The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-14

modern brick-fronted on the street
The double doors through which a
sculptor's larger work may pass were
flanked by little side door painted a
staring and most Objectionable green.
On the right the roof of a red-tiled
| shed crept UP to long windows under
! the caves. The side door stood ajar-
most urgent invitation to my curios-
ity. After all, argued, studio re-
mains a place where the strict rules
of etiquette may be avoided, even
| though its owner be dead. And SO,
without troubling further in the mat
ter, ! pushed the door gently open,
and walked into short passage. the
further end of which was barred with
heavy curtains of faded plush. Be
yond them could hear a whisper of
voices. I drew back the edge of
curtain and peeped within.
In the center of the big room was a
tall pedestal upon which was set the
bust Of Nero, which had won no small
measure Of fame for poor Amaroff in
that years Academy. Under the
proud and merciless features Of the
Roman Emperor stood Inspector Peace
smoking cigarette and talking to
big fellow with a thick black beard.
A couple OF men kneeling at their
feet were replacing a mass of loose
papers in the drawers of a roller-top
desk that had been pulled some dis
lance from the wall
+ was just about to announce my
self, when one OF the men knocked
aver a brass candlestick which stood
on the desk, SO that 1t rolled to the
further side. With a grunt of annoy.
ance. he stepped leisurely round and
dropped on his knees to recover It.
Once out of sight Of his companions,
however. he whipped out square OF
wax from his pocket, and with extra,
ordinary rapidity took an impression
from a key that he had kept con.
cealed in his hand. 1t was all over In
five seconds, and from the shelter the
desk gave to him, no one but myself
could have been the wiser. He rose,
replaced the candlestick, and con.
tinued his work.
Whether the fellow had played his
companion a trick or not, l had no
desire to be caught acting the spy
So, pulling the curtains aside. walked
into the room. They all turned quick.
ly upon me, the black-bearded man
staring hard as if attempting to re-
call my face. But Peace was the first
to speak.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Phillips" he
said, as II were a visitor he had ex.
tpected. you are just in time to drive
me back. Have you cab waitingP"
NO" hesitated.
tits of no consequence. We can
find another at the top of the street.
And now, Mr. Nicolin." he continued.
turning to the big man, who had never
taken his eyes off me, "are you quite
satisfied, or do you wish your men to
make further search?"
mo, Mr.. INSPECTOR" he answered,
with a heavy foreign accent, 1--WE
are quite content. Noding more is
necessary"
"shall you be wanting to come
AGAIN."
''No-for us 1t is sufficient. 1t Is
for you to continue, Mr.. INSPECTOR,
You tink you will catch these men
who kill him, heinz"
I'VE shall try" said Peace, with a
modest droop of the eyes.
"Ach-but where can there be GER
tainty In our lives? Come now, my
children, let us be going. Alexandra,
you have the door-key of the studio;
give him to the inspector here"
So it was the door-key, thought /.
of which Mr. Alexandra obtained
memento behind the roller-top desk!
Peace gave polite goodbye to his
companions on the step, locked up the
little green door, and then started
down the street at my side.
81 had no business to come poking
my nose into your affairs" I said.
Anything you say shall thoroughly
deserve"
Don't apologize" he smiled. Il
was pleased to see you"
"And why?"
"You can do better things than re-
main a wealthy dilettante, Mr. Phil
lips. You are too broad in the shout
ders, too clear in the head, for living
in the world that Is dead. Such little
incidents as these-they drag you out
of the shell you are building about
you. That is why was pleased to
see you I have spoken plainly-are
you offended?"
"Oh, no." I said. waving my stick
to a passing hanson, though / did
not refer again to the topic which ]
foresaw was likely to become person.
ally offensive to me.
He sat back in his corner of the cab,
filling his pipe with dextrous fingers,
while I watched him out of the cor.
ner OF my eye. When 1t was well
alight, he began again on a new sub
1ect.
'Iondon's queer place." he said.
though perhaps you have not had the
time to find 1t out. There are for
eign colonies, with their own religions
and clubs and politics, working their
uay through life lust as IL they were