The Detroit times., 1910-03-02


but the electric light glared brilliant
ly on the staircase, tesJifying TO the
tact that the family had not yet re-
tired Most of the guests had eyi-
IDENTIFY gone. tor there was no clatter
of conversation. though Alsa could
distinctly catch the smell OF fresh
tobacco \ listless foOtstep dragged
across the marblepayed hall. door
somewhere banged suddenly Then
somebody laughed quietly, as II faint
~ amused about something Ailsa
stood there listening intenuy.
IL was all very wrong. as she knew
perfectly well, but she could not re-
sist the temptation She ought TO have
gone back. but the situation fascinat
ed her. In the light OF the corridor
Ailsa could see the various objects OF
ART lying about in the boudoir, on a
little table lay fan carelessly fune
: down there-a black lace fan that at
tracted her attention. She thought OF
the fan that she had seen some time
before so clearly defined in the light
ed window OF the room next TO the
boudOir
There was no great chance of IN
terruptiCn or OF the means OF retreat
being cut off. SO that Ailsa had ample
opportunity OF examining the fan She
spread out the dainty cobwobs OF
lace on its iewelled sticks and held IL
up TO the light II was the same fan
surely enough, and Ailsa forgot every
hing for the moment in the pure ar
tistic beauty Of che thing She had
never seen anything like IL before
In its way II WAS "A perfect dream
Once seen II was not likely to be
soon forgotten Every detail of the
dainty thing was photographed on
Ailsas mind She relnQuished It
with n sigh Of envy and pleasure.
One thing was certain. II she ever
saw that fan again she was not like
, ~ to forget it. She was debating In
her mind as to whether or not she
should 90 back again when she was
startled by the sound OF a footstep In
the corridor outside The footsteps
were SO close that Ailsa had not time
70 reach the curtain before the door
OF the boudoir was closed and locked
on the outside Some servant. Ailsa
thought, part Of whose duty IL was tC
close the door, and who probably had
come down Ia her stockinged feet 70
do SO Anyway, the door was closed
quietly locked and the key removed
There was fanlight over the door
so that Ailsa could see the electric
lights were still left burning.
Anyway the girl was powerless for
further mischief now The best thing
that she could do was 20 close the
secre, nanel and see that il was Sc
curely fastened Then suddenly there
was a sound Ike a heavy blow. fol-
lowed by piercing scream in a
feminine voice An oath followed.
and then another blow. and the sound
Of rushing feet below
What is it?' a mans voice said
hoarsely In the name Of Heaven.
what is it?"
IT is nothing a womans voice re-
piled. Ailsa seemed 90 recognise the
insincerc tones OF Lady Altamont's s
voice She is at her old games
again wish she were dead or that
she was safely out Of the way. Go
to bed "
Il shall not go TO bed" the man
muttered. II ain't very particular. but
I'm not going 20 have any violence
here. draw the line AZ that Ay.
you're a clever one. but youll get
Yourself into trouble one OF these
days Let me see
Again / tell YOU. go TO bed Lady
Atamont said. Go TO bed George.
upstairs ~ once and leave that cursed
brandy alone. You're nearly drunk
now. and IL ever a man needed y
clear head in the morning YOU do.
Take ny advice and 90 10 bed.
The hoarse.. unsteady voice OF the
man trailed OF into a growl Per
haps be had taken the advice OF the
woman. for Ailsa could hear him stag
gering along the corridor, and pre-
sently a door closed with a sudden
bang No more sounds came from
tho house. there was a quick snap,
ana the nghts IN the corridor gave
way TO pitehy darkness, Very care
fully Ailsa fumbled her way In tho
unfamiliar room til she reached the
secret nanel. with thrill she won.
dered what might happen II a sud
den draught forced the catch TO. The
mere thought of such a thing sent her
breathlessly to the studio again.
(ro lie COntlnucd.D