Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-05-28
THE
SECRET
HOUSE
BY
EDGAR WALLACE
Author of THE Clue Of the
Twisted Candle" ''Kace Plus
TO-" 1.-THE Man Who
Knew" etc.

| ~, hS NAdh W ho III
! Knew" etc. II
CHAPTER I.
A man stood irresolutely before
the imposing portals, OF Cainbury
House, a large office building let out
to numerous small tenants. and har-
boring. as the indicator on the tiled
wall Of the vestibule testified, some
thirty different professions. The man
was evidently poor, for his clothes
were shabby and his boots were down
at heel He was as evidently a for
eigner. His clean shaver eagle face
was sallow, his eyes were dark, his
eyebrows black and straight.
He passed UP the few steps into
the hall and stood thoughtfully be-
fore the Indicator. Presently he
found what he wanted. At the very
top Of the list and amongst denizens
Of the fifth floor was Q. slip In
scribed, 1.-The Gossip's Corner"
He took from his waistcoat pocket
Newspaper cutting and compared
the two then stepped briskly. almost
jauntily. into the hall. AZ tho all his
doubts and uncertainties had van
ished, and waited for the elevator.
His o<,at was buttonsd tightly, his
collar was frayed, his shirt had seen
the greater part Of q weeks service.
the derby hat on his head had un-
derEone extensive renovAtions, and =
close observer would have noticed
that his gloves were odd cnes.
He walked into the lift and said.
fifth noor," with = slight foreign
accent
He was whirled up. the lift doors
clange,i open and the grimy finger
Of the elevator boy indicated the Of
flee. Again the man hesitated, ex-
aiming the door carefully. The upper
half wis of toughened glass and bore
the simple inscription. 'The Gossip's
Corner Knock"
Obediently the stranger knocked
ana this door opened thru an invisible
agent. much to the mans surprise.
tho there was nothing more magical
about The phenomenon than there 10
about any electrically controlled Of
flee door.
He found himself in room sparse
II furnished with a table, chair
and 4 few copies Of papers. An old
school map of England hung on one
vail and Landseer engraving on
the other. At the farthermost end OF
the room was another door, and to
this he gravitated and again. after q
moments hesitation, no knocked.
Come in," said voice.
He entered cautiously.
Tho room was larger and waa
comfortably furnished. There were
shaded electric lamps on either side
Of the big carved oak writing table
One OF the walls was covered with
books. ana the litter Of proofs upon
the table suggested that this waa
the sanctorum.
But the most remarkable feature
Of the room was the man who sat a
the desk. He was man solidly
built and, by his voice. OF middle
ago. His face the newcomer could
not SEQ and for excellent reason. II
was hidden behind veil OF nne silk
net which had been adjusted over
the head like loose bag and tight
ened under the chin.
The man at the table cbuckled
when he saw the others surprise.
''Sit down." he said-he spoke in
French--"and don't, I beg of you, be
alarmed"
Monsieur" said the newcomer
easily, be assured that am NOT
alarmed. In this world nothing has
ever alarmed me except my own dis
tressins poverty and the prospect Of
dying poor"
The yelled figure said nothing for
. while.
'You have come in answer to my
Advertisement" he said after a Ions
pause.
The other bowed:
You require an assistant, mon.
sieur." said the newcomer, discreet,
with a knowledge of foreign Ian
guages and poor. I fulfill all those
requirements" he went on calmly;
had you also added; of an adven-
turous disposition, with few II any
scruples, it would have been equally
descriptive
The stranger felt that the man at
the desk was looking at him. tho he
could not see his eyes. It must have
been long and careful scrutiny, for
presently the advertiser said gruffly:
Il think you'll do"
Exactly" said the newcomer with
cool assurance; "and now it 10 for
you, dear monsieur. to satisfy me
that you also will do. You will have
observed that there are two parties
to every bargain. First Of all, my
duties?"
The man in the chair leant back
and thrust his hands into his pock-
cts.
Il am the editor of a little paper
which circulates exclusively amongst
the servants of the upper classes"
he said. Il receive from time to
time interesting communications con-
corning the aristocracy and gentry
of this country. written by hysterical
French maids and revengeful Italian
Wallets. l am not good lingl,ist. and
feel that there Is much In these
epistles which l miss and which 1
should not miss"
The newcomer nodded.
Il therefore want somebody. of dis
erection who will deal with my for
eign correspondence, make a fair
copy in English and summarize the
complaints which these good people
make. You quite understand" he
said with shrug of his shoulders,
that mankind is not perfect, less
perfect ia womanktnd, and least per-
feet is that section of mankind which
employs servants. They usually have
stories to tell not greatly to their