The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-23

ger. took great risks 10 get mere.
And what said Just now Is perfectly
true. I've done with the wrong Tor
good aud all. daresay shall know
what Il Is 10 taste the bread or ad-
yerslty. but that will do me no harm
He nceiorth YOU are not To look 10 me
for anything. You and that drunken
husband OF yours must 20 your own
way"
|'Oh. nonsense" l.adyo Altamont
cried impatiently. "ion are out oi
sorts. you are moody like you were
when we first met, And you nave
had had luck failure like yours
My dear lady, ,here was no occa-
sion FOR me 10 have failed. | had the
thing at the tip OF my very fingers
Call me a fool II you like. but I've
done with IL"
Ailsa wondered II she had been
through II all before. She had thar
peculiar feeling that come TO us AZ
all times The voice seemed TO be s.
strangely familiar. and yet Ailsa could
tot recollect where she had heard II
before. at least before tonight, when
she had encountered John Stern. BE
fore Lady Ahamont could reply, there
vas little cry OF dismay from the
trilliantly-lighted rooms below, fol
lowed by calm official voice asking
questions.
What did | tell you?' the voice oi
the stranger said. The police right
enough They are asking permission
10 search the house Put me some
where, and go down and reassurs
them"
Lady Altamont hustled her visitor
through an inner door and turned the
key She flashed up the electric lights
again. and trlpped down the stairs as
IL the whole thing amused her. Ailsa
could hear her tones presently In the
distance.
1T is mistake. OF course" she was
saving. with easy haughtiness. Search
the premises by all means, beginning
with the bedrooms. You are not like
H. TO find your man down here. II
AIRY stranger had come down the
stairs must have seen him. since
my boudoir door has been open all
the time | was writing.
There were heavy feet trampins
overhead now. and presently police
officer looked into the boudoir. LADY
Altamont was evidently scornfully
amused
He is not here" she said He is
not in that room beyond. for the sim
PIE reason that always keep the door
locked And not even the most skill
ful burglar can close a door behind
y IL no atlfG ~ -
Lady Altamont smiled as she tried
the door. The officer looked puzzled,
but satisfied.
We can't find trace OF anybody
MY lady" he said We have been
all over the house. and there Is Ger
talnly no intruder here at present
Very sorry TO trouble you. my lady
but we are only doing our duty. And
thst skylight was not fastened.
"Oh. quite so, Lady Altamont said
good-naturedly I'm see that the SKY
light is properly secured in future. Is
il some noted character who
We can't say. my lady. Probably
II Is I'll take my men away now.
The officer touched his helmet and
moved in the direction OF the door
Lady Altamont followed on hospi
table thoughts intent. She could not
permit these thoughtful police 10 &c
away until they had all had some
! thing The officer protested awkward
Nv as he followed his hostess down the
stairs.
Almost Immediately the door OF the
boudoir was opened and young CIR
came in She was very sweet and
slender She had deep blue. pathetic
eyes. and there was a scared express
sion on her perfect features. Ailsa
watched her with a certain languid
curiosity. The events OF the night
were so many that one more or less
made no difference.
| The girl came In much as a thiei
might have done. But here was nc
common thief, as Ailsa decided. IL she
was any Judge OF faces. Still, the cir
was looking for something. and IL was
evident that she was fearful OF beinl
discovered She started back once OF
twice. as If she heard something. Their
/ from outside came the swish Of Lady
Altamonts dress again.
One minute" she called TO some
body Let me finish my letter IN
peace"
Inc pare, SIlsht sHl "iuHs me-
hands impatiently. Evidently shc
would have given much not TO be dis
covered there. A great distress was
on her face.
IT'S too late" she moaned. II shall
be caught And II ! arouse the sus
picions OF the odious woman Alb
If there was any place 10 hide
She hacked against the hanging
actually touching Ailsa as she swayed
IN her distress. Ailsa acted on the i'm
tulse OF the moment. she jerked back
the curtain and dragged the daZed girl
TO her side az the same instant that
adv Altamont came smilingly into