The Detroit times., 1910-04-23
CHAPTER xxxV.
colville intervenes.

Colville lntervenes.
II was just possible that the very
loud banging on the door wonid nave
the opposite effect to the thing that
Braybrooke dreaded Ailsa should
give him credit for not making such
wholly unnecessary noise. There was
comfort in the idea. but uneasiness in
another direction. II was plainly evil
dent that Sir Charles had become pos
sessed of some clue az to the where
abouts of the missing woman.
In the short time at his disposal
Braybrooke racked his brains for
.eeIne-seHnd- solution the problem
How had that poor. drink-sodden brain
succeeded when the quick wit OF Lady
Altamont had absolutely failed? But
there was no time to discuss this nice
point. for Altamont was still loudly
pounding on the panels. and declaring
that he had discovered some secret.
Lady Altamont watched him with
contemptuous disgust. II was quite
evident that she had regarded all this
as the mere rawlings OF drunken
mind
"Will you be sllent?' she demand
ed What is the meaning Of all TINS
folly?"
Sir Charles didn't seem to mind lie
ceased his monotonous drumming en-
the panels for moment, and faced
round upon his wife. tie looked Wild
enough but there was certain KIND
OF determination I'm his dull. bloodshot
eyes.
Il tell you she's next door" he said.
81 don't know how they managed it.,
but there she is. | saw her not hNe
minutes ago looking out OF the win
dow 1t isn't safe
What isn't safe?" Lady Altanlont
demanded What is the man raving
about? And who is ii they have get
next door?"
LAS Ii you didn't know Sir Charles
muttered Call her La Belle Atalanta.
Call her anything you like. so long as
YOU can understand plain English.
she's next door. sI~tell You. saw her
looking out OF window upstairs.
Saw her with my own eyes as ] was
coming in just now My head ie so
queer or | could tell you more
They're after me again.
The fash of reason seemed to leave
the speaker as quickly as IL had come.
The look OF comprehension departed
from the unhappy mans eyes; they
were filed with nameless horror III
stead. He commenced 20 beat the air
with his hands as If to fight of some
terror that was terrible to the other
two. He sprang at Cecil Waness, VINO
had been watching him In fascinated
WAY There was mischief in the air.
Evidently the demented man mis-
took Wanless for one of his foes.
Strange to say. during his few mo-
ments of absolute sanity he had never
seen WaRless al all. Now he caught
him by the throat and bore him back
wards against table.
'Oh. YOU devil" he Kissed SO we
got you at last. I've been waiting
wears for this. Ever since | was a
10y YOU have logged my footsteps.
You came and sat at my bedside and
kept me awake with your hideous
faces. But | could not grapple with
YOU. because you were ghost then.
But now | am going TO hold you by the
throat till the blood fills your head
and Il bursts After that | shall have
peace"
The words came quite plainly and
slowly. II was evident the speaker
was in deadly earnest Cecil Wan
less recognised that and braced him
self for the FRAY He knew that he
was in the grip Of dangerous lunatic
Still. he was not afraid. Youth was
on one side. constitution impaired
by drink on the other.
Hold his right ARM Wanless muir
INJURED. II don't want to hurt him. III
you take hold Of his right arm | can
force him TO the floor
Altamont laughed wildly as Ii he
-a4f4llr- understood He-threW- he
= 4 = 10 fs..tf y Ia a
rible grin on the throat of Wanless
increased. There was one fact the
latter had quite overlooked-the ter
rible power of the insane. But he
was beginning To realize 1t now. 1t
was coming to him that quite uneX
pectedly he was being called upon to
fight for his life And 1t was quite
clear also that he had nothing To eX'
pect from Lady Altamont
She stood there with a simulated
terror on her face She could have
helped Wanless with no harm to her
self. but she did not move. She was
PLAYING part. as Ronald Braybrookc
could soc. As yet he had no more
than a dreadful suspicion as to- what
that part was.
Wanless managed to free his throat
tor a moment He could see the white
face OF his antagonist set in an ex
preston of grim resolution.
IF YOU are too frightened TO help
me" Wanless gasped. ring the bell.
20 on ringing Till some of the ser
wants come down. Or go and rouse
them. The demon is stronger than !
expected. DO you want To see me
murdered before your eyesY
But Lady Altamont made no kind
OF reply She was dumb with terror.
She could only stand there and watch
the struggle in q fascinated horror.
Cecil Wanless would be killed, and
for the rest OF his life the unhappy
> mailman would find his life bound BY
prison walls. Il would be dreadful
thing, and everybody would be pro-
foundry sorry for Lady Altamont; yet.
on the whole. IL would be a blessing
lI.