New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-28
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOX MAY 20 l9li

crossed the ROOM
once more he stood in front OF the mirror, placidly
and contcmulativclv stroking his beard. There was
something suggestive Of house cat IN Doth ms eA-
preston and the movement itself. lie STOOD lHcie
purrilg-Skcc felt that purring was the one ana oiy
word forit-purring with Of smiling and impassve
contcntrcnt which was as OdiOus 20 the caVcSrOpper
as was that sleek and scented beard that Stl haunted
like pcnnant OF pariarcha SELF suttclcncy The purI
ing stranger for some mysterious reason seemed wen
satisfied with himself The mild eyed youth so
silently STUDYING his movements could not hcp wonder
ing as to the nature and name OF the canary that htd
been swallowed in front Of that telephone tranSmtter
Skccl as he continued to squirt out at the stranger
saw him slowly remove his drcsscoat, step to door
directly opposite the bathroom door, and disappear IN
side He emerged a moment later, thrustlng his arms
through the sleeves OF dressing jacket. his garment
was soft and rough, and It seemed TO be made OIL Gamer
hair with facgS and frogs OF silk Its wcarcr passed a
large white hand approvingly down the side OF it, stood
for a moment in thought, and then took rng OF keys
from his pocket.
bureau a cabinet that first glance looked very much
ike a large sized gramophonc case. With one of the
KEYS he unlocked the polished mahogany doors that
covered the face of this cabinet.
Skecl watching him closely, could see him StOOp low
over what proved to be nothing than steel safe
front \ moment later he could hear the ring and click
OF metal against metal He surmised that the Russian
was work the combination lock OF the inner safe
doors. This SurniSc was confirmed a moment later,
when those narrow doors themselves swung open
and the STOPPING reaching apparently into drawer
at the top Of the safe interior to his feet with
puff Of relief. Then he swung the doors shut again,
locking the safe and giving the nckecd dial careless
spin.
Skccl gaspcd a little as he became aware Of the fact
that the Russian holding revolver in his hands,
a silver plated, pearl handled revolver with uncom-
monty long barrel as exotic looking the beard that
bent over it, Then the stranger dropped the revolver
into the side pocket of his camchair jacket mcdita-
lively strokcd his beard and moved once in front
OF the mirror where he more stood purring con-
tcntedly and triumphantly at his own reflection.
THIS tabcau was interrupted by a sudden light tap
on the outer door of the room. 1t came SO sud
denly out of the utter Qictncss that Skccl was again
the affection known as gooScilcSh. Whether the Rus
answered TO that knock Skec could never be quite
He could see however that had neither startled
discounted the man in the outer room: for the
placid and purring look was still on his face as the door
swung open and a woman dressed in black stepped
quickly inside.
This woman, Skccl noticed did not advance into the
room The moment the door was closed She stood
against it, apparently with one hand still resting on the
knob and with the green velour porticrc swinging
against of her shoulders Her face itself he could
not clearly for She a veil But he found him
self held by suggestion of tcsV Of concealed and
uncomprchcndcd drama, in the stately and somber
figure with its eyes fixed ntcntly on the face OF the
Russian.
So appealing this figure, so suggestive was it Of
dramatic possibilities that wave of di.appoiutu1cnt
swept through Skccl she started to speak to the man
calmly regarding her from the bureau edge where he
stood; for her words in tongue unknown 10 the
secret listener, as were the Russ ans calm and gruf
noted rctorts Skccl could Sec however that she was
speaking under intense excitement He WAS not I'M
conscious OF the emotional appeal I'm her voice. This
emotional appeal was dccpcncd when with nervous
hand She thrust the veil up from her face and he caught
sight OF the well modelled chm, the thin and high bridged
nose the luslrous and ovcracrt eyes wide apart
under the white brow made winter bv the mass of
dark hair behind IT, She too had touch of the exotic