The evening world. Newspaper, May 13, 1905, Page 27

THE WORLD: SATURDAY EVENING MAY 15, 1905. and eve and anon the tinkle-tinkle of the skeleton key. Then—at last— fy there came @ aing!) unmistakable click. In another minute the mahogany 2 docr and the tron gate yawned behind ue; and Raffles was altting on an office table, wiping hia face, with the lantern throwing a steady beam by his side, We were now in a bare and roomy lobby behind the shop, but separated (therefrom by an tron curtain, the very sight of which filled me with despair. Raffles, however, did not appear in the least depressed, but hung up his coat and hat on some pegs in the lobby before examining this curtain with his lantern, ‘That's nothing,” said he, after a minute's ingpection; “we'll be through that in no thme, but there’s a door on the other side which may give us irouble.” “Another door!” I groaned. ‘Aud how do you mean to tackle this \ thing?” Prise it up with the jointed jimmy. The weak point of these iron cur- tains {8 the leverage you can get from below. But it makes a noise, and \ this is where you're coming in, Bunny; this is where I couldn't do without you. 7 must have you overhead to knock through when the atreet’s clear’ I'll come with you and show a light.” Well, you may Imagine how little I liked the prospect of this lonely vigil; and yet there wis something very stimulating in the vital responsibil- Ity which it involved. Hitherto { had been a mere spectator. Now ! was to take part in the game. And the frash excitement made me more thar * (ever insensible to those considerations of conscience and of safety which were already as dead nerves !n my breast. 4 Hy So I took my post without a murmur in the front room above the shop. f'\ Mhe fixtures had been left for the refusal of the Incoming tenant, and fortu- mately for us they included Venetian blinds which were already down, It lee the simplest matter {n the world to stand peeping through the laths Into the street, to beat twice with my foot when anybody was approaching, and once when a1) was clear again. The noises that even I coud hear below, with the exception of one metallic crash at the beginning, were indeed in- { credibly slight; but they ceased altogether at each double rap from my toe; ] and a policeman passed quite half a dozen times beneath my eyes, and the man whow I took to be the jeweller's watchman oftener still, during ihe \ better part of an hour that I spent at the window. Once, indeed, my heart was in my mouth, but only onee, Tt was when the watchman stopped and } peered through the peep-hole into the lighted shop. 1 walted for his wh'stl+ \ Hut my signals had been studiously f obeyed, and the man passed on In undisturbed serenity. In the end I had @slanai in wy tuin, and retraced my steps with Ighted matches, down the } } I waited for the gallows or the gaol! broad viairs, down the narrow ones, across the area, and up into the lobby where Rafilos awaited me with an outstretched hand, “Woll dvae. my boy!” said he. “You're the same good man in a pinch @nd yous | nave your ret d. I've got a thousand pounds’ worth if I'v: Bot a penn'cih. It's all in my pockets. And here's something else I foun: in this locker; very decent port and some cigars, meant for poor, dear Danby's business friends, Take a pull and you shall Nght up present! Ive fovnd a lavatory, too, and we must have a wash-and-brush-up before we £0. jor Pm as black us your boot.” The tyon curtain was down, but he insisted on raising it until I coul. heey through the glass door on the other side and see his handiwork in the shop beyond, flere two electric lights were left burning all night long, ans in ghel, cold while rays I could at first see nothing amiss. I looked alon. an orderly lane, an empty glass counter on my left, glass cupboards of un- BRIE 8 24349098 a 2 ii ‘ 4 hole that shone like a stage moon on the street. The counter had not been emptied by Raffles; its contents were In the chubb’s safe, which he had to feei it in my heart. given wp at a glance; nor had he looked at the silver, except to choose a clgarette case for me. He had con- fined himself entirely to the shop window, This was in three compart- ments, each secured for the nigbt by removable panels with separate locks. Raffles had removed them a few hours before thelr time, and the electric ght shone on a corrugated shutter bare ag the riba of an empty carcase. Every article of value was gone from the one place which was Invisible from the little window in the door; elsewhere all was as it had been left overnight. And but for a train of mangled doors behind the fron curtain, a bottle of wine and a elgar box with which liberties had been taken, a rather black towel in the lavatory, a burnt match here and there, and our finger-marks on the dusty banisters, not a trace of our visit did we leave, “Had it in my head for long?” sald Raffles, as we strolled through the streets