, 1912-02-29

the place where 1t would be most like
~ 10 happen. Let us beat an orderly
retreat. Now, my boy, you have given
yourself due notice. Take care!"
He slipped his coat over his Shout
,!ers-and passably sturdy ones they
were-und took a final look into the
glass. not for vanity's sake. Sometimes
a mans tie will show above the collar
of his coat.
HIM. I'll wage the trout are rising
about this time" He Initiated a cast
which was supposed to land neatly in
the corner. "Ha! Struck you that
time, you beauty" All of which proved
to himself c~onclusively that he was in
formal condition. Il should get a wire
tomorrow about Breitmann. l hate to
he puzzles me. There was something
about the chimney today. 1 don't know
what. This is no place for him, nor for
me either" was the shrewd supple
ment.
Laura tried on three gowns, to the
very great surprise of her maid. Usu-
ally her mistress told her in the morn
ing what to lay out for dinner. Here
there were two fine looking young
men about. and yet she was for Sc
Letting the simplest gown Of the three.
She was hazily conscious hat they
would notice this dress. whereas the
cleaning satin would have passed as
a matter of fact. Round her graceful
throat she placed IN Indian turquoise
necklace; nothing in her hair, nothing
on her fingers. She went downstairs
perfectly content.
As she came into the hall she heard
soft music. Some one was In the mu-
sic room, which was Just of the libra
~. She stopped to listen. Chopin.
with light touch and tender feeling.
Which Of the two wanderers was 1t?
Quietly she moved along to the door.
Breitmann; she rather expected to find
him. Nearly all educated Germans
played. The music stopped for a mo
ment. then resumed. Another melody
followed, a melody she had heard from
one end of France to the other. She
frowned, not with displeasure. but with
puzzlement. For what purpose did q
soldier Of the German empire play the
battle hymn Of the French republic?
The Marsellatse She entered the mu-
sic room, and the low but vibrant
chords ceased instantly. Breitmann
had been playing these melodies stand
ing. He turned quickly. When Fitz-
gerald Joined them they were serious
ly discussing Wagner and his i'll treat
ment in Munich and the mad king of
Bavaria.
As she had planned, both men no.
ticed the simplicity of her dress.
at is because she doesn't care"
thought Breitmann.
ut Ii because she knows we don't
care" thought Fitzgerald. And he was
nearer the truth than Breitmann.
The dinner was pleasant, and there
vas much talk OF travel. The admiral
had touched nearly every port. Fitz-
gerald had been round three times and
Breitmann four. So far as the ad-
miral was concerned, he was very well
pleased with the new secretary.
Fitzgerald was not asleep. he had
an idea. and he smoked his yellow
African gourd pipe till this same idea
shaped itself into the form of a re-
solve. He laid the pipe on the man
tel, turned over the logs-for the
nights were yet chill and a fire was a
~comfort-and raised a window. He
would like to hear some of that tap
ping in the chimney. He was fully
dressed. excepting chat he had ex-
changed shoes for slippers.
He went out into the corridor.
Their was no light under Breitmann's
door. So much the better. He was
asleep. Fitzgerald crept down the
stairs with the caution of q hunter
who is trailing new game. As he ar
rived at the turn of the first landing
he hesitated. He could heal the old
clock striking Off the seconds In the
lower hall. He cupped his ear. By
George! Joining the sharp monotony
OF the clock was another sound, softer,
intermittent. He was certain that 1t
came from the library. That door was
never closed. Click-click! Click-click!
The mystery was close at hand.
He moved forward. BE wanted to
get as close as possible to the fireplace.
he peered in. The fire was all dead.
Only the corner Of a log glowed duly.
Suddenly the glow died. only to reap
pear. unchanged. This phenomena
could be due to one thing. a passing of
something Opaque. Fitzgerald had
often e this in camps when some
ones legs passed between him and the
fire. Son one else was in the room
With a light bound he leaped forward,
to find himself locked in a pair OF
arms no less vigorous than his own.
And even In that lively moment he
remembered that the sound in the
chimney went on!
1t was a quick, silent struggle. The
intruder wore no shoes. 1t would be