Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-05-19

pOSSlDle, more I0Sp0cIIul anu charm
ing as he pointed out the various
points of interest.
"A poor place after the Court he
said, with smile to Lucille. "A
poor place, but my own
The drive led in a semi-circle to
the house, a modern mansion in good
style, but, as he had said of the
grounds, poor in comparison with the
Court. The greenhouses were, how
ever, of great extent and admirably
kept, and Lucille, glad to find some
thing better than her own, praised
them unstintingly The gardener
| came forward, hat in hand, to at
tend them, but the marquis dismissed
him.
81 cannot permit any one to share
my pleasure in your visit, he said
in a low voice to Lucille, and he led
her through one aisle after another
plucking the rare and costly blossoms
to form bouquet for her.
Marie kept up running fire OF
laudatory EXPLANATIONS, and skill.
fully managed to keep Mrs. Dalton
out of hearing of the other two.
Presently they came to door
leading into the house, and, of
course, Marie Werner went and
peeped in. 1t was small library
or dining room, difficult to say which,
for, though there ere bookcases
against the walls, there was a buffet
loaded with plate and bric-a-brac.
The whole was furnished in the
Queen Anne style, and presented a
fitting vista to the orchid house.
What a delightful room!" she
exclaimed.
"My dear Miss Verner!" murmured
Mrs. Dalton.
What is it bad form to admire
Lord Merle's room as we'll as his
flowers?" she retorted pertly.
The marquis looked round with a
smile.
81 hope not, Miss Werner. Will
you honor me by stepping in?"
He opened the door wide for them
to enter as he spoke, and Lucille, af-
ter a moments hesitation, crossed
the threshold. The wall above the
carved wainscoating was lined with
pictures, some of them dead and gone
Merles, and Lucille looked at these
first, but Marie Werner went straight
up to the sideboard.
What beautiful plate! never
saw anything like it,"
mot at the Court?" put in the mar
quis, humbly.
"No, not at the Court" replied
Marie ''Is it-of course, it's very
rude to ask, I know-but is it all
real, solid silver? That enormous
tankard with the statue of st. George
on the top for, instance?''
Eyes, it is all real, solid silver
He went to a panel in the wains-
coting as he spoke, and taking a pc
culiar looking key from his pocket,
inserted it in a portion of the carv-
ing representing a rose.
The ladies looked on with intense
interest, and were amazed to see the
apparently fast and solid panel
slowly slide back, as if pushed by an
unseen hand.
There are some more,' he said,
and, drawing near, they saw recess
fitted up with shelves covered with
velvet pile and crowded with plate
silver plaques and salvers, punch
bowls and candelabra, cheek by
jowl, in glistening array.
Good gracious!' cried Marie,
while even Lucille could not repress
an exclamation of surprise and ad-
miralicn. why, it is like a story
in the Arabian Nights What a sight.
ard what a clever Lace to keep it
I'M"
The marquis regarded the plate
with a pensive smile. He did not
think it worth while to tell them that
every ounce of it was pledged to Mr..
Stake, and that he was permitted to
keep it only by special arrangement,
and subject to frequent inspection by
that gentleman.
Some of it is rare and interest
ing" he said; yes, the hiding place
is not without ingenuity. 1t was plan
ned by my father, the late marquis.
He was proud of the collection-a
great deal more proud than l am
Il have only one regret in connec-
ton with it," said Marie.
"Yes!" he said. What is that?"
THAT I do not belong to the burg
larious profession she replied.
Il am sorry to dispel your pleasant
fancy, Miss Werner, but even though
you were the most accomplished burg
lar, you could not break open that
panel without alarming the whole
house, and the slightest tampering
with the lock by those who do not
understand it only serves to fix the
bolts in more tightly
AT any ,rat&R she persisted, 4
could steal the Key"