Evening star., 1918-09-01


form of a personal interview between
certain officials and Mr.. Roberts him.
SELF A lesser man would have been
asked to meet the district attorney in
his Office; but in a case of such mo-
ment where the honor of one SO prom
was thought best for them to visit
him in his own home. To do this
without exciting his apprehension
while still making sure Of his pres
ence required some management. Va
rious plans were discussed with the
brought into play. The district at
torney asked Mr. Roberts for an in
terview for the purpose of introduce
Ing to him q man whose influence
could not fail to play an important
partsdn his future candidacy.
He did not name this man; but we
Will name him. 1t was the chief in
spector.
The appointment was made and the
day set. It was the following Mon
day. On Tuesday. Coroner Price was
to open his inquest.
nectton between these two events?
Who can tell? The secrets of such
a brain are not to be read lightly. If
we. possessed Sweetwater's interest.
and were to follow in secret fashion
every action of the director on the
conclusion should we draw in this re-
gard? How would we characterize
his anticipations. or measure in our
own mind the possibilities of the fu-
ture as felt by him?
He was very quiet. He ate his meal
a.look over his whole house. From
the carefulness with which he noted
everything, the changes which he had
caused to be made in it were not
without their interest for him. Not
a young mans interest. but yet an
though he had expected 1t to be
shared by one whose comfort he
sought and in whose happiness he
would fain take part.
This. to Sweetwater. had he our
vision would have been Incompetent
cially, had he seen what followed
when the owner of all this luxury re-
turned to his library.
There was a picture there; a small
framed photograph which occupied
the post, of honor on his desk.
1t showed young and pretty face,
untouched. as yet. by the cares or
troubles of this world. He spent a
minute or so in looking at it.; then he
slowly lifted it. and taking the pic
ture from the frame. gave it another
look. during which a smile almost
derisive gathered slowly on his lips.
Before this smile had altogether van-
ished, he had torn the picture in two
and thrown the fragments into the
fire he had kindled early in the even
Ing with his own hands.
If he stopped to watch these frag-
ments burn, it was from abstraction
rather than from interest; for
his step grew lighter as he left the
fireplace. Whatever this young girls
face had meant to him in days gone
tNNy ,I~k~ -.
as the little pun Of smoke which had
marked the end of her picture.
If he read the papers afterward it
was mechanically. Night, and the one
great planet sinking in the west ap-
peared to appeal to him much more
than usually stirring news of the
day.
He must have stood an hour in his
unlighted window, gazing out at the
tumbling waves tapping the shore.
But of his thoughts, God wot, he
gave no sign. n.
Later, he slept.
Slept! with his hand under his pill
low! Slept! though there were others
in the house awake!-or why this
creeping shadow Of man outliped
upon the wall wherever the moon
shone in. and disappeared from sight
whenever the way led through dark
ness.
1t came from above; no noise ac-
companied it Where the great win
dow opened upon the sea, lighting up
the main staircase, it halted-halted
for several minutes; then passed
stealthily down, shadowy silhouette.
descending now quickly, now slowly.
as tread after tread Is left behind and
the great hall is reached.
Here there is no darkness. Open
doors admit the light from many VIM
dows. A semi-obscurity Is all, and
through this the flgure. passes. but
hesitatingly still, and with pause after
a closed door-the only door which
is closed In this part of the house.
Here 1t stands--stands with pro-
file to the panels. one ear against the
wood. One minute-two minutes-flve
minutes pass. Then a hand goes out
and touches the knob. 1t yields-yields
without a sOund-and a small gap Is
seen between the door and it's casing.
This gap grows. Still no sound to dis
turb the tragic silence. Stop! What
was that? A moan? Yes from within.
Another? Yes. Then all Is quiet again.
The dream has passed. Sleep has re-
sumed its sway. The gap can safely
be made wider. This is done, and the
figure hating without passes in.
XXI.
CONFRONTED.
Late in the afternoon of the fol-
lowing u, day. the expected car en-
tered Mr.. Roberts spacious grounds.
1t contained, besides the chauffeur,