The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-22
CHAPTER v.
I Converse With a Mystery.

~ ATE in the afternoon I opened
 my door, hoping that the bang
 ing of hammers and the buzz
 of industry would have ceas- ed; but, alas, the noise was even more deafening than before. Esyping Brit ton in the gloomy corridor. I shouted to him, and he came at once.
 .'Britton," said as he closed the door. sdo' you think they will carry ont their threat to have the law on me2 MT. Wordsworth was very angry
 and put out. He is g power as you know.s'
 tfI think you are quite safe. sir 2 said he. Shortly before 2, sir, one of the porters from the hotel came over to recover 2 gold purse Mrs. Riley ment. and he informed Mir. Poopen dyke that the whole party was leaving at for Dresden. .
 Later on, somewhat refreshed and relieved, I made my way to the little balcony, first having issued numerous orders and directions to the still stupe- fled Schmicks, chief among which was an indexible command to keep the gates locked against all corners.
 Suddenly as I sat there run1nat1ng I became acutely aware of something white on the ledge of the topmost win dow in the eastern tower. Even as I fixed my gaze upon it something else trayIspired A cloud of soft, wayy, luxurious brown hair eclipsed the nar- row white strip and hung with spread ing splendor over the easement ledge plainly, tndubitably to dry in the sun.
 My neighbor had washed her hair!
 And 1t was really a most wonderful head of hair. can't remember ever having seen anything like it except in the advertisements.
 What glorious. appealing, senEuous thing a crown of hafr-but just then 1kr. Poopendyke came to my window.
 "Afay interrupt you for a moment, Mir. Smart P he inquired, as he squint- cd at me through his ugly bone Trimmed glasses.
 Come here. Poopendyke." com manded in low, excited tones He hesi- fated "You won't fall off, said sharply.
 Although the window is at least nine feet high, Poopendyke stopped as he came through. He always does it, no matter how tall the door. It is life long habit with him. Have men toned that my worthy secretary is six rect 1O1E dQ0 AS L3A11l S1S a 1GS94 sA member speaking of bis knees- He is also a bachelor.
 ssIt is a dreadful distance down there, he murmured, hattening him self against the wall and closing his eyes
 A pair of slim white hands at that instant indoIently readjusted the thick mass of hair and quite as casually dis appeared I failed to hear MT. Poopen- dykes remark
 q think, sfr,', he proceeded. e1t would be very good idea to get some of our correspondence off our hands. A great deal of 1t has accumulated in the past few weeks. wish to say that I am quite ready to attend to it when evers-
 .aTine enough for letters" said I. still staring.
 ssFirst of all, we must have lad der," I went on "Have you seen to. that?''
 A IadderY' he faltered. putting one foot back through the window in most suggestive way.
 sOh.'' said I, remembering, @1 haven't told you, have I? Look! Up there, in that window. Do you see that?"
 ssWhat is it, sir? A rug?
 "Rug! Great Scott, man, don't you know woman's hair when you see it7''
 tI've never-er-never seen 1t-you might say-just like that. Is it hair?"
 "It is. You do see it, don't your tFHow did it get thereT'
 "Good. Now I know I'm not dream ing. Come! There's no time to be lost. We may be able to get up there before she hears us!''
 instructed old Conrad to have the tallest ladder brought to me in the courtyard at once.
 'sThere is no such thing about the castle,'' he announced bland1y.
 ssWhere are your sons ?'' l demanded.
 The old counle held up their hands in