toward dawn, for all the world as though we were returning from a dance, ‘'No, Bunny, I never thought of it till I saw that upper part empty about a month ago, and bought a few things in the shop to get the lie of the Jand, That reminds me that I never pald for them; but, hy Jove, 1 will to-morrow, and if that isn’t poetic justice, what is? One visit showed me the possibilities of the place, but a second convinced me of its impossibilities without a pal. So E had practically given up the idea, when you came along on the very night and in the very plight for it! But here we are at the Albany, and | hope there's some fire left; for | don't know how you feel, Bunny, but for my. part I’m as cold as Keats's owl, He could think of Keats on his way from a felony! He could hanker for his treside like another! lloodgutes were loosed within me, and the plain Eungliga of our adventure rushed ovev ine as cold as lee, Raffles was a burg- lar, I had helped him io commit ove burglary, therefore | was a burglar too, Yet 1 could stanu aad warm myself by his fire, and watch him empty his pockets, as though we had done nothing wonderful or wicked! My bioou froze. My heart sickened. My brain whirled. How I ALM MO BE had we touched silver on my right. and facing me the filmy black eye of the peep- liked this villain! -fow"d had admired him! Now my Iking and admira- tion must turn to loathing and disgust Rings by the dozen, diamonds by the score. 9 AN BR 9M PR a ullty was at an end, 1 waited for the change, But—1 longed and I waited tn vain! 1 saw that he was emptying hie pockets; the table eparklod with thelr T longet for the man. hoard, Rings by the dozen, diamonds “Ah! thas's a long story,” sald Raffles, by the score, bracelets, pendants, } wax out there playing cricket, Algrettes, necklaces, pearls, rubies, amethysts, sapphires; and diamonds always, diamonds in everything, ‘nshing bayonets of light, dageling ine—biiInding me—making me disbe- lieve because | could no longer for- get. Last of all came no gem, fn- deed, but my own revolver from an inner pocket, And that struck a chord. 1 suppose | had something— my hand flew ont, 1 can see Raffles now, as he looked at me once more with a high arch over each clear eye. Tan see him pick out the cartridges with his quiet, cynical smile before be would give me back my pistol again “You mayn't believe it, Bunny." sald he, “but I never carried a loaded one before, On the whole | think it gives one confidence. Yet it wouid be very awkward if anything went wrong; one might use il, and that's hot the game at all, though | have often thought that the murderer who has just done the trick must have great sengations before things get too hot for him, Don't look so distressed, my dear chap. I've never had those sensations, and I don't suppose Lt ever shall,” “But this much you before?” sald | hoarsely, “Before? My dear Bunny, out. lo begin with, my erime! we got through to-night, terrible i at, you ae “AL right. my boy! Vi never ask it agate for the cash, #Crpe--espectally Vaere tt 1 was round a “TH do it again,’ He Shook iis head, have done you “Well—no! Not often enough to March, destroy the charm, at all events; never us a matter of fact, unless L'm cursedly hard up, Did you hear about the Thimbleby diamonds? Well, that was the last time—and a poor Jot of paste they were, Then there was the little business of the Dormer house- boat at Henley last year, That was er brought off a really big coup yet; niine also—such as It was, Tye ey when ! do F shall chuck at np.’ . Ruy Yes, remembered both caves very well, ‘To tink that he was (heir au it was incredible, outrageous, inconceivable, Then my eyes would thor! hundred places, and ineresi- fall upon the table, twinkling and glittering in 4 new series, it when T heard the door ait, ‘How came you to begin?” T asked, a8 curiosity overcame mere wonder, and a ‘aseinalion for bis career gradually wove itself into my fascination was in much the sume fix that you were in to-night, and it was my only way i never meant it for anything more; but I'd tasted blood, and it was _ allover with me, Why should F work when I could steal? Why settle down *) © some humdrum uncongertal billet, when excitement, romance, danger and a decent living weve al) going begging together? Of course It's very wrong, but we can't all be moralists, and the distribution of wealth is very wrong Besides, you're not at ft all the time. Gilbert's lines to myself, but they're profoundly true, 1 only wonder it you'll like the life aa much ast do “Like it?" 1 eried out, “You wouldn't give mea hand another time?” “Dont ask me, Rrles, i ‘Yet you sald you would do anything for me! You asked moe to name, Rut | knew at the time you didn't mean ft; you didn’t go back on me to-night, and that ought to satisfy me, goodness knows! I'm ungratefil and unreasonable, ani all that, ut you're the very man for me, Bunny, the--very—man! Not a sevateh—not a hiteh! ; there never would he while we worked together, He was standing in front of me with a hand on either shoulder; he wag smiling ats he knew so well how to smile. my elbows on the chimney Next Instant a still heartier hand had fallen on my back. offend me! Did it look like a first ieee eg eeu attempt? Of course I have done it Nothing matters Anothoricanl i before.” ‘ ij “often?” NEXT SATURDAY—‘‘A Costume Piece,’’ the Second Adventure of “RAFFLES, THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN’”’ There will be Thirteen Adventures in thig a completeestory every Saturday, HHH HERR RR RE RH \The Yellow Face. BY SIR A, CONAN DOYLE. (COPYRIGHT, 1902 BY HARPER & BROTHERS.) 