The Detroit times., 1910-02-18
CHAPTER Il.-(continued.)

/ There was a tone OF regret IN the
/ speakers voice. the voice OF gentle
man rs Ailsa did not fail 10 recog'
: nize. As she had felt from the hrst,
this man was no vulgar midnight
/ thief He was on familiar ground, he
Was here for some definite purpose, a
dishonest purpose. no doubt. but Ailsa
liked his voice. With his thick black
hair and beard and low hat he looked
like a formidable ruftian enough. but
somehow Ailsa was not N the least
alarmed. She was watching the strang-
er through the carved scrollwork Of
the screen, in deep fascination.
Where shall begin" he muttered.
Il shall have 10 take these panels one
by one. hope / shan't make too
much noise removing those gentlemen
in armor. IL may be behind the look
ing-g glass over the fireplace That will
be n tight job What lot OF photoA
graphs. and what pretty frames
wonder which OF those girls is my
hostess The one with the dark eyes
and the serious face perhaps. 4 very
pretty girl. too. And here's man.
Don't like the look OF him. anyway
And. good heavens. who's this?'
The strangers voice suddenly be-
came hoarSe and emotional Evident
! II Ne had experienced "A sudden shock
OF some kind Ailsa could Just see
that his face was twitching His han I
trombled. too, as he took small
photograph in a gold frame from the
shelf Ailsa knew quite well whose
portrait il was--a young man. with
clean-shaven face and dark. fearless
, eyes. The chin was. perhaps. a little
weak. but IL was a pleasant. open face,
and belonged To man that most girls
would like 10 call their own.
To think OF IT," the stranger said.
with the same panied thrill in his
voice How did II get here Ana
who in the name OF fortune-well. it's
painful. very painful. and vet not with
out q suggestion of diabolical humor.
Better 20 laugh than To cry over IL.
The stranger commenced 10 lauga
horribly. The mirth was SO palpably
forced that II hurt the listener crouch
ell behind the screen. Aiisa. acting
on the sudden impulse OF the moment,
stepped out and confronted the in
truGer. who had carefully replaced the
portrait again Already he had begun
10 tap the panels with his knuckies.
What are you doing here?' Ailsa
asked. why do you come at this
time OF night. when my guardian Is
away from home? And what are you
interfering with my portraits for.
i he man fell back as If something
had stung him Ailsa could not see
his face. part OF which was masked
with sticking-p plaster as II he had been
IL some accident.
Il am very sorry" he said. III would
be too long a story TO tell you. And
am afraid that you wouiG not quite
believe me AS 10 your portraits. /
was only looking al the counterpart
fpCrtrait OF one whom knew very well
years ago.
: Despite his rowdy. dissipated ap-
pearance. the man was a gentleman.
< RE might have. indeed. no doubt he
had descended very far down the
scale OF responsibility. but the fact
remained
Ronald Braybrooke." Ailsa said
With some hesitation Yes, | hear I
what YOU said when you looked al the
picture Ronald Braybrooke was an
old friend OF min9 But IL is hard TO
believe that he g build also have been
friend OF yours
4 curious smile fitted over the face
Of the stranger He appeared as II