Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-04
A FOOLISH FROLIC.
By Duchess"
CHAPTER X.-Continued.

pertinent, pereInppory message you sent
me through my servant n" asked the old
man.
Montresor gathered himself together.
No." he answered quietly. ut is not
all have to say. In ordinary circum-
stances my conduct would be absolutely
knexcusable; but the circumstances are
not ordinary. I have more than once
beeu to see you with intelligence which
khould have interested you, concerning
As it did your niece, Miss Lavenham. On
none of these occasions have you shown
The smallest interest. This might per-
hapx be accounted for on the assumption
hat you are an exceedingly selfish old
man. were it not for the fact that you
nrofess to be doing all in your power to
Rad her, and that unfortunately you
would benefit were i to become certain
khas she is dead"
~Do you mean to insult me, sir p
knuttered Mr.. Caterhouse in very muf-
Aed voice He appeared to be trembling
II suppose it is an insult" returned
Montres0r resOlutely, .'but / cannot help
that / think it is my duty to tell you
khat you have fallen under the Suspicion
of being in some way concerned with
the mysterious disappearance of your
niece, if not of her murder"
"And may ask how / can have muir
dered my niece when you have just in
formed me you saw her today driving
about in a hanson cabf"
81 hope indeed it may be proved that
At was your niece saw, but have never
seen Miss Lavenham after all, and cases
of mistaken identity are not rare. The
time has come when all people who have
any regard for justice must be satisfied
that you do not know where your niece
u.s."
"And how do you propose to satisfy
them 7" asked Mr.. Caterhouse calmly.
by arresting you On a charge of muir
hering Denzilia Lavenham!"
Mr.. Caterhouse made step back.
"There are two policemen, one outside
your house, the other few yards down
The street" said Montresor, indulging for
The nonce in ambiguity.
The old man was visibly discomposed.
''You do not dare to carry out such
smonstrous scheme!" he muttered.
II can assure you that if I were to
fail there are others who would accom-
plish it."
"To wit Mr.. Alick LangrisheT''
"Mr. Caterhouse." said Montresor
Earnestly, taking no notice Of the mock
ing Interpolation. of you know any
thing of your niece, Denzilia Lavenham
4 beg of you, for your own sake, to tell
me what you know"
II have nothing to tell you," returned
THE old man defantly.
Then" said Montresor, crossing to
the window, and drawing a policeman's
whistle from his pocket, 81 have no
choice"
Mr.. Caterhouse sprang after him with
AN agility surprising in an old man and
caught his arm.
you cannot do It'll" he cried in the
same queer smothered voice.
Then, as Montresor, needless of his
appeal, lifted the whistle to his lips, he
snatched 1t away from him and rushed
EscYoss the room towards the folding
doors Something in the contact of his
fingers es they touched his face in seiz
ing the whistle, gave Montresor a
strange shock. But he had no time to
analyze the sensation. He sprang after
the old man and caught him just as he
got the folding doors open.
let me got" cried Mr.. Caterhouse,
and there was change in his voice that
again gave Montresor an indefinable
sense of fear and horror. "Let me have
half an hour, and I will produce my
niece, Denzilia Lavenham"
With the last words he wrenched him
self free of Montresor's hold and slipped
In between the doors, slamming them
and locking them behind him. For an
instant Montresor stood amazed at the
iagiIity with which the old man had
ESCAPED him. Then he rushed to the
iother door expecting to catch Mr.. Cater
house on the stairs; but at the same mo
lment he heard his husky voice from
within the back room.
Give me half an hour, and then, if I
do not produce Denzilia Lavenham, | will
surrender myself TO your policemen"
A sense of incomprehensible mystery
was pressing heavily on Montresor's
mind. He planted himself in the open
doorway from which he could view the
Eother exit of the inner room. Tie took
Eout his watch.
IT viii give you half an hour" he said.
'"Tt is now exactly ten minutes to 81
What eould9i it all meanf" he asked
himself. WAS Denzilia Larenham i'm
lprisoned in that inner ROOM Had the
fold gentleman telephone there with
(which he could communicate with the
louter woridW
The time seemed interminable. Mon
ItTesOr could hear the slight movements
iin the inner room. Once again be fancied
The could hear a woman's suppressed
laughter. What was the intangible
dread that was pressing more and more
CLOSELY round his heart?
he looked at his watch for the last
time.
Time is up" he called.
At the same moment he heard the in
Iner door unlocked. lie turned his face
into the drawing room.
There stood lady facing him with
smile upon her face.
Den" he exclaimed, and stopped
before the name had fully Jassed his
lips. It was not his DenziIi 1t was
the lady of Marlingham-the lady he
had seen a second time in the hanson
today.
The lovely face, lit up with laughter,
Echallenpad his gaze hlrt under the