4 4 [ | , ; ( te took exercise for exercise's sake. Few men were capable of greater muscular effort, and ly was undoubtedly one of the finest boxers of bis weight that I have ever seen; but he looked upon rimtcrs bodily exertion as a waste of energy, and he sclécm bestirred himself save where there wi some professional object to be served, Then he was avsolutely untiring and indefatigable. That he should have kept himaelf in training under such cir- cumstences is remarkable, but his diet was usually of the sparest, and his habits were simple to the verge of austerity. Save for the occasional wi of cocaine, he had no vices, and he only turned to the drug as a protest against the monotony of ex- lstenco when cases wore scanty and the papers un- urteresting, One day In early spring he had go far relaxed to go for a walk with me in the park, where the firs. fu'nt shoots of green were breaking out upon the elns, and the sticky spear-heads of the chest- nus Were just beginning to burat Into their fiver fuld Waves, For two hours we rambled about to- in silence for the most part, aa befits two men who know each other intimately, It was nearly 4 before we were back in Baker street once more, “Bea pardon, sir." sald our page-boy, se he opene’ the door, ‘There's been a gentleman here asking for you, air." Heimes glagced reproachfully at me, "So much for afternoon walks!’ said he. “Has thie gentle- man gone, then?" ‘es, vir’ "Didn't you ask him int “Yes, sir; he came tn,” low long did he watt?’ “Half an hour, air, He wae a very restless gon- tlemun, sir, a-walkin' and a-etampin’ all the time he was here, [C was waitin’ outside the door, air, and I could hear him, At last ho out into the passage, and he cries, ‘Is that man never goin’ to come Those were his very words, sir, ‘You'll only need to walt a little longer,’ saye I, ‘Then I'll wait in the open alr, for I feel half choked,’ aaye he, ‘I'll be back before long.’ And with that he ups and he outs, ard all I could say wouldn't hold him back." “Well well, you did your best,” sald Holmes, as we walked into our room, “I's very annoying, Manaus tuon, I was badly in need of a case, anc this looks, from the man's Impatience, as If it were cf importance. Hullo! that's not your pipe on the table, He must have lett hia behind him, A nice old brier with a good long atem of what the tobacconists call amber. I wonder how many real mber mouthpieces there are in London? Some Peoplo think that a fly in it ts a sign, Well, he must have been disturbed in his mind to leave a Pipe behind him which he evidently values highly.” “How do you know that he values it highly?” L asked, “Well, I should put the original cost of the pipe at seven and sixpence. Now it has, you see, been twice mended, once in the wooden stem and once in tho amber, Bach of these menda, done, aa you ebverve, with silver bands, must have cost more than the pipe did originally, The man must value Ss NERLOCK HOLM10S was a man who seldom on @ bone. “Pipes are occasionally of extraordinary interest," sald he, “Nothing has more individuality, save perhaps watches ani bootlices, ‘The Indications here, however, are neither vory marked nor very ims portant. The owner is obviously a muscular man, loft handed, with an excellent set of teeth, carel Ja his habits and with no need to prictise economy. My (riend threw out tne information in a very off-hand way, but I saw thot he cocked his eye at mo to see If I had followed his reasoning. “You think a man must be well to dp if he smokes a seven-shilling pipe,” said f, \ “Phig is Grosvenor mixture at eightpence an ounce,” Holmes answered, knocking a little oui on ls palm. "Aw he might get an excellent smoke for half the prine, he has no need to practise economy,” “And the other points?’ “He has been in the habit of lighting his pipe at lamps and gasjeis, You can see that It is quite charred all down one side, Of course a match could not have done that, Why should a man hold a match to the side of his pipe? But you cannot ight It at a lamp without getting the bow! charred, And It la all on the right side of the pipo, From that T gather that he {8 a lefi-lmanded man, You ho'd your own pipe to the lamp, and see how natur- ally-you, being right handed, hold the Jett side to the Name, You might do it once the other way, but hot as a constancy. This has always been held so. The’ he has bitten through his amber, It takes a muscular, energetic fellow, and one with a good set of teeth, to do that. But if I am not mistaken I heer him upon the stairs, so we shall have some- thing more interesting than his pipe to atudy,”” \u inetant later our door opened, and a tall young 4ian entered the room. He was well but quietly drersed in @ dark-gray sult, and carried a brown wideawake in his hand, I should have put him at About thirty, though he was really some years older, “I beg your pardon," sald he, with some em- barrassment; ‘I suppose I should have knocked, Yes, of course I should have knocked. The fact is that I am a little upset, and you mvat put it all down to that,” He passed his hand over his forehead ike a man who js half dased, and then fell rather than sat down upon a chair, “L can see that you have not slept for a night or two," eald Holmes, in his easy, gonial way, ‘That tries a man's nerves more than work and more even than pleasure, May I ask how T can help y “L wanted your advice, air, I don't know what t do, and my whole life seems to have gone to pieces "You wish to employ me as a consulting detec en “Not that only, I want your opinion ag a judi. clou, man—as a man of the world, I want to kno. what I ought to do next. [ hope to God you'll be able to tell me.” He spoke In little, sharp, Jerky outburats, and it seemed to me ‘that to speak at all was very painful to him, and that his will all through wes overriding Ma Inctination: “Its a very delicate thing,’ said he. “One does not like to apeak of one's domestic affairs to atrang- ere, It seome dreadgful to discuss the conduct of one's wife with two men whom I have never seen before, it's horrible to have to do it, But I’ve got to the end of my tether and IT muat have advice. “My dear Mr, Grant Munro"—— began Holme: Our visitor sprang from his chair, “What! ied, “you know my name?" If you wish to preserve your {noognito,” said Holmes, emiling, “I would suggest that you cease to write your name upon the Mning of your hat or elee that you turn the crown toward the person whom you are addressing. I was about to say that my fnend and I have listened to a good many wtrange secrets In this room and that wo have had the good fortune to bring peace to many troubled he gesture and expression I could see that he was a reserved, self-contained man, with a dash of pride In hig nature, more Ukely to hide his wounds than to expose them, Then suddenly, with a ferce ges ture of his closed hand, ike one who throws reserve to the winds, he began: “The facts are these, Mr, Holmes,’ said he, ‘'l am a married man, and have been so for three years. During that thme my wife and I have loved each other as fondly and lived as happily as any two that ever were joined. We have nut had a difter ence, not one, in thought or word or deed. And now, since last Monday, there hos suddenly sprung up @ barrier between us, and I find that theve ts something in her life and in her thougais of whic! 1 know as little as if she were the woman who brughes by me in the street. We are estranged, and 1 want to know why. “Now, there Is one thing that T want to impress upon you before I go any further, Mr. Holmes, ttt: loves me. Don't let there be any mistake about that, She loves me with her whole heart and soul ind never more than now, I know it, I feel it. 1 don't want to argue about that. A man oan tell easily enough when a woman loves him, But there's this secret between us, and we can never be the same until It Is cleared.” “Kindly let me have the facts, Holmes with some impadien “PM tell you what I know about Efle's history. She was a widow when [ first met her, though quite young, only twenty-five, Her name then was Mra, Hebron, She went out to America when she was young. and lived In the town of Atlanta, where she married this Hebron, who was a lawyer with a good practice, ‘They had one child, but the yellow fever broke out badly in the place, and both husband and child died of it, I have seen his death certificate This sickened her of Amer and she oame back to live with a maiden aunt at Pinner, In Middlesex. 