Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-15


might look from the windows of the
! mansion.
He looked again toward the remarkable
glass window. Hederman still paced the
chamber and n rosy light as If crate
| fire leaped and danced. gave an air OF
cosy comfort to the interior.
The door-bell had hardly sounded faint
ly to his touch, when n man in livery
opened the door.
"NIr. Rutherford" announced Craig.
MIR. Helderman expects you, sir. VIII
you please be seated"
AS he spoke, a deep growl punctuated
the mans formal request-so did the
rafting OF chains.
You needn't be uneasy sir" said the
butler. They are securely fastened"
Tho man moved away to announce him
to his host. Rutherford was Ill at ease.
1t was n strange welcome indeed. to be
asked to sit in a room with some beasts
which needed combining with chains. He
silently resented such n situatlon 1t re-
minded him too much of some fanastic
tale of adventure in the Far East.
lie peered in the shadowy spaces of the
great hall, but saw nothing. He rose
and moved forward n few steps, and
stopped short. The hoarse, rumbling pro-
test which greeted him was too positive
TO be disregarded. He saw something
moving, and gradually by the dim light
nlterlng down from dozen beautiful but
unilluminating lamps OF Japanese bronze,
he made out the sprawling figures of
two huge beasts. lying with stretched
nccks upon II dais covered with tiger
skins. They were tugsing at their
chains, and he approached them with
some feeling of security.
Massive Great Danes they were. An
animal-lover he knew the gentle nature
OF such dogs when not on guard. He
neared them, believing they were stretch
ing their necks out for a caress.
He had extended hand to touch one,
when both animals lcaped up viciously,
and the nearest all but seized his hand
With great, gaunt, slavering jaws wide
open, they tugged and writhed in unmls-
takably vicious rage. Craig sprang back
just in time, and at n safe distance
heard the rattle of the heavy chains with
considerable satisfaction. Up and down
leaped the beasts, bowling, and seeming
to focus in their evil eyes all the light
that fell family from the lamps of bronze.
Every detail of this scene photographed
itself upon the beholders mind. lie saw
lhe dull gold embroidery on the ancient
banners druoring from the walls. He no.
ticed the rich tapestry which hung be-
hind the dais where the dogs were
chained. Even the fickerlng light from
deep-set fireplace beyond the richly
carved banister of the staircase made a
certain definite impression upon him.
Then the stairway itself suddenly super
seded all the other curious details in in
terest He noticed a landing, halfway
up. on which stood a tall lamp, like
some Buddhist altar light, and from this
lamp came a soft, ruddy glow which. as
II encountered velvet curtain, seemed
to turn it's mellow, reddish purple into
the color Of wine.
The Great Danes had ceased their up
roar and sunk down; but they still re-
garded him with bloodshot eyes He
knew that their savageness had only one
explanation. The brutes We're underfed-
1t must be with intent, in this house of
opulent even barbaric. luxury.
Rutherford shrugged his shoulders in
silent disapproval OF the sort of welcome
that Helderman extended to invited
guests-and turned to find his host at his
elbow. He had dlsagreeablo impress
sion that the man had been there several
minutes, stealthy observer of the eff
feet produced upon his guest by this re-
markable reception hall.
"Ah, this is kind!' the financier eX-
claimed, with voluble hospitality. as If
anxious to disabuse Craig of the idea
that he had not tarried a moment I'm well
coming him. 81 am more than glad to
see you! Come in. I shall take YOU 10
my sanctum where | admit few. l can
not have my thoughts disturbed, my
mental housekeeping put out of order,
by the presence or the memory Of the
presnce of those who are-well, not to
the manner born. Have you ever noticed
that the entire atmosphere of a room. its
tone, YOU might say, can he spoiled for
day, for a week. for all time, by the ad-
mission o. some foreign element? Rooms
are as sensitive as persons!"
Rutherford perceived that Helderman
was fatterinG him. Nevertheless, he felt
the charm of this strange man, in his
mOmentary graciousuess. He could not
help feeling pleased TO be received with
out question into the fnancier's inner
circle.
Craig scrutinized him most carefully. At
this close range he watched the man for
every one of those tricks and mRnnerisms
that had become so familiar to him on
board the Gothic.
Yes. e--Rutherford-was right and
Crowder must be wrong This man was
the man who had paced with him the
decks of the steamer-the man who had
received that secret service message in
the wireless ROOM This man must be
HeldermanAhe was occupying Helder-
mans house-therefore the man upon the
Gothic had been Helderman. Then
Crowder ald his six other witnesses-the
wondering night watchmen-had been
dreaming. or else they mad been fooled.
Crowder possibly was crazy-and yet he
could not be.
AS Craig recalled his conversation with
the secret service man he remembered
that It was Crowder who was cool as
we'll as positive; that il was he-Ruther-
ford-that had been bit uncertain.
Crowder must be right-and Rutherford
was right. What then was the reason
for this mystery and what was its solu-
tlon? Was there another Heldeman?
Helderman's very personality made this
thing impossible,
There was only one Helderman and that
HeldeTman now stood before him.
you are welcomed" Helderman con-
tlnued, with a broad sweep of the hand,
as II ~ entered the adjoining room.
Craig glanced around this room which
he had already seen from the outside and
was silent
simple isn't it?" the banker observed.
noticing his lack of response
Very" rutherford acquiesced.
simplicity is a hobby of mine. Straight
lines, sharp corners! This is where l do
my real work. want no disturbing orna-
ment nothing that can WOO the senses
and befudde the wits. l can make for
tunes here"