Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-29

ms Uliue up HIS nina 10 40 Dats.S -:
The end With whom? How many:
You will admit no one to my cham
bers during my absence in the future.
said Steele n. length to the man stern
Iy. no one. you understand. under
any preteyt whatever. even"-a flicker
OF grim humor in the deep eyes-"if
he should say he was client of
mine"
The butler returned a subducd an
swer. and John Steele. after mo-
ments thought. stepped to n large safe
in the corner and. applying some
what elaborate combination. swung
open the door. Taking from COM
partment bundle of papers carefully
rolled. he unfastened the tape. spread
them on n table and examined them.
one after the other. They made a
voluminous heap. Here and there on
the white pages In bold regular script
appeared the name Of woman Her
life lay before him. the various stages
Of an odd and cratic career-at caba.
ret at Montmartre. at casino In the
Paris bohemian quarter. In London
ct a variety hall Of amusement And
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS nOmad. Through
out the writing In many Of the docu-
ments another name. too, titled
name. a mans. often came and went.
fitted elusively from leaf to leaf.
The reader looked at this name.
wrote page or two and inserted
them. But his task seemed to afford
him little satisfaction. His face wore
On expression not remote from dis.
enlargement None knew better than
he the actual value. for his purpose,
Of the material before him-the chat,
froth, bubble Of the case! Almost con-
temptuously he regarded 1t. Had he
sought the unattainable?
He drew himself up suddenly as If
to shake Off momentary doubt or de-
preston. Replacing his documents In
the safe and locking 1t. he walked into
room adjoining. in n bare. square
place on the wall hung fols and broad
swords, and the only furnishings were
the conventional appointments Of a
home gymnasium.
Here, having DOTTED his street
clothes and assumed the scant costume
Of the athlete. for an hour or more he
exercised vigorously. every muscle re-
spending to is task with an untiring
ease that told Of perfect system of
training. which proved Of service to
him and his well being, for one night
not long thereafter he was called upon
to defend himself from a number Of
footpads who set upon him.
The episode occurred In his own
street near a corner. where the shad.
ows were black ut an hour when the
narrow way seemed silent and desert
ed. For block or more footballs had
sounded behind him. now quickening.
then becoming more deliberate. In uni
son with his own steps. as from time
to time he purposely altered his pace
Once he had stopped. whereupon they.
too. had paused
John StccA' seemed Oblivious He
moved into doorway ard. drawing
from his pocket Il cigar. unconcerncd:
ly lighted Il match. The fellows looked
at him. NJ the tiny flame 1t fllckcred
and went out. They hesitated. He
felt In his pocket. giving them time to
move by. They did not do so. In a
moment the others from the main
highway would join them. AS II dis
appointed In not finding what he
sought. Steele. looking around, appear
ed to see for the first time the evil
looking miscreants who had come
from the direction Of the Thames and,
striding toward them. asked brusquely
for light. One Of the fellows thus
unccremofliously addressed had actual
~ begun to feel In his shabby csr-