The Detroit times., 1910-02-22

was possible that the writer hsd yet
10 learn what had happened in the
North Sea.
Perhaps there was letter on the
writingtable. Ailsa fslt that she
must know. IL was not very pretty
thing to- do. she told herself but ~
was no time for nice scruples. With
n sudden boldness. Ailsa stepped from
behind the curtains into the room.
The perfect appointments OF the place
we're not lost upon the girl. She
noticed the silken hangings. the doll
| cate curtains and carpets. and the ex-
pensiye flowers The furniture belong
ed TO the Empire period. and was
deliberately upholstered in old bro
cade. There was enough old Bow and
| Chelsea china there 10 realize for
tune. Evidently No. Ia Vernonter-
race was occupied by people who
lacked neither money nor taste.
! The house appeared 10 be full OF
! people. too. for below Ailsa caught
! the sound of frivolous conversation
and light laughter. She remembered
now what a number OF carriages had
driven up there earlier in the evening.
From distance came the soft strains
OF band. Evidently some big func-
ton WAS IN progress at No. IA. And
what contrast IL all was To the
/ house next door, There all was gloom
/ aud mystery. here all light and pleas
ure. as If there was nothing 10 con
I ceal and no skeleton I'm the closet.
! But what was that envelope lying
on the elabOrately carved Louis Seize
wrting-table on a silyermounted
! blotting pad with gold-mounted
/ fountain pen by its side? Ailsa felt
! that she must get az the bottom OF
: that at all hazards. She rapidly cross
/ "a over 10 the table, but there was
nothing besides the envelope and the
address, and that was by no means
complete Highstreets abound every
where; indeed few towns are complete
without High street or two, and the
/ half.fnished address conveyed moth
ing. The clue was abrupt as II was
puzzling Allsa stepped back present
! Is whilst in the act OF searching the
! blottingpad. for outside she could
hear the rustic OF silken dress. Like
a flash the girl was behind the hang
ing again.
She was only just in time, for the
woman who had been writing return
ed with a gay air and the fragment
I OF an opera tune on her lips. she
was very tall and dark and hand
some. a beautifully dressed woman of
some six-and thirty years But the
tune died away and the dark face
grew hard as the room was reached
again The half-addressed envelope
was snatched up and hastily hidden
under the blotting.pad as man en-
tered
He was in evening dress a man
whose face and carriage did not lack
distinction. save that II was SO Ter
ri5ly married by traces OF dissipation.
! The shaky lip and unsteady hand told
their own tale He hicked some
cigarette ash over the writing-table
contemptuously
What are you doing here ne
asked Why aren't you downstairs
with your guests? Had 10 write let
ter? Who to? Look here, I'm not
going 10 put up with any more OF this.
sir George Altamont' wife has some
thing 10 live up to-.
She mas indeed" the woman said
YEARLY. Your debts and your Tepu-
tarion keep one going You go your
own way. and leave me 10 20 mine.
I married you with my eyes open, ana
I'm not going 10 whine about II.
have saved you from Jail more than
once already. All ! ask you Is not to
interfere You get your pocket-mon-
ey, more than enough 10 muddle what
little brains you have left with cham
pagne. You are not sober now--yonr
insane suspicious Will spoil every
thing. Go away and leave me in
peace"
oh. know how cursedsy clever
you are" Sir George Altamont sneer-
ed And there's a good deal In what
you say We float on top OF the
wave. and people envy us. But II
they only knew what set OF adj
venturers We are
But they never need know II you
have the sense TO keep your tongue
still. Your part of the bargain is
complete. the business OF life You can
leave 10 me Go back to the smoking
room You are seriously interfering
with my plens now
What are those plans? As your
husband | have every right to know.
YOU nave no IlSnlS dt an iON
have drowned them in brandy. 10
hack say. There are times when
II feel disposed to leave you / could
easily invent a pretext for separa'
ton. And | should be Lady Altamont
still. could carry on my brilliant
schemes without your Jealous inter
ference And what would become OF
YOU? You would rot in jail in six
months
The man standing by the table
. made no response. Probably he felt
the truth Of his wifes words Ailsa
could not understand II at all. IL was
a new phase Of life to her. Every
thing looked so solid and substantial
here and SO like sterling worth Lady
Altamont stamped her foot.
will YOU go?' she demanded,
"Yonr presence is needed downstairs
shall not be many minutes, tell
Won | have most important letter
TO write
Sir George shuffled away. His un.
certain footsteps could be heard
Ig.umbling down the stairs. burst
of laughter came from somewhere. the
lsttains OF a band began again, Lady
Auamont stood by the table tapping
her heel irresolutely. A moment later
AMI there came the soft, subdued
sound OF whistle. X sounded low