The Detroit times., 1910-03-15


Ia. TO which the landlady replied that
Il was. Burles smiled at the success
OF his question. 4 heap OF opened
letters were stuck In the fyblown
overmantel. and these Burles proceed
ed Ia read. One of them especially
took his attention, II was headed Ia
Vernon-terrace. and was dated two
days before. IL was short and to the
point
Dearest Belle" II ran. Don't FOR
eet my, fancy masked dance OH Friday
night Come i'm your full warpain,.
Perhaps YOU can look In tomorrow
night anG talk II over hut YOU must
come 90 the dance.--Yours ever Vio-
let Ahamont."
BY Joye." Burles said. soto voce.
Here is the whole thing in nut
she'll. Masked dance, This is a di.
rect intervention on the part OF dis
corning Providence. BY Jove. I'll go!
Ailsa was looking forward now In
her meeting with Grace Wanless.
Unless she heard anything To the COZ
trary she was 10 repair 10 the square
gardens M three o'clock. where IL
had been arranged that Grace could
await her Archibald Colvllle had
gone on saying that he should not re-
turn all day. and Susan had fallen
back on her old surly silence again.
She refused 10 say anything further.
either As TO her accident or the events
OF the previous evening. She served
Ailsas lunch with not so much as a
word said on either side. And yet the
oman was frightened about some
thlng-Ailsa did not need TO be told
as much
The dingy. dusty old house seemed
10 have lapsed into it's usual silence
again. Ailsa could not hear sound
as she sat painting in her studio. She
would 20 out presently and keep her
appointment without saving anything
TO Susan In way she felt that the
old woman was on her side. but she
was going 10 give Susan no con-
hdence.
The clocks were striking three a
Ailsa passed into the square gardens.
She had not long To wait on her Sc
Guided seat. for presently Grace Wan
less Joined her. The latter looked
pale and worried: she gasped as II
she had been walking very fast
she said ~ is imperative just now
that | should keep an eve on my
brother And | fancy that | have
made a discovery. | shall know more
about Il before sleep tonight. AS
I have thought all along, the key 10
the mystery lies at No. IA Vernon
terrace We go there tonight
Surely not" Ailsa exclaimed You
have forgotten that poor woman. Lady
Altamont could not entertain with the
shadow OF a death over her house
You have forgotten that
Il have forgotten nothing" Grace
said with some contempt You don I
suppose that a little thing like that
would make any difference 10 lady
Altamont She was lunching with US
today. and | mentioned the sufferer
In question Ny dear friend, IL might
have been no more than a sprainei
ankle Lady Altamont brushed Il
aside. saying that the mysterious In
truder had been removed 10 an up
Der room where she could not be dis
tnroed by the noise OF the dancers.
She still processes not TO know who
her involuntary guest is
Which is false" Ailsa cried. We
: know L 20 be false"
at present not 10 ask any pertinent
questions | am going to keep my
ewes open. things are going ia happen
tonight Ailsa. am going TO ask YOU
favor Yon don't mind me calling
/ you Ailsa? | have very few girl
friends. and feel that you are going
10 be loyal and trlc TO me. ] have
taken a desperate resolution. which |
shall try and carry into effect. II may
be imperative that I shall want some
means OF escape. There Is no better
way than"