The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-26
CONTINUED

exertioD Of self restraint on my part
that said. "Well. I'll be jiggeredr'
Her audaclty staggered me.
Madame" I exploded, will you be
good enough to listen to me? am not
to be trifed with. Tomorrow some
time shall enter the east wing OF this
building IL have to knock down all
the doors on the place. Do you under.
stand. madamer
II do hope, Mr.. Smart. you can ar
range TO break in about 5 o'clock. 1t
will afford me a great deal Of pleasure
to give you some tea. May I expect
you at or thereabouts"
Her calmness exasperated me- l
struck the stone balustrade an en-
phatic blow with my fist, sorely peel
fng the knuckles. and ground out:
For two cents I'd do it tonightr
"Oh. dear; oh. dearv' she cried mock.
tngly.
You must be a dreadful womanp
cried out First you make yourself
at home In my house; then you sue.
ceed In stopping my workmen, steal
my cook and menservants, keep us all
awake with barking dog, defying me
TO my very face
"How awfully stern you are!"
II don't believe word you say
about sick baby-or q doctor! It's
Ill poppycock. Tomorrow you Will find
yourself, bag and baggage. sitting at
the bottom of this hill waiting for
"Waitr she cried. "Ars you really,
truly In earnest"
Most empha aticaHyT
'Then IL shalf surrender" she said
very slowly and seriously, was glad
to observe.
That's more like itr' / cried enthu.
siastically.
"On one condition" she said. "You
must agree in advance to let me stay
on here for a month or two. lit is
most imperative, Mr.. Smart"
81 shall be the sole judge OF that
madame" retorted, with some dig
nifty. by the way" vent on, knit
ting my brows, "how am to get into
your side Of the castle? Schmick says
he's lost the keys
A good deal depended on her answer
''They shall be delivered to you to
morrow morning, Mr.. Smart" she saio
soberly. Good night"
The little window closed with snap
and / was left alone in the smiling
moonlight l was vastly excited, ever
thrilled by the prospect of sleepless
night.
''Britton," said later, II want to be
called at o'clock sharp in the morn
ing" Noting his polite struggle to con
ceal his astonishment, told him of my
second encounter with the lady across
the way.
"She won't be expecting you at Z,
sir" he remarked. And, as for that
she may be expecting to call on you
instead Of the other way around"
Right" saidI. considerably dashed
Besides, sir, would it not be safer
to wait till the tourist party has come
and goneT
mo tourists enter thfs place tomor.
row or any other day" l declared
firmly.
"Sit SoSefSI "di1ihS Juot
same, sir" said he. evidently inspired.
"Confound themr l growled, some
how absorbing his presentiment
He hesitated for a moment near the
door.
"Will you put in the telephone, sir?"
he asked respectfully.
Very curiously l was thinking of II
at that instant
1T really wouldn't be a bad idea,
Britton," l said, startled into commit.
ting myself. Save US a great deal of
logging 1t over town and all that sort
of thing. eh?'
. "Yes, sir. What was about to sug.
gest, sir. is that while we're about II
we might as well have system OF
electric bells put in-that is to say, sir.
Mn both wings of the castle. Very
convenient sir, you see. for all par.
ties concerned"
II see," said l, impressed, and ther
repeated it, little more impressed
after reflection. II see You are 8
very resourceful fellow, Britton am
inclined to bounce all of the Schmicks
They have known about this from the
start and have lied like thieves. By
Jove. she must have an extra ordinary
power over them or claim or some.
thing equally potent. Now think OF
1t, she mentioned grandfather. That
would go TO prove she's related in
some way to some one. wouldn't itT"
II should consider 1t to be more thar
likely. sir" said Britton. with a per.
fectly straight face. He must have
been sorely tried in the face of my
inane maunderings. Pardon me, sir
but wouldn't 1t be tiptop idea tc
have it out with the Schmicks to.
night?'
Excellent idea, Britton. Well have
them up in my study"
NIAnTEn