The evening world., 1914-03-09


A pair Of slim white hands at that
instant indolently readjusted the
thick mass Of hair and quite as
casually disappeared.
Look! Up there in that window.
DO you SEQ that?'
What 10 II, sirf A rug7"
rug! Great Scott, man, don't you
know a woman's hair when you see
TT"
"I've never--er--never soon it-you
might say--just like that. liz 1t hatrT
1T II. You do SEQ It, don't your"
"How did II get there"
Good! Now I know I'm NOT
dreaming. Come! There's no time to
there before she hears us!"
'sThere II no ladder at all about the
castle" he announced blandly. pumng
away at his enormous pipe.
In q jiffy, at my orders. half do.en
carpenters were At work constructing
n substantial ladder out of scantlin9s.
while I stood over them In serene
command Of tho situation.
The Schmicks segregated them
selves and looked on. regarding the
window with sly. furtive giances In
which thero was distinct note OF
uneasiness.
AT last tho ladder was complete.
Resoiutely I mounted to tho top and
peered through tho sashlcss window.
II was quito black and repelling be-
yond. Instructing Britton and the
two brothers to follow mo In turn
ciambered over the wide stone sill and
lowered myself gingerly to the moor.
We got IN far as the top OF the
stairs in the vast middle corridor after
stumbling through q series OF dim,
damp rooms, and then found our way
effectualiy blocked by n stout DEC!
which was not only locked and bolted
but bore q most startling admoni'
ton to would-be trespassere.
Pinned to ono Of the panels there
was a dainty bit Of white note-papsr
with these satiric words written across
liz surface In . bold. feminine hand
"Pieass keep out. This 70 pr'ves'
property"
was being defied BY . woman-az
amazoni Even my grasping imaS
ination could not have asked Tor NOR
substantial returns than this. TO pu
her TO routl To storm the castle ant
chuck her into my dungeon' sp'sn
We returned to the courtyard an
held a counsel Of war. ! put all
the 6chmicks on the grill. but thc1
stubbornly disclaimed all Interest u
or knowledge Of the extraordinary 90
cupant Of tho east wing.
Poopendyke and dired In eolem!
grandeur in the Grent banquet nail
attended by the clumsy MAX.
After the very worst meal Una
Frau Schmick had ever cooked, "a
the last one that Max under any CIT
cumstance would be perm'tteo y
serve, I took myself on once MON =
the enchanted balcony. was fuli 0
ths feyer of romaAce. A porfec
avalanche Of situations had oeel
tumbling through my brain for hours
There came to my ears . sovn
that gave mo Q greater shock tne
, sny streak Of lightning could nav
produced and yet left sunictent Ire !
ma 10 appreciate the sensation q
being electrified.
A voman's voice. speaking to m
I ont of tho darkness and from som
noint quite near at handi Indeed.
| could have sworn Il was almost Z
INV elbow: she might have been pen
| inx over my shoulder to read M
, IT bog your pardon. but would 70
mind doing mo q slight favor!-
I Those were tho words. uttered IN
). clear, sweet, perfectly confident vosot
, as of one who never asked for tavoH
! but exacted them.
, I looked about me. blinking. utter
ly bewiidered. No one was to 2
!. seen. She laughed. Without rea!l
= meaning to do 20. ! also Iaugnsd-
:: nervously. Of course.
I "Can't you see msr' she asked.
looked intently At the spot fro'
which the sound seemed to come.
perfectiy solid stone block less tina
three feet from my right shoulder.
: must have been very amusing. ~
laughed again. ! !, nISnec ss n,,. ..,h:
tartly.
). you arc very ugly when you ecow
2 sir. Arc you scowling at mer
III don't know" I replied truthfull
), still searching for her. docs It sci
. 20 to your
eyes"
y .'Thsn I must bs looking In Il
right direction" I cried impolitel
"You must be- Ali"
NV straining eyes had locatad
small, oblong blotch In the curve
the tower not more than twenty To-
from where / stood and on . dire
limo with my balcony. ISuOs Cou
. not at first SEQ face. but - my sy.
. grew q little moro accustomed to =
darkness I fancied could distiuguii
y Q shadow that might pass for one.
!. II didn't know that little wtndo
:. was there" cried. pushed.
- TT isn't," she said. 1T 10 . ssor
% ioop-hole. and II isn't here sxoept
. times of great duress. 6esi ! q
! close t." The oblong blotch abrupt
:. disappeared. only to rNappsar an !
u slant later. ! Was beginning 70 U
y derstand. OF course Il was In I
d bslea guersd east wing! Il hope
A didn't startle you Q moment ago"
l resolved to 10 very stin and 10
NAL about II. MAY inQuii
I madam. what you are doing In .
hou-my castle?"
=. "You may"
;" "Well," said I, seeing the poll
what arc you doing hore7
10 II am living here" she answer
8. distinctly.
ID $50 | perceive" said ]. rather I
d. "And have come down to ask
D. simple, tiny little favor Of you, \
m Smart" she resumed.
~ ''You know my manner" cried. u
:. prised.