The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-11-08

the woman Of diamonds and curses
two hours before.
My friend entered the building. To-
Gated the apartment, and proceeded
to open a door with the swiftness
and dexterity of professional house
breaker.
He pushed me across the threshold
and into chair and then closed the
door after resetting the lock. "Sit
there" he directed, and watch and
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 a street view, but an immense
doll with golden ringlets which the
woman of mystery had feigned to
amuse, and then I knew we had to
deal with a clever woman.
The place was plainly but richly
furnished. The walls held but one
picture. This was a well executed oil
painting of woman of middle age. I
could trace a resemblance to the wo-
man who had visited the bank. 1t
must be the portrait of her mother, !
decided. Then ] concluded that this
mother was dead, for heavy piece of
crepe was looped over one end of the
picture. Marvel was busy all about
the apartment. That utility case of
his seemed to furnish devices which
gave him ready entrance to a locked
writing desk and chiffonier / could
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 sank
easily to a chair facing the door, and
glanced at his watch with the air of q
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
back 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 accomplice
stole Them" Marvel incisively in
formed her, and he rendered the docu
ments I had seen him secure from the
writing desk. "Isora Giglia, I Judge
IS your name. If you do not care tc
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, if you like, but consider the
net drawn replied Marvel
The woman drew chair in the cen
ter of the roRsm. directly facing the
shrouded portrait, she fixed her eyes
upon it, 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 I have a million to carry
out my purposes; that hesitated al
no peril of the faint Of criminality to
mature my fixed, just plans. am re
sponsible for all that has been done
I have directed, 1 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 q
card while the woman spoke. 1t d.
rected me to go for the banker al
once. AS 1 returned with him and we
entered the room Isora Giglia sprane
to her feet. 1 caught the cold glitter
of an unsheathed stilleto. The ready