The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-27

courage in a mere girl like Ailsa she
J had forgotten all about Ronald Bray
/ brooke now as the latter could see
| 10 his great satisfaction,
IL should not be in the least sur
/ prised II YOU could Lady Alamont
! rejoined with just the faintest susplc-
! ion OF sheer on her lips You ask
! ed me Just now why the appearance
| OF woman at this hour OF the night
! should have such an effect on my hus-
band. But YOU see he declared that
| IL was our unfortunate guest
But now could your unfortunate
| guest get here" Ailsa asked
That Is the very point that | am
most anxious TO clear up. She van
! ished In the most amazing manner.
| She could not have gone far. because
she was not in d position 10 be NOV
ed without great risk And tonight
we discovered that there has at one
time been a means OF communication
between the TWO houses. Is not mat
very singular coincidence in the
face Of recent events
Hadn't you better make your
meaning clear" Ailsa challenged.
perhaps ii would be ne well" Lady
Altamont retorted coolly II will put
IL AS plainly as YOU like. | Will sug-
gest thst the old housekeeper here
has no niece. or. at any rate, that she
has no niece at present under this
roof In other words, should like TO
STE the invalid YOU mention. May !
be permitted TO do so?'
Certainly not Ailsa cried. This
is unwarrantable Are We TO he dis
tuIbed and insuted at this time in
the morning TO crafty the curiosity OF
drunken reprobate who imagines
these kind OF things According TO
your own story, your late visitor Is
nothing 10 you You told the police
that she was complete stranger
And | told the police no more than
the truth my dear young lady.
Very well In that case. why wor-
~ about her? She is nothing 10 you.
And therefore il she has disappeared
in this singular manner why YOU have
a troublesome visitor of your hands.
Still | promised YOU certain informa-
/ ton, and | will not withhold IT, You
may inform the police If you like that
| the poor creature In whom YOU seem
To be so deeply interested all at once
| is known 10 fame as La Belle Atalan-
/ ia. Let the police look up the pedi-
gree OF this variety actress. and they
/ will make some startling discoveries.
| So far as | understand, La Belle
| ATLANTA has a sister who is married
| 10 a member OF the British aristoc-
racy. Need | tell YOU any more"
There WAS Il challenge in the last
! question but Lady Altamont chose 10
/ L.
that she had a foe worthy of her steel
| here But 10 the listening Braybrooke
IL all sounded horribly indiscreet on
Ailsas part Still. 1t had the desired
effect. for Lady Altamont turned to-
wards the broken panel
Il am very sorry for it's the truth, -
she sHiti - \ tttttt- Sire t1artrs- fras
made a mistake If Miss LEROY does
not mind. | should like to see her to
morrow and discuss the matter fully
/ In the meantime We are keeping each
other up n YOU lock the studio door
/ Miss LEROY. you will be as safe as il
I that panel had not been broken"
II will take good care OF that
Ailsa said As 10 the rest. | shall be
pleased TO meet you al any time to-
morrow you like Ny information is
quite AT YOUR service
Braybrooke drew a deep breath OF
relief as Lady Altamont vanished. He
knew perfectly well that Lady Alta
mont had meant to betray his real
identity TO Ailsa for some purpose Of
her own. But Ailsa had been too
clever for the woman: she had forced
her hand and compelled her TO defend
herself on quite different grounds. But
all the same. IL seemed TO him that
Allsa had been very unwise TO let
Lazy AltamOnt know that she had
learnt so much. II was putting the
woman on her guard at the very mo-
ment when II was most necessary TO
hull her suspicious to sleep But the
mischief was done now.
Lady Altamont vanished with an
uneasy smile on her face. but with an
angry feeling of defeat i'm her heart.
Wanless fingered behind TO say few
words to Ailsa.
i am acting entirely for the best,
# YOU only knew il. he said. After
what has happened tonight, it has be.
come necessary for me To see YOU
v ithuut delay. II will look less
suspicious ii you come and call on my
sister tomorrow afternoon. say at
three o'clock.
Ailsa nodded and held out her hand.
She did not see Braybrooke slip by
her al the same moment The studio