The evening world. Newspaper, March 9, 1914, Page 15

A COMPLET (A FOOL AND (Copyright, 1918, by Dodd, Mead & Co.) CHAPTER I. I Make No Effort The Evening World Daily Mag to Defend Myself. AM quite sure it was my Uncle Rilas who said that I was a fool. He had been very emphatip in his belief that a fool and his money are soon parted. Not until Uncle Rilas died and left me all of his money was I able to demonstrate that only dead men and fools part with it. ‘While the sensation lusts. because they want to. The distinction Hes in the capacity for enjoyment Dead men part with it because they have to, 1 am a tallish sort of person, moderately homely, and not quite thirty- I am strong, but not athletic. Not quite what you would call a lady ir, of even a lady's man, I fancy you'll say. “You will be surprised to learn, however, t! Indeed, I have writtan several books. -wemminttc, imaginative turn of mind. For tho past year I havo done little «fi BO, work. My books are few and ar between. My best work is dono the madding crowd is far from Hence I seek out remote, ob- ‘Weare places when I feel the plot boil- “{W&, and grind away for dear life with ,hathing to distract mo. ei;& month ago, in Vienna, I felt the ~vlot breaking out on me, very much ome, the measles do, at a most inoppor- -fune time for everybody concerned, ‘and my secretary, more wide-awake than you'd imagine by looking at hi urged me to coddle the muse while dhe was willing and not to put her softs till an evil day, as frequently I yvam in the habit of doing. rx It was especially annoying, coming was about to set off for a fortnight's motor-boat trip up the Danube with Elzie Hazeard ‘and her stupid husband, the doctor. ‘The fourth day of our delectable Sexcursion brought us to an ancient town whose name you would recall 4n an instant if { were fool enough to atmention it, and where we were to + put.up for the night. On the crest of @ stupendous crux overhanging the _ fiVer, almost opposite the town, which tem’t far from Krems, stood the vener- }*@ble but unvenerated castle of that ‘whigh-handed old robber baron, the sfigat of the Rothhoefens. ‘We picked up a little of its history ‘while in tho town, and the next morn- crossed over to visit the place. antiquity was considerably en- ced by the presence of Schmick, earetaker, who would never see eighty again, and whose wife was -q@ven older. Their two gigantic sons <ttved with them in the capacity of loafers and, as things go in these rapid times of ours, appeared to be @ven older and more sere than their parents. ‘The next day, instead of continuing our delightful trip down the river, we three were scurrying to Saalaburs, by @ sudden and stupendous on my part, and filled with a a castle! Hassards sat up with me near- whole of the night, trying to out of the mad design, but to no pul . I was determined ‘be the sort of fool that Uucle Rilas f d to when he so frequently My only entreati loned wre' med very eager to submit “iy demand that he knock off a thou- and pounds sterling, and we hunted ‘up @ notary and all the other om- necessary to the transfer o y. At the end of three days I was the sole owner and proprietor caf « feudal stronghold on the Danube. ‘Well, to: make the story short, the ‘ Wgnsards and I returned to Schloss Rothhoefen in some haste, primarily fer.the purpose of inspecting it from °@ungeon to battlement. 1 forgot to mention that, being very tired after “the climb up the steep, we got no Aefurther on our visit than the great /%baronial hall, the dining-room and certain other impressive apartments ‘eustomerily kept open for the inspe: ¢ auite snugly essconced among t secretly I am of a rathor here than they do in New York Ci Hy the way, old man Schmick and his family haven't been paid for nearly two years. They e put in @ claim. ‘The Inte owner assured them they'd get their money from the next”—— harge them at once,” said I. t on without them,” protested he. “They know the ropes, no to speak, and, what's more to the point, they know all the keys. Yes- terday I was nearly two hours in getting to the kitchen for a confer- ence with Mrs. Schmick about the market men. In the firet place, I couldn't find the way, and in the sec- ond place all the doors are locked.” “Please send Herr Schmick to me in the--in the’—— TI couldn't recall the name of the