Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-26
By YARICK VANARDY
Author ef ''Ths two. Fsced Man."
"Alias the Night Wind" etc

Of my conjuring Is constantly at my
hand, in this house, prepared for in
slant obedience.
"T understand" Belknap replied
soberly. THAT is at once a warning
and a threat. Have no fear Of me,
Mrs. Harvard. While am here I viii
be a slave Of the lamp .'
Katherine, in the coldly formal tone
in which she had last spoken, instruct
ed Belknap concerning his surround
ings.
''Over against the wall behind you
there is a wide and soft couch where
you may rest and sleep" she said.
"Such conveniences as you require you
will readily discover, II you seek them.
Before go l will switch of the major
part of the lights, leaving the others
burning, which you may turn on and
off at will.
"Such doors as you find fastened
against you, may not be opened by
any skill of burglary. mention that
fact merely to spare you useless effort
in case you have brought your tools
of the craft with you in your bag"
II assure you--" he began.
Don't. 1t is unnecessary"
1--WE are inside of the Swiss chalet,
on the bluff, are we not?' Belknap
asked.
yes"
"what about this brilliant illumina :
tion--in case somebody outside should
look In this direction?''
''Not n ray of light within the house
can be discovered from outside, /" she
answered. You will find reading mat =
ter here, If you want it," she went on.
'"There cards for solitaire in the table
drawer; also chess, for working out
problems, If that pastime entcrtains
you. II you can cook, there are cleo
trical convenicnces, and material for
anything which ! have thought you
might require only while you remain you
will have to forgo fresh meats ant
vegetables. You will find sufficient
canned goods, however. The water
which constantly flows in and out OF
the porcelain tank in the electric kit
chenette is from a never failing spring
and is nearly as cold as ice water
That, with tea, coffee, and perhaps
chocolate, must suffice you as beverage
"When occasion makes it necessary
that should come here to see you, you
will hear the humming of an electric
buzzer, and I will invariably announc,
my approach at least twenty minutes
before I will appear"
She stopped moment, and an enig
matical smile softened her expression
Then:
II will suggest that you had bes
not stand too near the door when 70,
are expecting me to arrive. The jine,
Is always there on guard"
"Will you tell me what you mean b.
that remark, Mrs. Harvard?" BelknaI
inquired, impressed by her manner.
II mean that in case you should b.
too eager to receive me, when you hav
been signaled that I am coming, it woul
not be safe for you to stand too nea
to the door. There is another entranc
to my cellar in the rock, just in from
of 1t, which shall probably open as
approach. You might get nasty fall
you know, for there is no spiral stair
case there"
"By Jove!" Belknap could not re
frain from exclaiming in his admira
ton.
You are the only person." she wen
on, unmoved, save myself, who ha
set foot within this building since /
was completed. Nobody comes her
mot your husband?"
'Nobody-and none will come"
What IL should want you to com
to me-in case you should remain to-
long absent? Is there some metho
by which I can kisnal to you-frOm
window-Or-~
Mr.. Belknap, while you remail
here, you will not see daylight once
There are windows, but they may no
be opened-if you would be entirely Sc
cure. You will have plenty of air
however-the ventilation system is per
feet, but electricity must take the plac
of sunlight. But. il you should wan
me'-she crossed tho room swiftly an
lifted a small japanese idol that stoo,
upon one end of the granite shelf abov
the fireplace-''you will find n buttol
here. BY pressing it five times in sue
cession-remember. five times-it wi
convey a silent signal to~ me which
will presently discover. That is all TO
the present, think"
She turned abruptly and move
swiftly toward the door, which, t
his profound amazement, swung ope
as she advanced.
He darted forward to detain her
not by force, but by expostulntion an
argument-for there was much that h
wished yet to say to her, and to hea
: her say: but she had passed the thresh
old before he could take the second ste
in her direction; the massive doc
closed itself swiftly and silently-with
out a sound save a delicate click c
it's mechanism and Belknap could see
when he stared at the place beyon
which she had disappeared, only
smooth surface, unrelieved by knob {
bolt or visible hinge.
(CoNTINtkD TOMORROW