Evening star., 1921-05-24
CHAPTER l.
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.

which alone illuminated th'
room neither could see much save the
outline OF the others form The WON
an stood at the further end of the
apartment by the side of the desk
his desk. The slim trembling finger:
Of one hand rested lightly upon ii
the other was hanging by her side
McrvouSly crumplinS up the glow
which she had only taken off a few
minutes before. The man stood will
his back TO the door through which
Ing oresS, hc carried an overcoat ove
EiS arm, and his hat was SiISntly Oh
Inc back OF his mead A cigarette VA
sun burning between ms IIpS, the ke.
ny means of wnicn he nau enttrc,
was swinging from his little finger
So far no words mad passed petW Gel
them. Both were apparently stupe
ned for the momenI by the Olner
unexpected presence.
1t was the man who recovered nj:
Seu-poSScSSlon nrSt. He threw hi:
oNvr,odt INTO d Cnalr. and touched tn,
brass KNOBS Denlnu tne door. lnStan.-
y the room was nUoueu with SOFT ra-
QIdnce OF the electric lights. They
could see one another now distinctly
Tne woman leaned Il little forward
and there was dmdZtmen. as we'll ds
lear flashing III her soIt. dark eyes
Her voice, when Snr SPOKE, Sounucd
10 herself unnatural 10 man Ii came
.is a surprise. Ior thu NurId OF men
and women Was his STUDY. and ne
recognized at once LIS qualIty
w no are YOU. she Exclaimed
w nat do YOU want?
He shrugged ms shoulders.
1t seenas to me, ne answered
that l might more iittInSly assume
the role qucSt!onrr. however.
have no objection 10 introduce my
self. My. name Is Heroert NraySOn
May ! ASK, he continued with quiet
sarcasm, 10 wn.it am lnueDleu Tor
TINS unexpected VISIT:
She was silent Tor a moment. and
AS he watched her Ills surprise grew.
EqulvocaI though her position was.
he knew very we'll that this was no
ordinary thIei wnom he had surprised
IN his rooms, engaged to ali appear
ance in ritilng ms desk. The fact
mat she was d beautiful woman was
one which he scarcely took into ac-
count. There were otner things more
surprising which he could not ignore.
Her evening dress of black net was
faultlesSly made ana he knew enough
OF Such things to be well aware tnat
II came from The hanus of no ordinary
uressmaker. A string of pearls. her
only ornament, hung from her neck.
and her black hat with its dropping
feather was the fellow of one wnicn
he had admired few evenings ago
at the Ritz in Paris. II flashed upon
him that this was d woman of dis
tinction, one who belonged naturally.
II not in effect. 10 the world of which h
even he could not claim to be habi-
tant. WHAT was she doing in his
rooms?-of what interest 10 her We're
ne and his few possessions?
.'Herberf Wr3ySop
leaning little towards him. If your
name is Herbert Wrayson. what are
you doing in these rooms?''
They happen to be mine he an
swered calmly.
Yours
She picked up a small Iatch-key
from the desk
This is number II. isn't it?" she
No: Number II is ,hcsfiat imme-
diately overhead" he told her.
She appeared unconyinced.
But opened the door with this
key" she declared.
MI; barnes ard have similar
locks" he said. The fact remains that
this is number 2, and number IL is
one story overhead"
She drew long breath. presumably
OF relief. and moved a step forward.
II am very sorry" she declared. Il
have made mistake You must
please accept my apologies"
He stood mot:onless in front of the
door. He was pale, clean-shaven and
slim, and in his correct evening
nary type Of the well bred young
Engiishman. But his eyes were gray
and his mouth straight and firm.
She came 10 standstil. Her eyes
seemed to be questioning him. She
scarcely understood his attitude
ind Ill L
co!dly.
'PresentIy.' he answered
Her veil was still raised and the
fash of her eyes would surely have
made weaker man quail. But Wray-
son never finched.
What do YOU mean by that she
demanded. Il have explained my pres
Tnce in Your room. II was an acci-
dent which / regret. Let me pass at
once"
You have explained your pres
'nce." here" he answered. after a
fashion. But YOU have not explained
what your object may be in making
use of that key to enter Mr. Barnes
fat. Are YOU proposing to subject
his belongings to the same inspection
as mine? he asked, pointing TO his
disordered desk
My business with Mr. Barnes is no
concern of yours" she exclaimed
haughtily.
Under ordinary circumstances. no.
he admitted. But these are not or
/ speak plainly. ] found you engaged
IN searching my desk. The presump-
ton is that you wish to do the same
thing to Mr. Barnes"
And il ] do. sir" she demanded
what concern is II of yourso How
do you know that ! have not permis-
SION to visit his rooms-thai he did
not himself give me this KEY
She held it out before him He
glanced at it and back into her face
THE supposition." he aid. does
not commend itself TO me
Why not?"
He looked at the clock.
You see" he declared, that il is
within few minutes Of midnight
To be frank with you, you do not
20 visit a bache lor such as Mr.. Barnes
IN a bachelor fiat, a; this hour. with,
out some serious object"
She kept silence for several mo.
ments. Her bosom was rising anc
falling quickly. and Il brilliant spo,
~ color was burning in her checks
Her head was thrown a little back
sine was rega riding him with an in
tentness which he found almost dis
ooncerting. He had an uncomfortable Ii
sense that nc was in the presence o
human being who. il it had lain IL
her power. would have killed hin
where he stood. Further. he was re
alIZlng that the woman whom AZ frs
glance he had pronounced beautiful
was absolutely the rirst of her Sc,
whom he had ever seen who satisfied
completely tho demands of some
what critical and highly cultivated
taste. The silence between then
seemed extended over a time crowd
Cd and rich with sensations He fount
time 10 marvel at the delicate white
ness OF her bosom. cleaning like pol
iShed ivory under the network of he
black gown.to appreciate with a Qu;cI
fhrob OF delight the slim roundneS
Of her perfect figure. the wonderful