administration cham- ber at the head of the grand stair- case, so I was compelled to say: “I'll see him here.” “If we lose them we also are lost,” was his sententious declaration. I believed him. the workmen moments of peace an mall balcony outside my bedroom windows. My room was in the western wing of the castle, fac- ing the ri The eastern wing higher than the one were living, and was loftiest watch tower of them all, ‘e had not attempted to do any work over in that section as yet, for the simple reason that Herr Schmick couldn't find the keys to the doors. The sun 8 disappearing ,beyond the highlands and a cool, soft breeze swept through the valley. I leaned back in comfortable chair that Britton selected for me, and puffed at my pipe, not quite sure that my serenity was real or assumed. This w.s all costing me a pretty penny. Was I, after all, parting with my money in the way prescribed for 100ls? Was all this splendid an- tiquity worth the—— My reflections terminated sharviv at that critical instant ana [ don't believe I ever felt called upon after that to complete the inquiry. I found myself staring as if stupe- fled at the white figure of a woman who stood in the topmost balcony of the eastern wing, the last glow of the sun and appar- ently as deep in dreams as I had bee: the instant before. For ten minutes I stood there star- her, completely bewildered Uttle shaken. My first been of ghosts, but it instantly dispelled by a significant action on the part of the suspected wraith, She turned to whistle over her shoulder, and to snap her fingers peremptorily, and then sho stooped and picked up a rather lusty chow dog which promptly barked at me across the intervening space, hav- ing discovered me almost at once al- thoug® I was many rods away We the shadows. The lady in white muzzled him with her hand and I could almovt imagine I heard her reproving whi: pers. After a few minutes si again ferociously for a chow. was quite plain to her that he was not barking at the now shadowy moon. She peered over the stone balustrade and an instant later disap- peared from view through the high, narrow window. Vastly exercised, I set out in quest of Herr Schmick, martialing Poopen- dyke as I went along, realizing that I © would have to depend on his German, 1 I was not dismayed. With a some disregard for expen! spatched Rudolph, thi eld two sons, to Lins with 1 procure artisans who could be depend- ed upon to undo the ravages of time ‘certain extent and who might remedy for leaks. y ft abhorring rheumatism and like complaints, refused to sleep over night in the drafty, almost pane- ure. They came over to see me on the ensuing day and bo: a me to return ; But, fo" of the project in would not be Roved, ‘With thi jeeps, That 1 couldn't go away nd. Ware it trolling in! wither or mised to come and make hort visit, Rosey ore le prim up @ i he Walls of the bed- great fireplaces thor- Of auetruonve, Vides y nests, the is aired an larder stocked. Just as they were leaving, my secretary and my valet put in an appearance, havi been summoned from Vienna the day be- rst night had been spent in a ped an + ae mice during that in- ‘arminable night I thought I heard a 4 crying. So it is not unreason- able to suppose that I was more thai to see Poopendyke, my secretary, clambering up the path with his type- writer in one hand and his green faise bag in the other, followed close behind by my valet, Britton, and the Gargantuan brothers bearing trunks, and my, golf clubs. ont is fomething of a climb, isn't it?” said I bedmingly, to Poopendyke. “fq thé name of heaven, Mr. Smart, what’ could 6 induced you to"——— He got no farther than this, and to certain knowledge this unfinished ‘was the nearest he ever came to operily convicting me of anininity. ‘Poopendyke, in great distress of 4, notified me on the fourth day rehabilitation that the cost of r as wel living had gone up reciably since our installation, In et 1t had doubled. He paid all of my hills, 20 I suppose he knew what he wun’ talking about. “Tow will be surprised to know, Mr. “meoart.” he said, consulting his sheets, off rooms and the oughly cleared ~ aman q % beat about the bush, which was less halting than mine. “Herr Schmiok,” said I, “will you he so good as to inform me who the dickens that woman is over east wing of the casi “Woman, mein herr?” He almost dropped bis keys. His big sons sald something to each other that I couldn't quite catch, but it sounded very much like “der duyvil.” “A woman in a white dress,—with « dog.’ Bh dog?" he cried. “But mein herr, dogs are not permitted in the castle. “Who is she? How did she get I there?” “Heaven defend us, sir! It must have been the ghost o' e rane ate buglien “viene dome lapsing into sh. “Pieane ¥ re Mr. Schmick. in the unused wing, which | haven't been allowed to pen- etrate in spite of the fact that it be- longs to me, You say you can’t find the keys to that side of the castle. Will you explain how ft is that it is open to strange women and—dogs?” “You must be mistaken, mein herr,” he whined abjectly. “8! there. She— Ab, I hav 4] have been my wife. Gretel! Have you been in the east. “Nonsense!” I cried sharply. “This won't do, Mr, Schmick. Give me that bunch of keys. We'll investigate. I can't have stra women galli- vanting about this place as if they owned ‘This is no trysting place for Jullets, Herr Schmick. We'll get to the bottom of this at once. Here, you Rudolph, fetch a couple of lun- terns, Max, got a sledge or two from the forge. There is a forge. I saw it yesterday out there back of the fables. So don't try to tell me there isn't one, If we can’t unlock the doors, we'll smash ‘em in, They're mine, and I'll knock ‘em to smither- eons if I feel like it.” The four Schmicks wrung their hands and. shook their heads and, then, repairing to the acullery, growled and grumbied for fully ten minutes before deciding to obey my commands. In the meantime, I re- lated my experience to Poopondyke and Britton. “That reminds me, sir,” said Brit- ton, “that I found @ rag-doll in the courtyard ye: lay, on that side of the building, sir—I wnould say cast! atr. . “L am quite sure I heard a baby crying She's over there annot be It_may the them angrily, “what doce ‘all NOVEL HIS MO Mr. Smart,” said my secretary nerv- ously. “And there was smoke coming from one of the back chimmey pots this morning,” added Britton. Two abreast we filed through the long, vaulted halls, Rudolph carrying Y' @ gigantic lantern and M “I have not the key: Conrad Schiniek sourly, has not been opened in any time. is no use.” “It is no use,” repeated his grizzly sons, leaning against the mouldy walls with weary tolerance, “Then how did the woman and her dog get into that part of the castle?” I demanded. “Tell me that!” @ sledge. said old It his thin neck from the draft that smote us from the halls. “Smash those padiocks, Mar,” I commanded resolutely. “I'll bet he can’t do it,” said Brit- ton ingeniously. Very reluctantly Max bared his great arms, spit upon his hands, and with a pitiful look at his parents pre- pared to deal the first blow upon the ancient padlock. The old couple turned their heads away and put their fingers to their ears, springing like things about to be whipped. “Now, one—two—three!" cried I, affecting an enthusiasm I didn’t feel. The sledge fell upon the padlock and rebounded with almost equal force, The sound of the crash must have disturbed every bird and bat in the towers of the grim old pile. But the padlock merely shed a few scabs of rust and rattled back into its cus- tomary repose, “See!” cried Max triumphantly. ‘It annot be broken.” Rudolph, his Broad face beaming, held the lantern close to the padlock and showed me that it hadn't been dented by the blow. ‘It is a very fine lock,” cried old Conrad, with a note of pride in his voice. I began to feel some pride in the thing myself. “It is, indeed,” I said. “Try once more, Max. It seemed to me that he struck with t_ deal more confidence than be- fore, and again they all uttered ejac- ulations of pleasure. I caught Dame Schmick in the act of thanking God with her fingers. “See here,” I exclaimed, facing this mean? You are deceiving me, all of you. Now, let's have the truth—every word of {t—or out you go to-morrow, the whole lot of you. I insist on know- ing who that woman is, why she is here in my hou—my castle, and— evervthing, do you understand?” Apparently they didn't understand, for they looked at me with all the stupidity they could command. “You try, Mr. Poopendyke,” I satd, giving it up in despair He sought to improve on my German, but I think he made it worse. They posl- tively refused to be intelligent. “Give