The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-29

T AiAhAiouN dNhth
Well. the absurd notion came into
my head that the poor creature was
your sister Let us say she has come
back 10 London and had commenced
20 annoy YOU Let us for the sake Of
argument assume that she called her
self by the old name La Bell Atalan-
Ia"
Lady Altamont started She recol
! lected suddenly now that Ailsa lie
troy had spoken of la Belle Atalanta
And here was O'Brien pursuing the
same line OF argument.
Better go on, she said, hoarsely
Take another cigarette
You are very good. and will not
scruple 10 avail myself OF your gem
crosby You write a letter TO your
sister, asking her 10 come and see you
on the night OF your party Everybody
I is masked. so that il gives you just
! the opportunity you require. The wo-
man IS taken up 10 the little room that
/ leads from your boudoir and there you
see her You are a very strong wo-
man. Lady Altamont. and your sister
! is comparatively fragile. We will sup
pose that the tragedy took place with
| in few moments. You go back TO
your guests as If nothing had hap
pened, and"
What nonsense" Lady Altamont
cried angrily. All the same. her face
was very white. and OBrien could
see that she was trembling violently,
How can you insinuate-"
Il am insinuating nothing | am
only stating situation that is quite
possible. and pointing out course OF
action that you are quite capable of
taking But whilst you were about
II, you might have gained possession
of your papers.
"Oh. ! might" Lady Atamont said.
with a forced laugh. If we grant, Tor
the sake of argument, that things
were as you say But then you for.
get one thing-the woman II is your
fancy to regard as my sister vanished
from our house as mysteriously as she
came
But that may be part OF the game, -
OBrien grinned You may have had
your own very powerful reasons icr
getting rid OF your troublesome sis
ter"
THAT is where you are absolutely
and entirely wrong" Lady Altamont
said seriously We don't want 10 20
into a long discussion as to who the
woman is or who the woman isn't But
/ am prepared 10 swear that the WON
an has vanished, and that | haven't
the least idea where she has gone.
O'Brien regarded the speaker with
searching gaze. She met his look
now steadily.
II believe you" he said presently
If were in your place. this disap
pearance would fill me with dread
Ii would show me that | had power
full and daring enemies who know
everything. Without in any way de
string TO annoy you, | may say that
till the woman is found We are not IN
the least likely to put our hands on
Those papers. Therefore she must be
found
Lady Altamont had nothing further
to say. A sudden idea had come &c
her, and she meant TO put II into eff
feet before she was many hours older
1t would necessitate the postponement
of her journey 10 Paris for "a hours
and also necessitate losing sight oil
O'Brien for that time, but she could
not help that. She rose from her seal
and called for the bill.
u fancy | can see way out" she
said. Don't do anything till you
hear from me again IL is not a
question of any length of time. And
IL is Just possible that II you are pa
tient | may place those papers in your
hands tomorrow
Very good" O'Brien said with a
fine show OF Indifference. Il will meet
you here at the same time tomorrow
il you like. Goodbye"
Lady Altamont drove in the direc.
ton of home in a thoughtful mood
She began to apprehend many dangers
now that had only looked like small
annoyances a day or two before. she
was glad to find that Sir Charles had
dressed and gone out; she wanted the
house to herself She had not only
stayed in all the afternoon. but she
dined quietly at home. She had not
dressed for dinner on the plea of a
headache: she was wearing dress OF
some soft black material. As she
moved about the room she made no
sound.
Ii was getting quite late when Sir
Charles returned, bringing couple OF
men with him The master OF the
honse had evidently been drinking free
ly but he was not Objectionable. as
usual at that hour The male party
adjourned 10 the smokeroom but
Lady Altamont did not follow. Sir
Charles fingered to pass few words
with her in the draMingrOom--
What's up" he asked thickly.
What are YOU staying in for, dressed
like sick parlourmaid? Is there any
thing particular in the wind"
you'll know all in good time" Lady
Altamont said impatiently. Go back
to your boon companions. and II any
body wants me say that | have gone
% bed"
Sir Charles lounged away. No soon
or had he gone than Lady Altamont
crossed TO her boudoir Once there,
she locked the door behind her. Then
she coolly proceeded through the bro
ken panel into the studio beyond and
put up one OF the lights. From the
pocket OF her plain black dress the
intruder produced a large bunch of
KEYS. which she fitted one by one Into
the locked door II was close on md
night now. and the occupants OF No.
l3 had assuredly gone TO bed
One OF them must fit" the amateur
burglar muttered What a good
thing that the key has been removed
from the other side. Oh, | Thought
So"
The patience OF the intruder had
n