The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-03-03

IntentIy Working Over a Pocket
Camera.
ing mouth Yet the unknown stranger
was serious enough as he stopped be-
fore a door at the end of the second
hall and pushed on one of a row of
mother-of-pearl buttons. The door slid
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
rose noiselessly. Once it had come to
stop, he leaned against the appar-
emily blank wall of the elevator shaft
and studied it 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 good DEAL" declared the
other, ito know who you arel"
Tm-I'm afraid l can't help you
any, in that" she finally told him.
why not?"
Because / don't know myself"
Il want to take you to 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.
ooh, this old scoundrel won't be toe
dangerously kind, especially until the
ice is broken. I warrant you thai
much. But with him, I'll also warrant
you may have faced in the Owl:
Nest"
But why should he be interested
in me?"
Because you may remind him of {
daughter he himself once had"
Then what must / do?"
You must put on a dress | have
ready, one exactly like the one hi.
own daughter used to wear. And II
like you to let down your hair"
So the girl, still touched with won
der, was cautiously led to another par
of the great house, where she let down
her hair and dressed herself in 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 smuggled her quietly dow
through the house, and, as the aged
millionaire bent low to unlock the bot
tom drawer of his desk, motioned hel
noiselessly into the library and int
an armchair facing the desk.
By the time Golden had raised hi.
head again the mysterious stranger
had slipped out of sight.
Golden, as he sat upright, stared fol
several moments of silence at tn,
strange figure in the armchair.
who are your" the grim-faced olt
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
And passing a hand across his mois
tened brow he asked still again: WHO
are yOu?"
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" he
luskily murmured. TOO much to hope
| for!"
His grief-stricken face touched the
girls heart
"Oh, sir, what had you hoped for?'
she managed to ask.
Il hope for nothing" was the
broken mans reply. But once / had
daughter, and lost her."
How did you lose herr"
She was stolen from me, as 9
child"
"And what became of herr"
God only knows! Yet, for a mo
ment l was mad enough to think, to
hope, But have no Longer any right