The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-08-12
CHAPTER XI.
uItsis az DiffCrput Feather

Leaving the CrcNellng house, Nc
Cartv for the second time that day
bnlr'ad "a south-going bus. having
as.er-aincd from Rollins that Mr.
Nicholas cutter lived on lower Firth
avenue near Washington square. and
o4 Do, rode downtown he wondered
somewhat grimly II further mystery
were to greet him at his dcstina-
tiUu Ncver had he known "A case
with So many conflicting elements,
So many threads which led appar-
entity nowhere, such an incXtriCabl"
taugiy of tantallI.ng suggestions and
false clues. Somewhere among them,
ho knew. lay the solution TO the onig-
ma. but 1t still eludcd him. Would
cutter turn out to be as much OF
ruzzlc as the rest of them had
been
The number given him proved to
l., that of an old fashioned. square
mansion OF brick and brownstonc
si.gI'rd upon n corner and running
bact t0 an unusual depth upon the
side street, with "A high wall border
lrtg the strip Of yard which separat-
ei It's extension from the house at
the rear McCarty strolled past and
examined the extension with curl
ors cyos. II rcsembled conserva-
tory hut the walls and dome were
g'aSs. behind which ne fancicd he
could distinguish II network of
strong. protecting wires surely, If
there we're plants in there they We're
Of extraordinary value TO require
such guard, and must be Of some
species which needed no sunlight.
The shades had been raised AZ
all tho windows Of the house, but
thcy were masked hy heavy lace cur
tains, behind which some darker
material hung in close folds and no
sign ~ life appeared about the es-
tahl.Stment.
McCarty mounted the broad steps
which led to the massive front door
and sounded with a vigorous hand
the bronze knocker which faced him
between the wide panels. Its echo
crashed upon his ears like the clane
ot Jail gate and promptly the door
swung open, revealing an elderly
figure in conventional black. who's"
faded oycs blinked rapidly in the
rays Of the setting sun as though
unaccustomcd to its light.
Mr. Nicholas Gutter. Does he live
hero MCCarty asked.
Yes sir" The doorway was wide
hut the shrunken. stoop- -shouldcrcd
figure seemed consciously to fill il
as McCarty made a move to step
inside
"Id like TO see him"
"T viii see, sir, II no is disen-
gaEcd' Tho servants tone was gem
lie with old fashioned courtesy rath-
er than obsequiousncss. but he still
Unlocked the doorway. "What name,
,Nir.?7,r, .7,,,..,,. ,,.c,A,. .,o,,,., ,,,,,,,,
mean nothing to him. Just tell him
I, tftNf ~ g. \
private matter"
Come in. sir" The man threw tho
door wider and turning led the way
with tOttcring but surprisingly QUICK
footsteps to a second door at the
side Of the dim hallway. "T do not
know that he will he able 10 see
YOU hut I will take your message"
I Thanks" McCarty said dryly. He
was accustomed to encountoring ef-
frontcry. insolcnce and servilty from
the domestic staff in the homes of
the rich, but the formal dignity OF
this ancient retainer was new to his
experience
when tho latter had disappeared
the cX-rou' oman glanced wonder
ingly about him. The entrance han
had been so dark that coming in
from the glare of the street he had
been able to make out only vaguely
the outlines of enormous. oddly
shapsr chairs and settecs and chests,
the great fireplace and curving stair
case with n heavily carved halus-
trade, but sonber as it was he had
gained an impression OF space and
grouDing, Of transformations elegance
beside which the costly luxurious
ness Of the Crcveling house seemed
tawdry and blatant in comparison.
As boy in the old country he
had once been invited together with
othcr village children to a memOra-
pe treat at the castle which DOM
= 9ated the country and had straycd
%hbladcn into the great hall; the
on" through which he had just
passed would have filled barely a
corner Of it and yet something In
us atmosphere recalled that glimpse
ot tho Splendor of long past fcudal