The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-06-07

llgsntly handing n ball TO the chauf
feur. ran nimbly up the steps. rang
the door bell. and. promptly letting
himself into tho yesubulr. closed the
door behind him.
/ The taxicab swung round and
made off. Not 10 l.. sybarite. Pro.
/ foandiy intrigued. he waited hope.
fully for thls second midnight caller
To reappear. as baffi-d as himself
Hut tho he dawdied away a patient
five minutes. nothing 81 the sort
occurred Tho front doors remained
I closed.
Here Was mystery within mys.
terry. indeed, The circumstances
annoyed =. sybarite intensely. And
why Cne asked himself. with impa-
tienccl need he remain outside wncn
another entered without let or hind.
ranceg
Upon this thought he turned bold
~ up tho steps. pressed the bell
button. laid hold Of the door knob.
and entered into n vestibule as dark
as his bewilderment and as empty
as the palm OF his hand. proving
/ that the young gentleman OF fash
ion had experienced no difficulty in
/ penetrating farther into Businesses
OF this singular establishment. And
rejecting that where one had gone
another might follow. +. sybarite
pulled the door 10 behind him.
Instantly the bare and narrow YES
Thule was flooded with the mcrci.
less glare OF half dozen electric
bulbs. and at the same time he found
himself sustaining the intent scruti-
ny Of a pair OF inhospitablc dark
eyes set In an impassiye dark face
this last abruptly disclosed in the
frame OF a small grille in one OF the
inner doors.
Though far too dumfounded for
speech. ne contrived to return the
stare with aggressive interest. and
TO such effect that he presently wore
thru the patience OF the other.
"well?" he was gruffly asked
'The saints be praisedy' returned
+. Sybarite. 81 find myself so. And
YOURSELF" he added civilly. not to
be outdonc, as the saving is.
What do you want7"
Irritating discourtesy lnhcred in
the speakers tone. T.. Syharitc stiff.
fened his neck.
ITO see Mr.. Penfieid." he returned
firmly-''of courseF'
What Mr.. Penfield7" asked the
other. after a pause so transient
that IL was little more than dis.
tinguishable. but which to l.. Syhar-
tie indicated beyond question that at
least one Mr.. Pcnfield was known to
his cautious interlocutor.
"Mr. Bailey Penfieid." he replied
"Who clse?"
During n pause slightly longer
than the first. the hostile and sus.
picious eyes summed him up n sec
ond time.
NO such party here" was the YER
dict. The man drew back and made
as II 10 shut the grille.
Nonsense" II. Sybarite insisted,
sharply Il have his card with this
number-~got II from him only TO.
night"
"card?" The face returned to
the grille.
T. Sybarite made no bones about
displayine his alleged credentiai.
II believe you'll find that anthem.
uc.' no observed with aspcrity.
BY way of answer. the grille
closed with n snap; but his inclina.
ton to kick tho door was nullified
when, without further delay. It
opened TO admit him. Nose In air.
he strutted In. and the door changed
behind him.
Gimme another slant at that
card" the guardian insisted.
Surrendering IL with elaborate In
difference. +. Sybarite treated him.
self to n comprehensive survey OF
the place.
He stood in the main hall OF an
old fashioned residence. To his right
double doorway revealed draw.