The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-10-12
(A}Ist|eonoWlf
e El by Louis
~ Joseph Vance
W Louis
Joseph Vance


street and house were both as they
had been. save that light now
shone thru the plate glaas OF tho
latter's great doors. And that was
soon extinsuished
concsiving that tho man who had
appeared at the service entrance
was the same who had admitted
Lame. Lanyard told himself he un.
derssood' impatient for his bed. the
fellow had gone TO the service gate
10 spy out for signs Of madame's
return. Now II only Il were true
that he had failed to close II 50.
eurciy---s
II proved 10. The gate gave read.
~ TO lanyard's pull Tho knob Of
the small door turned silently. lie
stepped across the threshold. and
shut himself into an unlighted hail.
thouxhtfuily apeing the negligence
OF tho servant and leaving the door
barely on the latch by way of pro
weion against a forced retreat.
SO rar. good. lie felt for hi. peck.
ct torch. then sharply fell back into
the nearest corner and made him.
self as ineonapicuous a. might be.
Footsteps were sounding on the
other side OF an unseen wall. Hs
waited. breashlexs. stirlesA.
A latch ratified. and at about three
yards distance a narrow door
opened. marked by a widening glow
of light, A Inverted footman--h be.
yond a doubt he who admitted the
mistress of the house entered. car.
rytnx an electric candle. yawned
with superstlfious hand before his
mouth and. looking to neither right
nor len. turped away from Ian.
yard and trudged wearily back 20
the household offices. At the far
end Of the long hallway a door
closed behind hlm--and Lanyard
moved swiftly.
Tn. door which had let the foot.
man into the hall admitted 10 a
spacious foyer which set apart tho
entrance and--as the play OF the
electric torch disciosed--a deep and
richly furnished dining-room. To
one side broad flight Of stairs as.
esndcd; Lanyard wcnt up with the
activity Of cat. making no more
noise.
The second floor proved to be Do
voted mainly to drawing room. a
lounge. and library. all furnished
In a weird. inchoafe sort OF mag.
nlficencc. with money rather than
with taste. II one might Judge fairly
BY the fitfui and guarded beam OF
tho torch. The taste may have
been less questionable than Ian.
yard thought: bn, the evidences OF
luxurious tendencies and wealth
reeklessiy wasted IN their gratlflca.
ton were irrefu,abis.
Lights wer. burning on the floor
above. and n rumor Of feninlne
voices drifted down. interrupted by
an occasional ssbtfant rustic Of sllk.
or a brief pattcr OF high .hesled feet;
noises which bore out the conjec.
turc that mad4ms's maid was un.
dressing and putting her 10 bed: a
ceremony apt 20 consume a conssd.
cradle Time with q woman OF II.
ane's age and disposition. passion
atsiy bent on preserving 20 the
grave sembiancc OF freshness In
her charms. Lanyard rsckoned on
anything from fifseen minutes TO an
hour before her COUGHING would be
accomplished and the maid cut Of
the way. Ten minutes more. and
Lane ought 10 be asleep. IL II
turned out otherwise one
: would have 10 deal with her awake.
No need To be xravely concerned
about that: TO envi.axs the contln.
gsncy was TO be prepared against u.
Believing he must possess his soul
In patience for an Understandable
wait. he WAS casting about for a
place 10 secrcts himself. when a
change In the tenor Of the talk be.
tween mistress and maid was con.
veyed by a sudden lift OF half an
octave In the iatter's voice. sound.
ing a sharp note Of protest. 10 be
answered BY Lane In accent OF
overbearinx anger.
One simply could not res. with.
, out knowing what that meant; Ian.
yard mounted the second flight OF
stairs as swiftly. surely, and sound.
lessly as he had the first. But Just
below a landing. where the staircase
had an angle. he paused. crouchlns
low, fiat TO the steps. hts head nft.
Cd just enough 10 permit him 10 see.
above the edge Of the fopmost. a
section Of glowing. rose.plnk wall.
II would be rose pink
He could sec nothing more. and
Lame had already a!icnced the