The Detroit times., 1910-02-23

ger took great risks to- get here.
And what | said just now Is perfectly
tue. I've done with the wrong Tor
good and all. daresay | shall know
what IL Is TO taste the bread OF ad'
versity. but that will do me no harm.
II, nceforth YOU are not 20 look to m"
for anything You and that drunken
husband OF yours must 10 your own
way .t.>.,
"Oh. nonsense" Lady Altamont
cried impatienlly. You are out OF
sorts: YOU are moody like you were
when We first met. And You nave
had bad luck \ failure like yours
My dear lady here was no occa-
sion FOR me % have failed. | had the
thing al the tip OF my very fingers.
Call me fool II YOU like. but I've
done with IL
Ailsa wondered II she had been
through il all before. She had thar
peculiar feeling that come To us al
al times. The voice seemed TO be So
strangely familiar. and yet Ailsa could
not rocollect where she had heard u
before. at least before tonight. when
she had encountered John stern he
toIe adv Altamont could reply. there
was little cry OF dismay from the
trilliantly-lighted rooms below. foi-
lowed by a calm official voice asking
Ques tions
What did | tell YOU" the voice o.
the stranger said The police right
enough They are asking permission
10 search the house Put me some
where. and 90 down and reassure
them
Lady Altamont hustled her visitor
tAroueh an inner door and turned the
key She flashed up the electric lights
again, and tripped down the stairs as
II the whole thing amused her. Ailsh
could hear her tones presently IN the
distance.
II is 4 mistake. OF course she was
saving. with easy haughtiness. Search
the premises by all means. beginning
with the bedrooms You are not like
H. 20 find your man down here II
AIRY stranger had come down the
stairs must have seen HIM sine"
my boudoir door has been open all
the time / was writing.
There were heavy feet trampins
overhead now. aud presently a police
officer looked into the boudoir Lady
Altamont was evidently scorntully
amused
He is no, here" she said tie IL
not in that room beyond for the sim
ple reason that | always keep the door
locked And not even the most ski
ful burglar can close a door behind
him and lock II on the outside See
Lady Altamont smiled as she tried
the door. The officer looked puzzled,
but satisfied.
We can't find trace OF anybody.
my lady. he said We have been
all over the house. and there Is GER
tmnly no intruder here al present.
Very sorry TO trouble You, my lady.
Tut we are only doing our duty. And
that skylight was not fastened.
"Oh. quite so Lady Altamont said
good-uaturedly. I'm see that the sky
light is properly secured in future, Is
il some noted character who
We can't say. my lady Probably
II IS I'll take my men away now.
The officer touched his helmet and
moved in the direction OF the door.
Lady Altamont followed. on hospi-
table thoughts intent She could not
permit these thoughtful police to go
away unti they had all had some
thing. The officer protested awkward
" as he followed his hostess down the
stairs.
Almost Immediately the door Of the
boudoir was opered and young girl
came in. She was very sweet and
slender. She had deep blue pathetic
eyes. and there was scared express.
sion on her perfect features Ailsa
watched her with a certain languid
curiosity The events OF the night
were so many that one more or less
made no difference.
The girl came in much as a thief
might have done But here was no
common thief as Ailsa decided. II she
was any Judge Of faces. Still. the girl
was looking for something. and 1t was
evident that she was fearful OF being
discovered She started back once or
twice. as If she heard something then
from outside came the swish of Lady
Altamont dress again.
One minute" she called to some
body. Let me finish my letter in
peace
The pale. slight girl wrung hes
hands impatiently. Evidently She
would have given much not to be dis
covered there. A great distress was
on her face.
ITS too late" she moaned. Il shall
be caught. And If | arouse the sus.
picions OF the odious woman An.
II there was any place TO hide
She backed against the hanging.
actually touchiuP AilSa rs she sWayed
in her distress. Ailsa acted on the i'm
Iulse Of the moment, she jerked back
the curtain and dragged the dazed girl
&c her side al the same instant that
adv Aliamont came smilingly into