The Detroit times., 1910-02-17

'"io' sne sdlu quietly. There Is
something very wrong going on In the
house-something that you are con.
teaiing from my guardian and your
husband. Who Is that mani"
Old Susan made no reply She still
srlpped Ailsa tightly. but the look OF
madness was fading from her eyes.
the pallid face grew less vivid.
don't know what you mean" she
said. You are talking In riddles. Go
TO bed, dearie. and leave a poor old
woman alone. Was unkind to you?"
The speaker had dropped Ailsas
hands. and stood sorrowfully regard
ing the hard red bands round the
girls wrists The fit OF sudden pas
sion was passing as quickly as the
dispersion OF an April storm. Susan
fell back In her chair again. and the
dazed look was once more on her
face. Evidently she had aroused her
self with an effort that was utterly
beyond her strength. Ailsa did not
know whether TO pity her or be sorry.
But the girl did not mean To lose all
the advantage she had gained.
Has anybody been ill-treating
you ~ she-asked.- Nov. tell me-"
Nobody" Susan muttered 1t was
all an accident. tell you II was an
accident And il you don't believe II,
why. then. say that you lie"
we will not discuss that" Ailsa
went on. There is man upstairs.
He Is there for no good purpose. Who
is he and what is he doing here l
am quite certain that you can give
me the desired information and
mean TO have IT, Tell me without any
further prevarication who that man
is and what he is after"
Nobody there" she muttered. NO
body at all Everything is changed.
dcarie, changed out OF recognition.
Youl want a candle. sure"
A glimmer OF light flashed across
Ailsa understanding, Surely susan
was under the impression that she
was talking 10 the man upstairs. he
had had occasion TO strike a match.
as II he missed some familiar land
mark in the dark, and here was Susan
suggesting that somebody or other
would certainly need candle From
the bottom OF her heart Ailsa wished
that Thomas was back again. Ola
Susan might be seriously hurt, ana
yet. on the other hand. there might
be nothing serious the matter with
her.
What is he looking for. and where
is it," Ailsa demanded suddenly
THE case?" Susan said with sud
den fame OF reason. Behind one or
the panels In the old Blue Room Only
It's not called the Blue Room now.
dearie. It is missiles studio. But
you'll never find IL. he's too cunning
for that"
There was sense In the speech. as
Ailsa did not fail TO recognise. the
swiftness OF her question had caused
susan to betray herself. But the lat
ter part OF her speech was obviously
addressed TO somebody other than
Ailsa The old woman was wander
Ing in her mind now between two
people. Her head sank on her breast
again. and she slumbered once more.
She was suffering from both mental
and physical shock. as Ailsa could see.
But she would have TO be left TO ner-
self for a moment. as Ailsa's duty was
upstairs She was not In the least
afraid now. she was going 10 see this
thing through. That man was look
ing for something In her studio. at
one time called the Blue Room. Paint
ing was Ailsa's one joy, the blessed
occupation that preserved her reason.
Without IL she would have passed In
TO a green and yellow melancholy.
The studio was uil her own. nobody
ever went there.
She had gathered the furniture to-
gether from different parts or the
house. a Persian carpet from here. a
statue from there, a suit OF armor
from another place. There were
trophies OF arms on the oak paneiied
walls, old china and pictures OF price.
Ailsa's studio would not have dis.
graced the house OF a distinguished
and popular r. A. Even now there
was q new interest added TO the place
in the presence of man who was
seeking f. something there With
out the slightest suggestion OF fear
Ailsa mounted the stairs again silent
~ as ever I'm her bare feet. She was
not going to surprise the man. she
had no intention of asking his business
unless she was compelled to do SO.
But that he was going to take any
thing away without her consent. Ailsa
denied Probably he was In the studio
by this time.
Ailsa's conclusions were absolutely
correct The man was moving about
the studio muttering to himself an he
came I'm contact with one unfamiliar
object after another. He appeared
10 be ar home, and vet he was very
much abroad A trinket fell TO the
floor with a crash. and the intruder
swore aloud, then there was grunt
of satisfaction as the mans hand en-
ccuntered gas bracket on the wall.
Thine enough, too" he muttered.
well. I'll risk IT. Better than break
ing my neck and getting the house
ahnuL me- Wonder what Colyille
would say II he could see me here at
this moment. What on earth did |
do with my matchbox?
Aisa slipped behind screen by the
doorway. The match fiared out. thero
was a kissing OF gas, and the soft pop
os the flame as the vesta touched II.
The light was very dim and low for
the gas was shaded by an Opaque pink
globe with a shade over It, Ailsa pre-
ferred a number of small subdued
lights TO one or two glaring large ones
the effect on the perfectly finished
studio was much more artistic. The
light was very faint, but II enabled
the marauder to- see, what he was
doing.
"Tll not light any more" he NUT
tered. This one is quite sufficient.
By Jove, what contrast to the last
time / saw this room. Colville's ward
IS evidently lady of very pretty taste.
And she can paint. too. IL that land
scape yonder is an example OF her