Evening star., 1918-01-27

see you homo. VIII you be anIe to
thanks: or, rather. good-morning."
All the next day a man was At work
installing the electric light in the
rooms OF the Hon. Herbert Selwyn.
When he came home to dress for din,
there. A solid and stolid middIe-aged
man. with dull, commonplace face,
ornamented with mutton-ehop whis-
kers-the last person in the world to
associate with electricitv.
When will you be done hersr in
quired Herbert
early tomorrow, sir. I expect"
SO soon? want a man here In the
afternoon. at half-past four
That's all right. sir: they told mo at
our place. I'm to como back"
You know your business, expect p
Pretty we'll, sir"
Have all the latest appliances There
will be lady here-the Duchess Of
electricity can do"
Thank you. sir. hope to be able to
satisfy her ladyship."
Half-past four, sharp"
It was a charming lunch and the
duchess enjoyed It amazingly. The
lighted for the first time with cleo
tricity. in honor OF her visit. She quite
bubbled over with admiration and en-
5oyment
"It Is tho first time rve heard her
laugh since that COMPOUNDED opal dis
appeared" the duke oonhded to his
brother. She has been breaking her
heart over that girl Lucy"
When the man from Volt & Bright
arrived her grace left her husband and
brother-in-law at the table In eager
discussion Of the chances of Derby
she fitted like swallow round the
rooms. resting nowhere The man from
Volt & Bright followed her like q
slow-winged rook-dull. heavy and
harmless.
"Oh. Herbert" cried her grace over
her shoulder, what a perfectly lovely
writing desk-so old, and heavy and
mysterious looking. I'm sure there are
lots Of secret drawers In it."
band. But he said it pleasantly. .And
don't bother Herbert; we are talking
business"
Just one word, Herbert. I'd love tc
have two brackets with shell lights on
didly"
IT leave 1T entirely to your taste
Ethel" he answered her carslessly.
I'D like two lights here and there,
she said to the man from Volt & Bright
Very pretty and new. you know"
III show you the very newest thing.
NUM- mean my lady," he answered
stohdly. He had In his hand a pear
SNAPPED, pear-sised lamp of thin. clear
glass He held 1t by handle. and from
either side of the pear a wire ran to 9
large electric coil under the table Az
the man made the connection q loud
cracking sound was heard, and a faint
very faint vapor. as 1t were, of green
ish-yellow light showed in the glass
pear.
That's not what want at ALL" said
her grace. why. can hardly see the
The man handed her 4 kind Of pasts.
board cylinder like a case that music
is carried in, but closed at one end.
II you look through that, my lady
you will see 1t to more advantage"
c,oe.n Mithon. ~. noticing Sls that one end wa.
to her eyes and saw nothing.
dark"
Wait one moment. my lady. Beg
tie ivory knob of the electric lights
and In an instant the room was pitch
dark.
The cracking sound still went on fr
the glass pear. the flickering glow wa,
the one luminous point in the darkness
The man passed the light behind a solid
carved pillar of the old desk. At the
same time he moved the end Of the case
through which her grace still looked
TN pointed straight toward the hid
Even as she looked the cardboard at
the closed end grew strangely trans
lucent and on the luminous disc she
saw a strange, dark shadow projected
"Oh! oh" she cried. This is most
wonderful. I see the gold setting OF
my opal. Quick. Reggie. come here!"
The cracking sound suddenly ceased
and the vision vanished. There was q
struggle, ending in q sharp metallic
snap. The next instant the electric
lamps flashed up again and the dark
ness was turned to bright light. The
Hon. Herbert was lying in q heap Is
he had fallen back in his chair with
handouts on his wrist. and the man
from Volt & Bright was standing over
him. The duke started furiously from
his seat.
Whats the meaning Of this insolent
foolery?' he shouted.
Its all right, your grace" answered
a cheerful and familiar voice. Here's