me the ham! T eatd at tant in desperation. Max surrendered the clumay, old-fashioned instrument with a grin and I motioned for them all to stand back. Three successive blows with all the might I had in my body failed to shatter the lock, where- upon my choler rose to heights hith- erto unknown, I being a very mild- mannered, placid person and averse to anything savoring of the tem- Pentuoun. I delivered a savage and resound- ing thwack upon the broad oak pai of the door, regardless of the destruv- tiveness that might attend the effort. If any one had told me that I couldn't splinter an oak board with a sledge- hammer at a single blow jhould: have laughed in his face, But as it turned out in this cage 1 not only failed to split the panel, but broke off the sleds: handle near the head, put- ting it wholly out of commission for the time being as well as stinging my hands so severely that I doubled up with pain and shouted words that Dame Schmick could not put into her prayers. ' ‘he Schmicks fairly glowed with joy! Afterwards Max informed me that the door was nearly six inches thick and had often withstood the assaults of huge battering rams, back in the dim past when occasion in- duced the primal baron to seek safety in the east wing, which, after all, appears to have been the real, simon- pure fortress. we trudged back to the lower hal defeated but none the less im- pressed by our fallure to devastate our stronghold, I was struck by the awful barrenness of the surrodhdings. “Herr Schmick,” said I, abruptly halting my y in the centre of the bo the second night we were bere, hail, “ "has become of the rags that were here last week, and where is tl es of furniture we bad back yonder?” ' Old Conrad was not slow in answer- ng. “The gentlemen called day before terday, mein herr, and took much away. They will return to-morrow for the remainder. AN Ls I gasped. “Remain- jer?” “The gentlemen to whom the Herr Count sold the rugs and the chairs and chests and”——- “What!” I roared. Evea Poopen- dyke jumped at this sudden exbibi- tion of wrath. ‘Do you mean to tell me that these things have been sold and carried away without my knowl- edge or consent? I'll have the law"— Herr Poopendyke intervened. “They had bills of sale and orders for re- moval of property dated several weeks prior to your- purchase, Smart. We had to let the articles go. You surely snapped, which "Why —why, I bought everything that the castle contained. This is robbery! What the dickens do you mean by"— Old Conrad held up his hands as if expecting to pacify me. I sputtered out the rest of the sentence, which really amounted to nothing. I contrived to subdue my rage and disappointment end somewhat loudly returned to the topic from which we were drifting. “as for these beastly padlocks, I shall have them filed off to-morrow. I give you warning, Conrad, if the keys are not forthcoming before noon to-morrow, I'll file ‘em off, so help me.” : His face beamed once more. “Ach, locks on the ot! side of the door, just as on this side. It will be of still could not be forced. Mein Gott! How thankful I am to have remem- “Confound you, Schmick, I bell you actually want to keep me out The four of them protested man- fully, even Gretel. “Thi id Britton. “Why not plac: all courtyard and crawl in through one “Splendid! ‘That's what we'll do!” I cried enthusiastically. “And now 8 o'clock, Mra. &chmick. The early bird catches the worm, you know.” 1 Converse With a Mystery. EXT day I rose late. The N over the hills, and the sky was clear and blue, Nat- up at tte atill loftier ‘ulcony in the east wing. It was empty. There was pect to warrant the impression that any one dwelt behind those dis- the vague feeling that perbaps it had been a dream after all. @at there in my little balcony, but I liked the dry, warm gl of it, To bit damp. I had had a pain in the back of my neck for two whole days, finished it up the better, I reflected. Then I could go off to the baths somé to work? Would the plumbers ever get off the place? Suddenly, as I sat there rumina ing I became acutely aware of some- nost window in the eastern tower. Even as I fixed my gaze upon it of soft, wavy, luxurious brown hair eclipsed the narrow white strip and the casement ledge, plainly, indubit- ably to dry in the sun! And it was really @ most wonderful head of