The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-01-06
(Continued.)


Half hopping, she was across the
walk, through the narrow gate, and
offer an arm or ask for an explana-
ton. Some within, however, seized
her; some feeling that in fairness
she ought to tell me now part at
least of the reason for her summon
ing me to her aid.
Sir" she said, even as her hand
reached up to the door knocker; II
admit you have acted as a gentle
man should. I do not know what
your message may be, but l doubt
not it is meant for me. Since you
have this much claim on my hospi-
tality, even at this hour, think l
must ask you to step within. There
may be some answer needed"
Madam" said I, there is an an
swer needed. am to take back that
anGwer I know that this message
Is 70 the Baroness Won Ritz. guess
IL to be important; and know you
are the Baroness Won Ritz"
well, then" said she. pulling
about her half-bared shoulders the
light wrap she wore; ''let me be as
free with you. If have missed one
shoe, | have not lost it wholly. /
lost the slipper in way not quite
planned on the program. 1t hurt
my foot l sought to adjust 1t be-
hind curtain. My gentleman of
Mexico was in wine. l fled, leay-
ing my escort, and he followed I
called to you. You know the rest.
l am glad you are less In wine,
and are more a gentleman"
81 do not yet know my answer,
Madam"
Come" she said; and at once
knocked upon the door.
| shall not soon forget the sur
prise which awaited me when at
last the door swung open silently
at the hand of wrinkled and
brown old serving one
of our colored women, but of
some dark foreign race. The
faintest trace of surprise showed
on the old woman's face, but she
stepped back and swung the door
wide, standing submissively wait
Ing TOT OfueTS.
We stood now facing what
ought to have been a narrow and
dingy little room in a low row of
dingy buildings, each of two stOr-
les and so shallow in extent as
peI.-aps not to offer roof space to
more than half dozen rooms. In
stead of what should have been,
however, there was wide hall
wide as each building would have
err than a half dozen of them
would have been! | did not know
,then. what l. learned later. that
the partitions throughout this en-
tire row had been removed, the
material serving to fill up one of
the houses at the farthest extrem-
ity of the row. There was thus
offered long and narrow room.
or series of rooms, which now l
saw beyond possibility of doubt
constituted the residence of this
strange woman. whom chance, had.
sent me to address; and whom
still stranger chance had thrown
in contact with me even before my
errand was begun
She stood looking at me, smile
fitting over her features, her
stockinged foot extended. toe down,
serving to balance her on her
high-heeled single shoe.
Pardon, sir" she said. hesitat-
ing, as she held the sealed epistle
in her hand. You know me--per-
haps you follow mel do not
know. Tell me, are you spy of
that man Pakenham?"
Her words and her tone startled
me. had supposed her bound to
Sir Richard by ties of certain
sort. Her bluntness and independ-
ence puzzled me as much as her
splendid beauty enraptured me. |
tried to forget both.
Madam, am spy of no man,
unless | am such at order of my
chief. John Calhoun. of the United
States senate-perhaps, If Madam
pleases, soon of Mr.. Tyler's cabi-
net"
In answer. she turned, hobbled
to tiny marquetry table. and toss
ed the note down upon it, unopen-
ed waited patiently, looking
about me meantime. discovered
that the windows were barred with
narrow stats of iron within. al
though covered with heavy dreper-
ties of amber silk There was
double sheet of iron covering the
door by which we had entered.
your cage. Madam" | inquired.
81 do not blame England for max
ing it so secret and strong! If so
lovely prisoner were mine, l
should double the bars"
The swift answer to my pre-
sumption came in the flush Of her
cheek and her bitten lip. She
caught up the key from the table,
and half motioned me to the door.
But now | smiled in turn. and.
pointed to the unopened note on the
table. You will pardon me,
Madam" | went on. Surely it is
no disgrace to represent either
England or America. They are not