Charlevoix county herald., 1916-12-29

mOther-Of pearl buttons. Inc door Slld
noiselessly back at that signal, and an
electric elevator rose automatically to
the level OF the floor where he stood.
Inside the elevator, he touched still
another button, whereupon the cage
rose noiselessly. Once 1t had come to
a stop, he leaned against the appar-
emily blank wall of the elevator shaft
and studied 1t closely.
His exploring plainly found there a
secret spring, for the next moment a
panel slipped noiselessly to one side
and he stepped into the room so art
fully fireproofed with pressed steel
panels and grained to look like oak.
which Golden had once used as his
bondroom.
That room, although not used for
years, was at the present moment far
from empty. For pacing restlessly
back and forth, as the stranger quietly
entered, was a golden-haired woman
of little more than twenty. The face
under the mask smiled little at her
sudden movement and gasp of sur
prise as he confronted her.
Are you still afraid of me?" he
asked
"N-no!" hesitated the girl.
I'D give a good DEAL" declared the
other, ito know who you are!"
"I'm-Im afraid / can't help you
any, in that" she finally told him.
why not?"
Because l don't know myself"
Il want to take you to a man who
may be interested in you, who may
even prove to be very kind to you'll"
The pale face with the haunted eyes
suddenly hardened.
Il no longer ask for kindness from
men," was her almost passionate re.
tort.
"Oh. this old scoundrel won't be too
dangerously kind, especially until the
ice is broken. l warrant you that
much. But with him, I'll also warrant
you'll face none of the affronts that
you may have faced in the Owls
Nest"
But why should he be interested
in me?"
Because you may remind him of a
daughter he himself once had"
Then what must do?"
You must put on a dress l have
ready, one exactly like the one his
own daughter used to wear. And I'd
like you to let down your hair"
So the girl, still touched with won
der, was cautiously led to another part
of the great house, where she let down
her hair and dressed herself in a girl
ish little frock which she found al
ready laid out for her. And the won
der was still in her eyes as the masked
stranger struggled her quietly down
through the house, and, as the aged
millionaire bent low to unlock the bot
/ tom drawer Of his desk, motioned heI
noiselessly into the library and into
an armchair facing the desk.
! BY the time Golden had raised his
head again the mysterious stranger
had slipped out of sight.
Golden, as he sat upright, stared fol
several moments of silence at the
strange figure in the armchair.
who are your" the grim-faced ole
financier finally demanded. But the
girl remained silent.
Golden, studying her more closely
rose unsteadily to his feet.
How did you get here?" he asked
tened brow he asked still again: "Whc
are your"
IL don't know" answered the girl.
Golden rose to his feet, and still
staring hungrily at that mild yet cloud
ed face, crossed to her side.
He held her face between his hands
peering into it. Then, with a weary
shake of the head, he dropped his
hands.
1T was too much to expect" b,
huskily murmured. TOO much to hop,
for!"
His grief-stricken face touched tn,
girls heart.
"Oh, sir, what had you hoped for?'
she managed to ask.
Il hope for nothing" was tn,
broken mans reply. But once l haC
daughter, and i lost her."
How did you lose herr"
She was stolen from me, as {
child"
And what became of herr"
God only knows Yet, for a mo
ment | was mad enough to think, t
hope. But l have no longer any righ
to hope" he added with sudden pas
sion. All ask is that once before
die meet face to face that one-armeC
devil with his scar of shamel"
"One-armed, and with a scarf" crieC
the startled girl, leaning suddenly for
ward in her chair.
Golden wheeled about at her cry.
What does that mean to your
J why, IL was a one-armed man will
SCARED face who kept me a pris
oner! IL was he, Legar, who Away
told me my parents were dead"
, "Legar!" repeated the bewildereC
millionaire. "Legar? But my man.
J name was Palidori ("
Girl, let me see your armi"
) With trembling fingers he thrust vi