The Detroit times., 1910-04-30
CHAPTER xxx.
"The WronQ Woman"


Lady Altamont looked at Ailsa
doubtfully. She could not quite make
up her mind what policy TO pursue.
And Ailsas face gave her no indica'
ton OF the right line TO take. Ailsa
was quito calm and collected. she
ordered q; her own temerity In iac-
ing SO bold and powerful an enemy as
this, for she knew full well that Lady
Altamont was capable OF anything
But her disgust and contempt for the
woman gave her courage.
Il dare say you will wonder wlas
am doing here?" Lady Aitamont
said.
Really, don't do anything OF the
kind" AAsa retorted. Il have long
ceased to wonder at anything. Tho
rapid march OF events dazzles me.
assure you that when l was passing
this door a little time ago and heard
tire rattle Of keys | was not In the
least astonished'
You waited with the full assurance
that you were going TO see me?'
Something OF the kind-yes. ! did
not know exactly whom | was going
to see OF course. But | knew that
somebody was trying TO burgle the
house"
Lady Altamonts face flushed lit
tie.
"Trs: is rather strong %ord to
use she protested. i hope you will
give Inc credit for possessing very
good eycIse."
The woman was trying TO IN time,
and Ailsa knew IT,
Ordinary politeness compeis me 10
give you the benefit of the doubt. the
girl said coldly. Every nocturnal In
truder has an excuse. But | fail TO
see yours. You must have thought
out all this carefully, and why that
large bunch of keys In your hand
Lady Altamont was still uncon-
sciously playing with the keys. She
could have cried aloud with veyation.
She was losing all her cleverness and
resource. And To be played with by
than mGddening.
Very well. then" said she, Take
any view OF my conduct that you know.
am no more than common burglar.
with q vulgar desire for your silver.
You could not find many people 10
believe that OF Lady Altamont.
Perhaps they don't know Lady Al
lamont cutie SO well as | do Ailsa
retorted. Il think that IL is quite as
we'll for us to understand each other.
You were pleased TO make certain in
situations last night You suggested
that an invalid who is at present III
the house Is not what we suppose her
TO be, in other words. the poor crea-
ture upstairs I'm identical with the
woman who met with the strange ac-
cident in your house. | suppose you
came here tonight In this secret way
TO make sure
The attack was so fearless and d.
rect that for the moment Lady Alta
mont was staggered. She would have
given a great deal to know exactly
how far Ailsa's knowledge went. The
latter was quite cool and contemptu-
Gus; a foe now worthy of her steel.
And yet she was a mere child, after
all, and physically Lady Altamont's
inferior
You had better take care" she
said, with Just suggestion OF passion
in her voice. Have a care lest you
push ne 100 far. You are only a
child. whereas ] am hardened wom-
an of the world. II you impute mo
tives TO ne"
81 am imputing nothing" Aisa in
corrupted What Is the use of stand
int here splitting words in this fash
ION You came here like thief in
the night. YOU came with all your tools
deliberately selected. Is this the way
that a lady of title usually pays a
visit 10 her neighbors?"
Il admit the point" Lady Altamont
replied. Let me go further and say
that | did not altogether believe what
you said about your invalid
And SO adopted this way Of max
ing certain OF your suspicious? Very
good Still, If your late visitor was
the perfect stranger TO you that you
say. why do you worry about her?
Why do you run the risk OF being
locked up for a felony?"
THAT Is my business Lady Alta
mont said acidly. Il have found out
one or two little things which seemed
to arouse my suspicious. For instance,
II has occurred TO me as strange
thing that my husbands compare
lively negative violence should have
house and mine. Making inquiries,
ma l0ht the TWO HOuStS were Ont
SOME century or SO ago. After find
ing this out, look at the panels again
and discover that there was actually
passage from one house TO the oth-
or Being OF a naturally suspicious
nature. | begin to put things togeth-
err How had my mysterious visitor
80 strangely disappeared? She WAS
very i'll, she was badly hurt, In fact.
She could not have been removed
from my house except by means OF
an ambulance. People don't come. in
and out of a house with appliances
or that kind without tire servants
knowing. | had my suspicious last
night when | heard of your invalid"
Il know IT, You did not hesitate 10
put youl suspicious into words"
Certainly, | did. And I was backed
up by my husband, who declared that
he saw my strange guest at one III
the bedroom windows In this house.
am forced to the conclusion that that
was something more than one OF Sir
Charles fancies.'
(Which am quite prepared to al
nit" Ailsa said quietly. In a mo
ment OF delusioI, the thing Sir
Charles saw actually happened. What
thcn?'
why, then IL confirms my suspic
IONS" Lady Altamont cried triumph
antly MY visitor has been spirited
away here. | believe that you must
have known all about that secret pas.
sage for some time past"