The Washington herald., 1920-11-06
CONTINUED from Yesterday

When the car had we'll entered
the crosstown Seventies 1t swung
eastward a half block and stopped
before row of high-stooped
brownstone-front houses.
BE kind enough to enter my
house with me-" said the seal
skinned gentleman when they had
alighted. Hes going to dig up
sure" reflected Thomas, following
him inside.
There was a dim light in the hall
His host conducted him through a
door to the left. closing II after
him and leaving them in absolute
darkness. Suddenly luminous
globe. strangely decorated. shone
family in the. center of an immense
room that seemed to Thomas more
splendidly appointed than any he
had ever seen on the stage or
read of in fairy stories.
The walls were hidden by gor-
geous red hangings embroidered
with fantastic gold figures. At the
rear end of the room were draped
portieres of dull gold spangled
with silver crescents and stars.
The furniture was of the costliest
and rarest styles. The ex-coach-
mans feet sank into rugs as fieecy
and deep as snowdrifts. There
were three or four oddly shaped
stands or tables covered with black
velvet drapery.
Thomas McQuade took in the
splendors of this palatial apartment
with one eye. With the other he
looked for his imposing conductor
to flnd that he had disappeared
"B'gee" muttered Thomas. this
listens like spook shop. Shouldn't
wonder IL 1t amt one of these Mo-
ravian Nights adventures that you
read about. Wonder what become
of the furry guy"
Suddenly a stuffed owl that stood
on an ebony perch near the fllumi-
mated globe slowly raised his wings
and emitted from his eyes bril-
liant electric glow.
With a fright-born imprecation
Thomas seized a bronze statuette
OF Hebe from a cabinet near by and
hurled IL with all his might at the
terrifying and impossible fowl The
| owl and his perch went over with a
crash. With the sound there was a
click. and the room was flooded
with light from a dozen frosted
globes along the walls and ceiling.
The gold portieres parted and clos
ed. and the mysterious automobiles
entered the room. He was tall and
wore evening dress of perfect cut
and accurate taste. A vandyke
beard of glossy. golden brown,
rather long and wavy hair, smooth
ly parted, and large, magnetic, ORR
entally occult eyes gave him q
.N.fl
pearance. II you can conceive a
Russian Grand Duke in a Rajah's
throne-room advancing to greet a
visiting Emperor. you will gather
something Of the majesty of his
manner. But Thomas McQuade was
too near his dts to be mindful of
his p's and as. When he viewed
this silken. polished. and somewhat
terrifying host he thought vaguely
of dentists.
Say, doc" said he resentfully,
that's a hot bird you keep on tap.
1 hope I didn't break anything. But
I've nearly got the williwalloos,
and when he threw them 32-candle
power lamps of his on me, I took
a snapshot at him with that little
brass Flatfron Girl that stood on
the sideboard."
That is merely mechanical
toy" said the gentleman with a
wave of his hand. May I ask you
to be seated while I explain why I
brought You to my house. Per-
maps you would not understand nor
be In sympathy with the psyche
logical prompting that caused me
to do SO. So I will come to the
point at once by venturing to re-
fer to your admission that you know
the Van Smythe family, of WASH
ington Square North"
Any silver missing7" asked
Thomas tartly. "Any joolry dis
placed?y OF course I know 'em. ANY
OF the old LADIES' sunshades disap-
peared? Well I know 'em. And
then what?"
The Grand Duke rubbed his white
hands together softly.
WONDERFUL" he murmured.
Wonderful! Shall / come to be-
lieve in the Chaldean Chiroscope
myself? Let me assure you," he
continued, "that there IL nothing
for you to fear. Instead, I think I
can promise you that very good
fortune awaits you. We will see."
DO they want me back?" asked
Thomas, with something Of his old
professional pride in his voice. sTll
promise to cut out the booze ana
do the right thing II they'll try me