The Washington times., 1918-04-15
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
MOncrief and PietrO Arrive at Adder
ley and the Latter Makes Ready
To Descend Into the Vault

Yer cNentuaily Would arise, lot snc
hated Pietro with a bitter hatred fol
the iEnominy to wnIcn re mad sub
jected her. She told herself. too,
that she would be society's avenEe-,
and. with 4 harsh laugh, she arose
and took from a workbag where
she had thrown them the pair OF
ugly bears claws. Evidently Pietr0
had not yet discovered his loss.
The beast" she muttered TO her-
self, "hc is worse than the other"
She nervously grabbed at the black
velyet collar she wore about her.
He has intelligence and reason.
And to think I was so many days
in his grip, We'll, I let him loos"
upon the country: through me let
the country be avenged
1t was dark when Moncrief and
Pietro reached Adderly Wood sta
tion. They proceeded to the Sta
tion Hotel, where they enjoyed a
gooi meal The landlady. she who
had taken such an interest in
Esther-looked at them askance.
and refused to be drawn into con-
versation. Somehow she connected
the Italian in her mind with Adder
ly. She at once, when walk ing with
her little boy, seen him in the viii
lage, and the child had pointed at
him. calling him the devil who fire.
quented the grounds of the old
house. And in truth there was
something demoniacal in his appear
ance.
The two men smoked and talked
till 10 o'clock. when they set out
on the familiar walk to the Manor.
They did not approach II by way
OF the lo\ge, but along the shorter
route which Lillian had taken when
she had saved Esther from the liv-
ing death OF the tomb. Moncrief
had the key Of the gate which gave
access from the wood to the park,
so there was no difficulty in the
way.
You are sure" said Pietro, as
they walked, that there is no one
in the house tonight"
quite sure. 1t is not the time"
mot even"
The Italian Is ApprehensIve.
Moncrief shook his head. You
need have no fear OF him." he said.
You know the arrangements of the
house. It is to the vault that we
are going" He tugged at his long
mustache. and there was a smile
on his face which passed unnoticed
in the semi-darkness.
You quite understand what you
have to do" asked Moncrief after a
! pause. I'VE are nearly there and
we don't want any unnecessary de-
lay" In truth the great gaunt
house was looming above them close
at hand. There was not the faint
est sign Of life about It.
have shown me the plan. But 1 see
not why you should not go down
into the vault as well as me-" The
Italian mumbled his words discon-
tentedly.
MY dear fellow. don't know the
exact position of the box any better
than you do" returned the other.
Besides, Pm not a ghoul, and to go
down into grave would sicken me-
That's the reason we took you into
the job. You don't mind. You said
so. No" he repeated, I'VE would
never succeed II I undertook that
part Of the business. I'll open the
door. since l know how II works,
and wait at the top of the stairs
for you. 1 can't do more than
that"
Va vene," Erumbled Pietro. "Tu
60 down. He laughed grimly. Pm
not afraid of the dead"
They Arrive at the Old House.
Secretly he was thinking that II
there were any risk It was more
likely to be Moncrief who would be
assailed than himself in the quiet
depth Of the vault.
They skirted the pld house. and
came out upon the place in which
stood the ruined church and the
mausoleum of the Borradales. The
night was Inclined to be stormy, and
the moaning of the wind in the
rafters made music aggressiveIy
weird. The Italian began to whistle
Don't make that racket" said
Moncrief testify. We want to be
as quiet as we CAM
He had descended the three steps,
and was struggling to introduce a
strange key into the rusty lock.
Il Onl whistle accompaniment to
the wind" laughed Pietro. What
matter it II there Is no one here?
Best to be cheerful, non e vcro?"
He was engaged in lighting a lamp
which he had brought with him.
He flashed the light upon Moncrief
TO help him in his work, but the
agent turned sharply and with a
muttered oath.
"AII Rendy." He whispered.
Lower the shutter, you fool" he
n-vttered. Whats the good of
showing a light like that?" 1t was
as II he were more fearful of being
disturbed than he professed to be.
Pictro did as he was told and
once more they stood in tho semi
darkness. Great clOud-masses scud-
ded across the sky, and there was
no moon to help them. Moncrief
was obliged to scratch matches to
help him in his task
Il can't find the cursed spring."
he Erowled at last. Here. Pietro,
bring that lantern of yours and turn
It on the door"
This time PIetro raised the shut
ter only to the requisite height. and
q moment or two later the heavy
door swung open, disclosing tho
steep flight Of steps beyond. Tho
two HFn stood together gazing down
Into the blackness.
Are you ready?' whispered Mon
Grief
yes" Pietro tapped his pockets
Matches. and the rest?"
"Sl-si. All ready. My revolver,
too"
You won't want that What do
you expect to be attacked by down
thcre?"
Pietro shrugged his shoulders.