The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-15

good as TO come into the sitting-room
with ice. Lead the way. please.
CHAPTER XIV.
The sitting-room was typical OF its
kind. ON the mantelpiece was bex
Of the peculiar kind of confetti, flank
ed by a photograph OF a pretty dark
woman with a peculiar comb In her
hair. Burles gave searching glance at
the picture. He suggested carelessly
that II was very like La Belle Atalan-
IA. 10 which the landlady replied that
II was. Burles smiled az the success
OF his question. \ heap of opened
letters were stuck in the ilyblown
overmantel. and these Burles proceed
ed 20 read One OF them especially
took his attention Ii was headed Ia
Nernonterrace, and was dated two
days before. IL was short and 10 the
point
Dearest Belle" IL ran. Don't for
set my fancy masked dance on Friday
night Gene I'm your full warpaint
Perhaps YOU can look IN tomorrow
night and talk il over But YOU must
come 10 the dance.-lours ever. Nio-
let Altamont"
by Jove," Burles said. soto voce.
Here is the whole thing in n nut
she'll. Masked dance This is di'
Iect Intervention on the part OF dis
corning Providence. by Jove. I'll so
Ailsa was looking forward now 10
her meeting with Grace Wanless
Unless she heard anything 10 the co1-
travy she was To repair Ia the square
gardens at three o'clock. where II
had been arranged that Grace coui !
await her Archibald Colville had
gone of saying that he should not re-
turn all day. and Susan had fallen
back on her old surly silence again.
She refused 20 say anything further
either as 10 her accident or the events
OF the previous evening. She served
Ailsas lunch with not so much as 4
word said on either side. And yet the
woman was frightened about some
thing-Ailsa did not need 10 be told
as much.
The dingy dusty old house seemed
10 have lapsed into its usual silence
again Ailsa could not hear a sound
as she sat painting In her studio She
would go out presently and keep her
appointment without saying anything
10 Susan. In way she felt that tho
old woman was or her side. but she
was going 10 give Susan no con-
tidence.
The clocks were striking three as
Alsa passed into the square gardens.
She had not long 10 wait on her Sc
cluded seat. for presently Grace Wan
less Joined her The latter looked
pale and worried. she gasped as II
she had been walking very fast.
Il have not much time 20 spare, -
she said ~ is imperative just now
that | should keep an eye on my
brother And | fancy that | have
made discovery shall know more
about il before | sleep tonight As
| have thought all along. the key to
the mystery lies az No. Ii Vernon
terrace. We go there tonight"
surely not" Ailsa exclaimed You
have forgotten that poor woman. Lady
Altamont could not entertain with the
shadow OF a death over her house
You have forgotten that"
II have forgotten nothing" Grace
said with se+ae contempt You don 7
suppose thai little thing like that
would make any difference 10 Lady
Altamont. She was lunching with us
today. and | mentioned the sufferer
In question. Ny dear friend, II might;
have been no more than a sprained
ankle. Lady Altamont brushed II
aside. saying that the mysterious in
truder had been removed to an up
per room where she could not be dis
;urbed by the noise OF the dancers
She still processes not 20 know who
her involuntary guest IS"
Which Is false" Ailsa cried we
know Z TO be false"
a. present not TO ask any pertinent
questions | am going 10 keep nv
eyes open, things are going 20 happen
tonight Alsa. am going 20 ask YOU
a favor Yon don't mind me calling
you Ailsa? | have very few girl
friends. and | feel that you are going
70 be loyal and true TO me. have
taken a desperate resolution, which
shall try and carry into effect. II may
be imperative that | shall want some
means Of escape. There is no better
way than"
Ito BE Continued.D