen broad stairs. Below
them was the wbite-enameled iron door.
which opened only TO its owner and
which no person had been known 10 pass.
The landing and stairs were thickly car
peted, just as they were below the door.
But about the place was the close. musty
smell OF a house that for years had re-
mained closed and neglected.
FToT the landing were three other
doors hfzide the enc at which they stood
all of them closed.
Charlie took HIS bearings, and pointing
10 the door farthest away from them.
whispered:
That's the drawing-rOom. no doubt
And that's the door OF the room adjoining
I expect its a big room opening from
back to front like all drawing-rooms in
these houses.
Awkward If It proves to be the Old
mans bedroom, Max replied, with a
laugh
we must risk that My own belief is
that he sleeps up on the next floor These
are all reception rooms without doubt, %
was Charles answer II was strange
after all the time he had been in the old
mans employ. that this should be the
first occasion he should explore the house.
Those moments Of pitch darkness were
exciting ones.
They resolved to enter the door farthest
away. the door which they believed led TO
the drawiug-room. and together they
moved neiselessly- across with that pur-
pose.
The key was In the lock Without noise
Max turned it. and slowly pushed open
the door.
Both entered. holding their breath and
fearing 10 make the slightest sound, for
they knew not whether old Sam was
asleep there.
For full ten minutes they paused lis
tening for sounds OF breathing in the
pitch darkness. But there were none,
only the beating OF their own hearts.
Then, with Charles whispered consent,
Max pressed the button OF the pocket
lamp. and it shed a streak Of light across
to the opposite wall of the big apartment
What was revealed held them aghast
and amazed.
This Is indeed strange." gasped Char
lie What can il be-"
Max was turning the light from side TO
side Of the room. examining every corner.
What they saw had held them both
speechless.
Charlie saw an electric switch near his
hand, and touched IT, In an instant the
great room was flooded with light, reveal
ing a scene curious, unusual. extraor-
binary.
There was no thick carpet or upholster-
ed furniture; no painted ceiling or pic
lures upon the walls: no cabinet or bric-a-
brac. or grams piano. or palms, or any
thing connected with drawing-room furni-
ture.
Instead. the two intruders found them
selves inside a peasants cottage In some
far-Of eOuntry-a house, it seemed, with
quaint furniture painted and carved. Be
fore them was an old-fashioned oak press,
black with smoke and age, and along
the wall row of shining cooking uten-
sils Of copper. In the center was a long,
old table, with big, high-backed, wooden
chairs; at the side a high brick stove.
The men stepped within and gazed
around, bewildered.
At one end was a small square window.
where beyond lay a snow-clad scene. lit
by the moons rays-a eleverly contrived
piece Of scenery, showing the white road
winding into the distance, lined on each
side by the dark forest Of frs.
The scene was intended to be Russian.
without doubt, for over the stove a
holy ikon hung against the wall, a small
FdiAAtEN HFdQ SUfIDuElQeQ Dy a SQUARE OF
highly Furnished gold.
Every object was quantity shaped and
foreign. In one corner stood an old spin-
ming wheel with the fax upon it, while in
another was an old-fashioned gun. A
couple of wolves skins were spread upon
the floor. while upon the cleanly scrubbed
table showed a large brown stain-it
might be Of coffee, or It might be of
blood.
The walls had been ~nitewashed. and
across the ceiling. once gilt and adorned.
no doubt, ran blackened beams in exact
imitation, 1t seemed, OF some house in
the far east of Russia beyond the Voiga.
Upon side table lay a big, rather thin
book, bearing upon its black. greasy cover
the Imperial Russian arms-the double
headed eagle Charlie opened il. and
found it ruled Ike an attendance book.
with careful entries in Russian in var