1 may mention that her husband ‘had left her com- fortably off, and that she had a capital of about four thousand five hundred pounds, whioh had been so well Invested by him that it returned an average of seven per cent, She had only been six months at Pinner when I met her; we fell in love with each other, and we matried a few weeks afterward, "Tam a hop merchant myself, and as T have an income of seven or elght hundred, we found our- selves comfortably off, amd took a nice elghty pound-a year villa at Norbury, Our litue place was very countrified, considering that it is so close to town. We had an inn and two houses a little abowe us, and @ single cottage at the other side of the fleld whieh faces us, and except those, there were no houses until you got half way to the station. My business took me tnto town at certain seasons, but in summer I had less to do, and then in our country home my wife and I were just as happy as could be wished. I tell you that there never was a shadow between us until this accursed affalr began “phere's one thing T ought to tell you before I go further, When we married, my wife made over all her property to mo—rather againet my will, for £ saw how awkward It would be if my business affairs wont wrong, However, she would have it so, and It was done, Well, about aix weeks ago she came to me, © ‘Jack,’ sald she, ‘when you took my money you wuld that If ever 1 wanted any T was to ask you for tt." “Certainly,” sald I. ‘It's all your own.’ ‘Well,’ sald she, ‘I want a hundred pounds.” “1 was a bit staggered at this, for I had imagined {t was simply a new dress or something of the kind that she was after, “what on earth fort’ I asked. ‘Oh, sald she, in her playful way, ‘you sald that you were only my banker, and tankers never questions, you know.’ If you really mean it, of course you shall have the money,’ said 1, "Oh, yes, I really mean It,” “¢And@ you won't tell me what you want It for?’ “‘Bome day, perhagys, put not just at present, Jack,’ “Bo I had to be content with that, though It was the firat time that there had ever been any scoret between us, I gave hor acheck and | never thought any more of the matter, It may have nothing to do with what came afterward, but I thought it only right to mention It, “Well, I told you just now that there ts a cottage far from our a. ‘There is juat-a field be- ea vate. me. Koti the Mr. Munro,’' sald a nice little grove of Scotch firs, and I used to be very fond of stroiling down there, for trees are always a neighborly kind of things, The cotiage had been standing empty this eight months, and it was a pity, for it was a pretty two-atoried place, with an old-fashioned porch and honeysuckle about It. 1 have stood many a time and thought what a neat little homestead It would make, “Well, last Monday evening 1 was taking a stroll down that way, when ! met an empty yan coming up the lane, and saw a pile of carpets and things lying about on the grass-plot beside the porch, ‘It was clear that (he cottage had at last been let, 1 walked past it, and then stopping, as an idle man might, I ran my eye over it, and wondered what sort of folk they were who had come to live so near us, And as I looked I suddenly became aware that a face was watching me out of one of the upper windows, “E don't know what there was about that face, Mr, Holmes, but It seemed to send a chill right down my back. I was some little way off, so that 1 could not make out the‘ features, but there was something unnatural and inhuman about the face, ‘That was the {mpression that 1 had, and I moved quickly forward to get a nearer view of the person who was watching me. But as I did so the face suddenly disappeared, so suddenly that It seemed to have been plucked away Into the darkness 91 the room, 1 stood for five minutes thinking the business over, and trying to analyze my impres- sions, I could not tell if the face were that of a man or @ woman, It had been too far from me for that. But its color was what had impressed mo most. It was of a livid chalky white, and with something set and cigid about {t which was shock- ingly unnatural, So disturbed was I that L deter: mined to see a little more of the new Inmates ot (he cottage, | approached and knocked at the door, which was opened by @ tall, gaunt woman with @ harsh, forbidding face, “What may you be Northern accent, “Tam your neighbor over yonder,’ sald 1, nod- ding toward my house, ‘I ave that you have only Just moved in, so I thought that (¢ 1 t be of wantin’? a] asked, in a any help to you in any!—— “Ay, we'll just ask ye when we want said she, and shut the door in my face. Annoyed at the churlish rebuff, T turned my back and walked home, All evening, though T tried to think of other things, my mind would still turn to the Apparition st the window and the rudeness of the woman, I determined to say nothing about the former to my wife, for she ia a nervous, highly strung woman, and IT had no wish that she should share the un- pleasant Impression which had been produced upon myself, I remarked to her, however, before I fell asle@, that the cottage was now occupled, to which ashe returned no reply, “T am usually an extremely sound sleeper. It has been a standing jest in the family that noth= ing could ever wake mo during the night. An@ yet, somehow, on (hat particular night, whether {t may have been the slight excitement produced by my Httle adventure or not 1 know not, but J slept much more lightly than usual, Hale in my dreams 1 was dimly conscious that something waa golng on in the room, and gradually became aware that my wife had