Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-16

the woman Of diamonds and curses
two hours before.
My friend entered the building. 10
ca.ed the apartment, and proceeded
to open a door with the swiftnes,
and dexterity of professional house
breaker
He pushed me across the threshold
and into chair and then closed tn,
door after resetting the lock. "Sii
there" he directed, and watch ant
listen for outsiders"
My first glance was towards the
front window. The pyramid of build
ing block construction lay in disor
derby ruins on the rug. In the low
chair sat, not child as had thought
from street view, but an immense
doll with golden ringletS which thl
woman of mystery had feigned t
amuse, and then | knew We had 4
deal with a clever woman
The PLACE was plainly but richly
furnished The walls held but on,
picture This was a well executed o.
painting of woman Of middle age
could trace a resemblance to the wo
man who had visited the bank Il
must be the portrait of her mother,
decided. Then | concluded that this
mother was dead, for heavy piece o.
crepe was Topped over one end of Tho
picture. Marvel was busy all abou
the apartment. That utility case o.
his seemed to furnish devices which
gave him ready entrance to locked
writing desk and chi1cnier. | coulC
trace growing satisfaction and enlight
eminent in his strong face as he peck
eted a package of documents. as he
read and reread letters and cards
and at the end Of half an hour he sanh
easily to a chair facing the door. and
glanced at his watch with the air of g
man ahead of time with his work. and
impatiently awaiting official release
from service.
A key clicked in the lock of the door
Resilius Marvel stepped forward and
placed his hand on the inside knob
He retreated as the door came open
AS a figure stepped over the thresh
hold he closed the door quickly. set his
Lack against it and faced the aston
ished woman Of mystery.
who are your" she demanded, her
eyes dilating not with alarm but
frightening displeasure.
My card"
The woman read the name with one
sweep OF her matchless eyes. The
color faded in her cheeks. She had
heard of Resilius Marvel. that was
manifest Her shapely hand trembled
slightly Then she set that tragic
face of hers steady as steel
Your business here?" she demand
ed
ITO ask you to return that package
of accommodation notes to Sutherland
& Son, from whom your accomplish
stole them.' Marvel incisively in
formed her, and he rendered the docu
ments / had seen him secure from the
writing desk. "Isora Giglia. I judge
IL your name. II you do not care to
have It appear in public print, you
will assist me in retracing the false
steps you have taken and inform me
what inspired them"
Give me five minutes" said the
woman, simply.
Ten. IL you like. but consider the
net drawn" replied Marvel.
The woman drew a chair in the cen
ter of the room. Directly facing the
shrouded portrait. she fixed her eyes
upon IL, her hands crossed in her lap
her soul in commotion Sadness. an
guish, grief. ran the gamut across
those classic features. Then they
hardened to some desperate decision.
She arose.
You whom | have heard Of" she
said slowly, coldly to Marvel, Il will
tell you that have a million to carry
out my purposes; tnat hesitated at
no peril of the faint of criminality 10
mature my fixed. just plans. am re-
sponsible fer all that has been done.
have directed. have paid for the
service exacted You step in. Very
well. Then hearken! | abandon slow
torture and ruin for Howard Suther-
land. butt shall kill him!"
Marvel had penciled something on a
card while the woman spoke. 1t di-
rected me TO go for the banker at
once. AS ! refined with him and we
entered the ro. isora Giglia sprang
to her feet hit the cold glitter
of an unsheatl stilleto. The ready
hand of Marvel a.d disarmed her. but