Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-04


was no doubt the dining-room, as in his
uncle's house. Opening from the hall in
front were the double doors of the parlor.
One of these, he saw as he turned in
that direction, was partly open, but not
far enough for him to see into the room.
He could however, see that there was
light there, and after a moments hesita-
ton he stepped to the door and raped
gently. There was no answer. Then,
raising his hand to knock again more
loudly, on sudden impulse he pushed
the door back instead and looked in.
Several gas-jets were ablaze in the ornate
chandelier, and one glance down the long,
stiffly furnished room sufficed to tell him
that there was no one there. The room
was empty and the double doors leading
to the dining-room were closed.
Retreating to the hall, he stood there,
at loss Eager and impatient to get
away, he had only to open the front door
and walk out. But he could not think of
leaving like that, without word of
thanks. Possibly the family had been
on the point of going out when he called
up and instructions about him had been
given to servant who had forgotten
them. Still, there had hardly been time
to forget-he had started almost imme-
diately after telephoning. Besides, some
body had opened that trap-door for him.
Puzzled, he waited. Perhaps he had
arrived sooner than was expected, and the
servant had gone down to the basement
for something and would be coming up
presently. Walking back to the railing
of the basement stairs, he looked down;
but there was no light below and no sound
of anybody stirring there.
But suddenly as he turned away, he
did hear something, and coming SO unex.
pectedly after the curious silence it made
him start. 1t was the first sound not
made by himself that he had heard since
entering the house. He listened. 1t came
from the dining-room. Some one was
closing drawers there-no doubt servant.
LIE took step toward the door to
- knock; then stopped and opened his
lips to call out instead; then changed his |
mind about that too. Knocking on doors |
and shouting in strange houses was not |
at all to his liking. The thing to do was to
ring the front door bell. That would bring |
somebody. 1t was what he should have
done in the first place, instead of waiting
there like an idiot for somebody to turn up.
Opening the door, he stepped out to the
bell; but as his finger touched the button
he drew it back without ringing, and
looked down the street toward the house
opposite his uncle's. From the top Of the
stoop on which he stood he could not see
into the area, the ambush of his enemies,
but what he did see set his heart to
pounding.
Two slender forms had emerged and
were coming his way, advancing at such
a slow, Sinking gait as made it plain that
they were prowling about for no good
purpose. Somebody must have smelled
a rat!
He pressed the bell-button sharply, and
heard the loud shrilling of the bell within;
then, turning, he again looked apprehen-
sively down the street. If only he could
cut and run now, while the coast was
clear! But of course he could not-any-
way, now that he had rung. He simply
had to stay and let somebody know he
had been there.
Impatiently he stepped back into the
house, expecting to meet the servant who