dressed herself and was allp- plag on her mantle and her bonnet, My lips were parted to murmur out some sleepy words of sur prise or remonstrance at this untimely prepafar tlon, when suddenly my half-opened eyes fell upem her face, illuminated by the candle ligt, and aa tontshment held me dumb. She wore an expression such as T never had s before—such as f shoukt have thought her Incapable of assuming, She waa deadly pale and breathing fast, glancing furtively. toward the bed as she fastened her mantle, to se@ if she had disturbed me. Then, thinking that b was still asleep, she slipped noiselessly from the room, and an Instant later 1 hoard @ sharp creake Ing which could only come from the hinges of the front door, I sat up in bed and rapped my knuckles against the rail to make certain that T wae truly awake, Then IT took my watch from under the pillow, It was 2 in the morning, What on earth coukl my wife be doing out on the country road at 3 in the morning, “EL had sot for about twenty minutes turning the thing over In my mind and to find wome poe pay planation, ‘Tho more 1. thoy sua oe was still puzzing ov footsteps coming up gently close again, and her the states. , , “oWhere in the world have you been, BMe?! 2 asked, as she entered. “She gave a violont start and a kind of gasping cry when I spoke, and that cry and start troubled me more than all the rest, for there was somes thing indescribably guilty about them, My wife had always been a woman of a frank, open nature, ud it gave me a chill to see her slinking Into ber own room, and crying out and winecing when her own husband spoke to her “You awake, Jack!’ she cried, with a nervous laugh. ‘W 1 thought that nothing could awake you. “Wherg have you been?” 1 asked, more sternly, "1 don" wonder that you are surprised.’ sata she, and 1 could see that her fingers were (remh- “Tt was in the Colonies, when It's too long a story to tell you now, but I I'm sick of quoting “Not I! It's-no life forme Once ts enough!” Don't nak me, for God's nuke!" T suppose T ought to let it end at this, Just think how ‘There's nothing ver; T turned on my heel, planted piece and my burning head between my hands, You are quite right and I'm worse than wrong, Go if you want to, and come again about midday was no bargain, but of course ['ll get you out of your y the way you've stood by me to-night.’ vin, with my Liou on fire. 1 said, through my teeth, “Not you," ie said, smiling quite good-humoredly on my insane enthusiasm, “Twill,” Terled with an Gath, “Til tend you @ hand as often as you I've heen in it once, I'll be fn it again, 1 eim't go back, and wouldn't if I could, When you want me I’m your man!" And that is how Raflles and I joined felonious forces on the Ides of (THE END.) RHDRERHE “No, no, Jack, for God's sake!’ she gasped, in incontrollable emotion. Then, as I approached the door, she selzed my sleeve and pulled me back with convulsive strength, “I implore you not to do this, Jack,’ she cried, ‘I swear that 1 will tell you everything some day, but nothing but misery can come of it if you enter that cottage.’ Then, as I tried to shake her off, she clung to me in a frenzy of entreaty. “Trust me, Jack!’ she cried, “Trust me only this once, You will never have cause to regret It, You know that I would not have a secret from you if it were not for yout own sake, Our whole lives are at stake in this, If you come home with me all will be well, If you force your way Into that cot+ tage all Is over between u “There was such earnestness, such despair, in her manner that her words arrested me, and I stood irresolute before the door. “OR will tr | The conclusion of this Story will be published in to-morrow’s st you on one condition, and on one condition only,’ stld Tat last, ‘It is that this mya- lery comea to an end from now, You are at liberty | to preserve your seoret, but you must promise me f that there shall be no more nightly visits, no more i doings which are kept from my knowledge. I am willing to forget those which are passed if you will promise that there shall be no more in the future.’ “Tf was sure that you would trust me,’ she cried, ling am she undid the fastenings of her mantle, ‘Why, I never remember having done such @ thing in my life before, The fact is, that I felt as though I were choking, and haa a perfect long- mg for a breath of fresh alr, J really think that I should have fainted if 1 1 not gone out, I stood at the door for a few minutes, and now Tam quite inyeelf agaln,’ “AL the tme that she was telling me this StOFY with a great sigh of relief. ‘It shall be just as you * she never once looked in my direction, and hee wish, Come away—oh, come away up to the voice was quite unlike her usual tones. It we house, evident to me that she was saying what was false, 1 sald nothing In reply, but turned my face to the wall, sick at heart, with my mind filled with @ thousand yenomous doubts and suspicions, What