Shoshone journal., 1924-03-21
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

| In one pocket touched his key-ring,
and light came into his eye. There
was always of course that key Of the
side door-the private entry used per
sonally by his uncle when he was liv-
ing, for his own mysterious exits and
entrances, and for the entrances of
his peculiar and particular visitors
which it brought directly into his
great private Office on the second
floor. He remembered taking the key
In his hand that day when his uncle
gave it to him-the keenness of his
satisfaction to know that the old fnan-
cier so far trusted him as to give him
that very special key of his own pri-
vate door. The key to the front door
he had naturally; that was his home
in those days just after his own peo-
pie had died-those years he was in
Yale before his cousins marriage.
That door, the secret personal en-
trance of the old financier, was prob
ably unused now-indeed he had
heard so-unless Jasper Haig still
kept key to it. And if so-if any
thing strange or sinister had taken
place within that house-here was the
means of seeing 1t for himself. After
all, he had never been quite of his
uncle's mind about Jasper Haig. He
had never greatly trusted him. His
decision was made now he would
take the chance and see the situation
for himself.
1t was this resolve, we may assume,
which gave to Adelaide that very
night q sudden startling shock-the
unusual sight of the door of her late
fathers great study at the back of the
second floor, slowly opening from in
side as she passed by.
Keep still, Rags" she said, and
stopped the dogs slow growing.
After all it might be one of the
servants gone inside there for some
reason. She snapped on the light in
the big room from the outside button
and pushed back the partly open door
into the room, the grasp upon its
knob inside first opposing and then
relaxed. She was, not unnaturally,
surprised when the door was finally
opened, at the sight Of a tall and
rather handsome stranger standing
watching her with an amused and
friendly smile inside.
Adelaide" he said, and smiled that
smile of a lifetime's close acquaint
ance.
But she herself was occupied for
the moment at the collar of Rags. who
was inclined to be extremely business
like.
Adelaide" the stranger said again
and she was now astonished even
more than she was afraid, for this
man very clearly assumed that she
must know him.
''The old keyl" he said holding out
his key ring. "Your fathers private
entrance!"
Adelaide Rutherford was not mere
ly surprised now-she was greatly em-
barrassed. Who was this man with a
private key In her own house? Gould
1t be-she asked herself with Il sense
almost Of fright
you act" he said. 'as if you did |
not know me ~ And now, when she |
had come under the stronger light she |
had turned on in the room. his eyes !
lar way.
Yes. Oh, ye~. Yes-cerfainly ! /
aol :" she said br-AthIessly But n~y-
ertheless she stepped back. and one
now from the recOnciled
dog. who was nosiEg al The new
hand for nttent.on-lay at
the side Of her fi.ee.
YES" she sale. "Of course kno~
yOu. But you must go. You musi
never come ia here again. That WAS
par agreement -
And with her speaklDg, the sound
)f her voice, the face OF the stranger,
which had been tense before, took oD
} harder and very definite look,
She heeame insisteni when he I'm
sered Win fhaf ODD hard sorufiny on
ler face "Go' she said, before J
,al NJ me servants ~
She did u0i do eo immediately he
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alton, Ae Nenl 0ui lhr0ngh ihr pri
'aie door down upon ihe Nnlh and
Ylih p pianoe upward hmllfi down
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lpfld rap4Nl hAn NN} hnNfeN Nnn
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