The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-05-28
CHAPTER v.-(continued).

with a sigh of relief she walked into
the center Of the rooT, stood still for
n moment, and then moved swiftly
through the communicating door into
the bed room. Against one Of the
walls she found a long, thin pole Of
ashwood, headed with a brass crook.
1t was II Of those tall poles which
are used for pulling down very high
windows from a ring in the top Of the
sash, and was certainly eight feet, In
length. What such an apparatus was
doing in her room no one in that du-
cal household would have quite I'M
derstood, had they seen 1t. The two
windows of the sitting room, which,
as has been said, looked out into Pic
cadilly, were long French windows,
opening in the center on to a low
stone balcony, while the single tall
window of the bed room was precise
ly Of the same pattern. The pole was
one Of those which were used for the
tall windows in the back part of the
house, and at first sight 1t could have
no possible use or meaning in Miss
| DSCl6S IOOll5,
She carried It into the sitting room
and then looked upwards towards the
roof. Some four yards from the right
hand window a heavy Venetian lamp
was hanging by chains from a stout
iron hook which had been screwed in
to a beam OF the ceiling.
This lamp was a somewhat recent
acquisition in the sitting room. 1t
had been sent to Miss DeCies from
abroad, and was of fine italian work
manship. The duchess, to whom her
aunt had shown it, had suggested that
the electric wires should be connect
ed with 1t; but the old lady had ex-
planned that 1t was purely decorative
I'm it's effect, and she did not intend
to use II as a method OF illumination
in a room which was already so well
lighted as hers. The duchess, who
had a great eye for effect, had sug-
gested that the lamp should be hung
In the center of the great room and
not, as II was, considerably to the left
of the center line of the ceiling, and,
in this rather odd position, before the
window close to the bedroom door.
Miss Decies had snapped her fingers
at the proposal, saying that she pre-
ferred 1t where she had designed It
to be; and the younger woman, with
the sweetness and patience that she
always displayed In dealing with the
elder, had said nothing more, and re-
garded 1t simply as a whim Of her
somewhat eccentric %chaperon.
Miss Decies tool the pole, carefully
inserted the crook in the topmost ring
OF the chain, lifted IL off the hook in
the ceiling, and, with extraordinary
strength for ner years and the most
scrupulous care, balanced 1t for a mo-
ment above her, shortened the pole IN
her hands, and gently lowered 1t to
the ground. When the great iron
thing with it's panes of stained glass
rested safely upon the carpet, Miss
Decies carried II to a distant corner of
the room. This being done. with swift
deliberate movements, but yet with
wonderful absence of misdircted haste
or furry, she returned to the bed
room, and presently emerged with a
long, thin coil Of rope and a large
pulley OF shining steel. The pulley
was about the size Of a soup plate, and
its deep groove was lined with india
rubber From the axle on either side
rose a long. a~rch-shaped hanger O
steel crowned with a ring for sus
pending 1t, which took the place o,
the ordinary block.
The old lady threaded the thin rope
of cocoa fibre into the groove Of th'
wheel. Then, once more, she brough
the pole into play and nfted me pui
ley high above her, and Ia a momen
or two had 1t securely hung upon thu
hook from which the Venetian laml
had lately depended.
She pulled at the rope. which RAJ
easily and no~islessly over the wheel
and then. satisfied with her opera
lions, she once more entered the be-
room.
once inside, she closed the door wit
! curious shiver OF excitement. an
walked up to a huge mahogany ward
robe which stood against the wall b
the bed. 4
This piece Of furniture was one Q
those vast early Victorian triumphs Q
cabinetmaking which are Of grea
height. width and solidity. The tw
Idoors on the right and left wer
In.oupted upon heavy mahogany pede'
tails. The wide center doors rose fror
4 deep drawer, quite four feet Ion
ana three feet fror.s the floor to tn
| bottom boards Of the WARDROBE propel
Miss Decies knelt down. fuhbled .
the gold chain around her NECK an
| found another key.
Ts1th a little gasp Of excitement sn
| Inherited the key and drew out tn
| drawer.
The deep box showed nothing by
an expanse or white tissue paper 70
1 moment. Then she caught the p'
! per IN her hong. thing fingers, pulle
il out with 8 l0ud crackle which mad
her start and gaze ro0ud appreheI
savely. ANA looked down upon wha
! Law beneath.
The iltslc dnks Of London, IN alEh'
gown of gray flaunei and sogSgsa .
: folded dressing gown IN the fasiio
Of = qailt. lay asleeps Vita ais nsss
upon 8 pillow.
49,