was It that my wife was concealing from me? Where had she been during that strange ¢xpedi- tlon? I felt that I should have no peace until I knew, and yet I shrank from asking her again after once she had told me what was false, All the rest of the night I tossed and tumbled, framing theory after theory, each more unlikely than the last, “TE shonid have gone to the elty that day, but T was too disturbed In mind to be able to pay attention to business matters, My wife seemed to be as up ct as myself, and I could see from the little quem tioning glances which she kept shooting at me that she understood that I disbelleved her state ment, and that she was at her wits’ end what to do, We hardly exchanged a word during breakfast, and Immediately afterwards T went out for a walls, “Stil pulling at my sleeve, she led me away from the cottage. As we went I glanced back, and there was that yellow, livid face watohing us out of (he ig upper window, What link could there be between , that creature and my wife? Or, how could the coarse, rough woman whom I had seen the day be- : fore be connected with her? It was a atrange pits- ale, and yet I knew that my mind could never know ease ugain until I had solved it “For two days after this I stayed at home, and my wife appeared to abtde loyally by our engages ment, for, as fir as I know, she never atirred out of the house, On the third day, however, I had ample evidence that her solemn promise was not i enough to hold her back from this secret influence which drew her away from her husband and her duty, “I had gone into town bhat day, but T returned by the 240 instead of the 3.36, which is my usual train. As IT entered the house the mald ran inte the hall with a startled face, “Where Is your mistress?! 1 asked, that I might think the matter out in the fresh ‘OT think that she has gone out for a walle’ ae morning alr. answered. : y “1 went us tar us the Crysial Palace, spent am “My mind was instantly Aled with suspicion, Bo. hour dn the grounds, and was back In Norbury by L rushed upstairs to make aure that she was not Im 4 vclock. It happened thas my way took me pagt the house As I did so I happened to glance out of 4 th¢ cottage, and I stopped for an Instant to look @t tho windows, and to see if I could catch a glimpse of the strange face which had looked out at me on the day before, As I stood there, Imagine my sue- prise, Mr. Holmes, when tho door suddenly opened and my wife walked out. “TE was atruck dumb with astoniament ut the sight of her; but my emotions were nothing to thoae which showed themaclyes upon her face when our eyes met, She seemed for an instant to wish one of the upper windows, and saw the maid with whom [ hid just been speaking running across the fleld In the direction of the cottage, Then of course T saw exactly what it all meant, My wife had gone over there, and had asked the servant to call her #€ T should return, Tingling with anger, 1 rushed down and hurried across, determined to end the matter’ once and forever. T siw my wife and the maid hure trying back along the lane, but 1 did not stop to speak with them, In the cottage lay the secret’ to shrink back Inside the house again; and then, Which was casting a shadow over my life, I vowed aooliig how usclesa all concealment must be, she that, come what might, it should be a secret Ho came forward with a very white face and (right. longer, T did not even knock when I reached It, but turned the handle and rushed into the passage, “It wag all still and quiet wpon the ground floor, In the kitchen a Kettle was singing on the fire, and «a large black cat lay colled up in the basket; but there was no sign ot ‘he woman whom I had seen before, I ean into the other room, but It was equally deserted, Then I rushed up the stairs, anly to find two other rooms empty and deserted ut the (op. \ ‘There was no one at all in the whole house, ‘the ‘ furniture and pictures were of the most common and vutgar description, save in the one chamber at “"l have not been here before,’ the window of which I had seen the strange face, “How can you tell me what you know is false? That was comfortable and elegant, and all my su! I cried, ‘Your very yolce changes us you apeak, pletons rose into a flerce, bitter flame when I saw When have I over had a secret from you? | shall that on the mantelpiece stood a copy of a full+ enter that cottage. and I shall probe the mutter to length photograph of my wife, which had been the bottom,' taken at my request only three months ago, ened eyes, which belied the smile upon her lips. “Ah, duck,’ she sald, ‘I have just been in io sve If L can be of any assistance to our new heighbors. Why do you look at me Ike that, Jack? You are mot angry with me? “ ‘Go,’ eald I, ‘this ls whe t' ‘What do you mean?’ she cried, “'You came here, Iam sure of it, Who are thee people, that you should visit them at such an hour? you went during the WORLD SUNDAY