Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-13

and TO him.
IF you can do me that service, sir,
my life is yours. One word
more: the commissary Of police tells
me that Christine Daae has been car
ried of by my brother. Count Phi
lippe."
oh, NJ. de Chagny, don't believe
q word of it,
It's not possible, is it?''
II don't know If it is possible or
not; but there are ways and ways OF
carrying people off; and NJ. lie Comte
Philippe has never, so far as l know,
had anything to do with witchcraft.
Your arguments are convincing.
SIR. and l am a fool! oh, let
US make haste! 1 place myself en-
tirely in your hands! How
should l not believe you, when you
are the only one to believe me q.
when you are the only one not to
smile when Erik's name is men
tioned?"
And the young man impetuously
seized the Persian's hands. They
were ice-cold.
Silence" said the Persian, stop
ping and listening to the distant
sounds of the theater. I'VE must not
mention that name here. Let us say
he and him; then there will be less
danger of attracting his attention"
DO you think he is near u.s."
1T is quite possible. sir, If he is
not. at this moment. with his victim.
in the house on the lake"
All, so you know that house, too?''
IF he is not sAere, he may be
here, in this wall, in this floor, in
this ceiling. Gomez"
And the Persian, asking Raoul to
deaden the sound of his footsteps, led
| him down passages which Raoul had
/ never seen before, even at the time
when Christine used to take him fol
walks through that labyrinth.
! IF only Darius has comet" said the
/ Persian.
Who is Darius?"
Darius? My servant"
They were now in the center OF {
real deserted square, an immense
apartment ill-lit by a small lamp. The
Cl SlOpPCu INesOuL anu III liz
softest Of whispers, asked:
What did you say to the commits
sary?"
II said that Christine Daaes ali
ductor was the Angel of Music, ALA
the opera ghost. and that the rea
name was
Hush! And did he be
lieve you?"
NO"
He attached no Importance t
what you said?"
No"
He took you for bit of a mac
man."
Yes"
so much the better!" sighed tn
Persian.
And they continued their roac
After going up and down severe
staircases which Raoul had neve
seen before. the two men found then
selves in front of a door which tn
Persian opened with a master-ke.
The Persian and Raoul were both. {
course, in dress-clothes; but, wher
as Raoul had a tall hat, the Persia
wore the astrakhan cap which l hav
already mentioned. 1t was an II
'~'~~ouent of the rule which insist
syon the tall hat behind the scenes
: out in France foreigners are above
every license; the Englishman h
travelling cap, the Persian his cap
astrakhan.
Sir" said the Persian, your ia
hat will be in your way; you wou
do we'll to leave it in the dressin
room"
What dressing room?" askt
Raoul
Christine Daae's."
And the Persian, letting Rao
through the door which he had ju
opened. showed him the actress roo
opposite.
They were at the end OF the pas
age the whole Of which Raoul h;
|. been accustomed to traverse befo
knocking at Christine's door
h How well you Know the oper
: sir"
Not so we'll as he dces." said Il
Persian modestly.
/ And he pushed the young man in
Christmas dressing--oom, which VI
as Raoul haS rett il a few min.t
earlier.
Closing the deer, the Persian we
to a very thin partition that sc
s arated the dressing room from a b
g .umber-room next to it He listen
"a and then coughed loudly.