The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-21
CHAPTER I.t
The Lady of the civet Furs.

C-7ENRY LEROUX wrote busily EFT on. The light of the table tprs4,gA lamp, softened and enriched tESfsf1 by its mosaic shade, gave an appearance of added opulence to the already handsome appointments of the room. ' The little table clock ticked mer- rily from half past Il to quarter to 12.
 Into the cozy, bookish atmosphere O. the noyelist's study penetrated the muf fled chime of Big Ben; it chimed tn, three quarters. But, with his mind cen tered upon his work, Leroux wrote oD ceaselessly.
 An odd figure of man was this pop ular novelist, with patchy and iuntid hair which lessened the otherwis> striking contour of his brow. A neg lected and unpicturesque figure in q baggy, neutral cclored dressing gown I "a figure more fitted to garret thar to this spacious, luxurious workroom.
 The doorben rang.
 Leroux, needless of external matters pursued his work. But the dOorbel rang again and continued to ring.
 "Soamesr' cried Leroux irritably Why the deuce don't you g to the door"
 Leroux stood up, dashing his peH upon the table.
 ''I shall have to sack that manp' h. cried. ''He takes too many liberties stopping out until this hour of the nightr'
 He pulled open the study door, cross ed the hallway and opened the door be yond. tl
 Tn, cut of the darkness-for the stai1. lights had been eXtinguished-stag gered a woman, woman whose pale face exhibited, despite the ravages O! sorrow or illness, signs of quite un usual beauty. Her eyes were wid, opened ard terror sticken, the pupil contracted almost to vanishing point She wore magnificent cloak of cfye fur wrapped tightly about her, and gLerou- opened the dsor she tOttere, past him into the lobby, glancing back over her shoulder.
 ~ With his upraised hands plunged pa thetically into the mop of his hair, Le .rouX turned and stared at the intruder She groped as if darkness had de seended, clutcned at the sides of tn study doorway and then, unsteadily entered and sank down upon the bis chesterfield i'll utter eXhG astion.
 "Close the door!' she cried hoarsely "Close the door. He has followed mel
 The disturbed novelist, as a man in 2 dream, turned, retraced his steps and closed the outer door of the flat. Then rubbing his chin more vigorously thai ever and only d25isting from this exer else to tumble in his disheveled hail. he walked back into the study, who's, Athenean calm had thus mysteriousl been violated
 His visitor kept moistening her dry lips ard swallowing emotionally.
 Madam, z began Leroux nervously.
 He had a hazy impression that his visitor beneath her furs was most in adequately clothed, and, seeking con downward to where one little slippered foot peeped out from the civet furs.
 Leroux suppressed a gasp. He had caught glimpse of bare ankle
 He crossed to his writing table and E seated himself glancing sideways n4 this living mystery. Suddenly she be gan in voice tremulous and scarcely audiple:
 "Mr. Leronx, at great-at a very great personal risk have come to Z night What have to ask of you-tG entreat of you will-wiIl''-
 Two bare ai,ns emerged from tht fur, and she began c1utching at hel throat and bosom as though choking dying.
 - Leroux leaped up and would have
 to her: but. forcing ghastly smile.