, 1912-02-22
Tcopyrish.. 1910. by eobb.- Merrill conoany.1

II am ufuieu! II occurFeu 10 MIN
that her own charm and beauty might
he the greatest danger he could posi-
bly face. More and more grew the
certainty that he had seen her some
where in the past.
"Ah, If | only knew what the Ian
ger was! But that it exists | am posi-
i've. Within the past two weeks on
odd nights there have beer strange
noises mere and there about the house.
especially in the chimney. My father.
being slightly deaf. believes that these
sounds are wholly imaginative on my
part. This is the first spring in years
we have resided here. 1t is really II
summer home. | am not more than
normally timorous. Some one we do
not know enters the house at will.
How or why | can't unravel. Moth
Inc a ever disappeared, either mon
ey. jewels or silver. though | have
laid man. traps. There is the huge
fireplace In the library. and my room
is above. | have heard a tapping like
some one hammering gently on stone.
nave examined the bricks and so
has my father. but neither of us has
discovered anything. Three days E
| placed -four 'thinly on the fagstone
before the fireplace. There were foot
prints in the morning of rubber
shoes. When | called in my father
the maid had unfortunately leaned
the stone without observing anything
So nv father still holds that ! am
subject to dreams. His secretary,
whom he had for three years. has left
him. The buffers and servants quar-
tiers are In the real of the other wing.
They have never been disturbed"
II am not a detective. Miss KILT
grew" he remarked as she paused.
NO, but you seem to be a man of in
vention and good spirit. Will you help
me?"
I'm whatever way / can" His opin
ion at that moment perhaps agreed
with that of her father. Still. a test
could be of no harm. She was a charm.
ing young woman, and he was assured
that beneath this present concern there
was Il lively. humorous disposition. He
had n month for idleness. and why not
play detective for a change? Then he
recalled the ~trespasser in the park BY
George. she might be right
Come. then. and | will present you
% my father. His deafness Is not so
bad that one has to speak loudly. To
speak distinctly will be simplest"
She thereupon conducted him into
the library His quick glance. thrown
here and there ~absorbingly. convinced
him that there were at least 5000 vol
umeS In the cases He was pHid Il see
that some of his old friends were here.
wholly given over to piracy. What n
hobby to follow. What adventures all
within thirty square feet! And a shiver
passed owe his spine ms he saw sew
eral tattered black flags hanging from
the walls. the real articles. too. now
faded TO u rusty brown.
Behind n broad. fat mahogany desk.
with n green shaded student lamp at
his elbow. sat n bright checked. white
haired man. writing Fitzgerald in
sanity recognized him. Abruptly his
Elze returned 20 the girl. Yes. now he
Knew II was stupid of him not to have
remembered M once, why, 1t was she
who had given the bunch of violets
that day to the old veteran in Ma
%Ioleon's tomb. To I'VE remembered
lie father and 10 have forgotten the
laughter,
u was wondering where | had seen
you he said lowly.
Where was that?"
IN ~NapOleon's tomb nearly a year
ago You gave an old French soldier n
Oou1net of ~violets. | was there"
Wore you?" As n matter Of fact his
ace was absolutely new to her. II am
W VERY good M recalling faces. And
y travelling one sees so many"
That is true" Queer sort of girl
y 10 show just a little more interest
Ile moment was not ordinary by any
mems ne n disappointed
Father" she called In "A clear. sweet
voice. for the admiral had not heard
hem enter.
Al the call he raised his head and
Uoh of his Mandarin s~pectacles. Like
~ sailors, he lever had any u
10 seeing distances clearly. The diff
tuIly lay in books. letters and small
type.
What is It, Laura?"
This is Mr.. Fitzgerald. the new
secretary" she answered blandly.
Ana! Bring a chair over and Sit
So"h. What did you say the name IL,
LauraY'
Fitzgerald"
sit down. Mr.. Fitzgerald" repeated
'ne admiral cordially.
fitzgerald desired but one thing-the
privilege of laughter!
CHAPTER V.
NO FALSE PRETENsEs.
n PRIVATE secretary, and only