Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-07-03

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 us?'
1T is quite possible, sir, if he is
not, at this moment. with his victim.
in the house on the lake"
"Ah, so you know that house. too?''
IF he is not there, 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 RaouI had
never seen before, even at the time
when Christine used to take him for
walks through that labyrinth.
IF only Darius has GOMEZ" said the
Persian.
Who is Darius?"
Darius? My servant"
They were now In the center Of a
real deserted square, an immense
apartment fIl-Iit by a small lamp. The
Persian stopped RaouI and, in the
softest of whispers, asked:
What did you say to the commits
sary?"
Il said that Christine Daae's alb
ductor was the Angel of Music, alias
the opera ghost, and that the real
name was
Hush And did he be-
Ieve your"
No"
He attached no Importance to
what you said?"
No"
He took you for bit Of mad
MANI"
Yes"
so much the better!" sighed the
Persian.
And they continued their road
After going up and down several
staircases which RaouI had never
seen before, the two men found them,
selves in front of a door which the
Persian opened with a master-key
The Persian and RaouI were both, OF
course, in dress-clothes; but, where
as RaouI had tall hat, the Persian
wore the astrakhan cap which | have
already mentioned. 1t was an in
frtngement of the rule which insists
upon the tall hat behind the scenes
but in France foreigners are allowed
every license; the Englishman his
travelling cap, the Persian his cap OF
astrakhan.
Sir" said the Persian, your tall
hat will be in your way; you would
do we'll to leave it in the dressing
room"
What dressing room?" asked
Raoul
Christine Daae's."
And che Persian, letting Raou,
through the door which he had just
opened, showed him the actress room
opposite.
They were at the end of the pass
age the whole OF which RaouI had
been accustomed to traverse before
knocking at Christine's door.
How well you know the opera
sfr!"
Not so well as he does!" said the
Persian modestly.
And he pushed the young man into
Christines dressing-room, which was
as RaouI had left it a few minutes
earlier.
Closing the door, the Persian Went
to a very thin partition that sep
arated the dressing from a big
lumber-room next to it. He listened
and then coughed loudly.
There was a sound of some one
stirring in the lumber-room; and, a
few seconds later. a finger tapped al
the door.
Come in" said the Persian.
A man entered, also wearing an
astrakhan cap and dressed in a long
overcoat. He bowed and took a rich
ly carved case from under his coat
put it on the dressing-table, bowed
once again and went to the door.
Did no one see you come in
Darius?"
mo. master"
Let no one see you go out"
The servant glanced down the
passage and swiftly disappeared.
The Persian opened the case. Il
contained a pair of long pistols.
When Christine Daae was carried
off, sir, sent word to my servant tc
bring me these pistols. l have had
them a long time and they can be re
lied upon"
do you mean to fight duei?'
asked the yopng man.
1T will certainly be a duel which
we shall have 10 fight" said the other
examining the printing of his pistols
And what a duel!" Handing one o.
the pistols to Raoul, he added: III
this duel.s we shall be two to one; bu
you must be prepared for everything
for we shall be fighting the most ter
ribIe adversary that you can imagine
But you love Christine Daae, do yoI
not?"
Il worship the ground she stand:
on But you. sir. who do not love
her, tell me why l find you ready II
1~4 ~ E1~,..