hair, I can't remember 7 in the advertisementa. “May I interrupt you for a mo- he squinted at me through bis ugly rimmed glasses, I forgdt to say that there are pad- Ro use to destroy these. The door dered it in tim that part of the castle,” I exploded. a plan, st ti der in the of the windows?” let’s go to bed! We will breakfast at CHAPTER II. sun was shining brightly urally my first imputse was to glance nothing in the grim, formidable pros- mantled windows, and I experienced The mun shone full upon me as I be perfectly frank, the castle was @ The sooner I got at my novel and where, But would I ever settle down ones I seemed to suspect the most.) thing white on the ledge of the top- something else transpired. A cloud hung with spreading splendor over My neighbor had washed her hair! having seen anything like It, except ment, Mr, Smart?” he inquired, as “Come here, Poopendyke,” I com- Wh azine, Mon The Exploits of a New Yorker in Euro Hunted Trouble manded in low, excited tones. A pair of slim white bands at that instant indolently djusted the thick mass of hair and quite as ppeared. p there in that window. it, sir? A rug?” “Rug! Great Scott, man, don’t you kaw @ woman's hair when you see tr “I've never—er—never seen it—you might say—just like that. Is it hair?” “It is. You do see it, don’t yout” “How did it get there?” Now I know I'm not to get up there before she hears us “There is no ladder at all about the castle,” he announced blandly, puffing away at his enormous pipe. In a jiffy, at my orders, half a dozen carpenters were at work constructing fa substantial ladder out of scantlings, while I stood over them in serene selves and looked on, regarding the window with sly, furtive glances in which there was a distinct note of ‘uneasiness. ‘At last the ladder was complete. Resolutely I mounted to the top and peered through the sashless window. It was quite black and repelling be- yond, Instructing Britton and the two brothers to follow me in turn, I clambered over the wide stone alll and lowered myself gingerly to the floor. ‘We got an far as the top of the stairs in the vast middle corridor after stumbling through a series of dim, damp rooms, and then found our way effectually blocked by a stout deor which was not only locked and bolted, but bore a most startling admoni- tion to would-be trespassers. Pinned to one of the panels there was a dainty bit of white note-paper, with these satiric words written across ite surface in a bold, feminine hand: “Please keep out. This is private property.” 1 was being defied by a woman—an amazon! Even my grasping imag- ination eruld not have asked substantial returns than this, To put her to rout! To storm the castle and chuck her into my dungeon! aid! ‘We returned to the courtyard and held @ counsel of war. I put all of the Schmicks on the grill, but they stubbornly disclaimed all interest tn or knowledge of the extraordinary 00- cupant of the east wing. Poopendyke and I dined in solemn grandeur in the great banquet hall, attended by the clumsy Max. ‘After the very worst meal that Frau Schmick had ever cooked, and the last one that Max under any cir- cumstance would be permitted to nerve, I took myself off once more to the enchanted balcony. I was full of r of rol ce. perfect Manche of situations had been mbling through my brain for hours. ‘There came to my ears @ sound that gave me a greater shock than any streak of lightning could have produced and yet left sumMcient life in me to appreciate the sensation of being electrified. ‘A woman's voice, speaking to me out of the darkness and from some point quite near at hand! Indeed, I could have sworn it was almost at my elbow; she might have been peer- ing over my shoulder to read my thoughts, “I beg your pardon, but would you mind doing me a slight favor?” ‘Those were the words, uttered in & clear, sweet, perfectly confident voice, ‘as of one who never asked for favors, but exacted them, I looked about me, blinking, utter- ly bewildered. No one was to be seen, She laughed. Without really meaning to do so, I also laughed— nervously, of course. “Can't you see met” she asked. I looked intently at the spot from which the sound seemed to come, & jock less than tartly. “1 can see you quite plainly, and you are very ugly when you scowl, sir, Are you scowling at mer” 1 ue | still ao to you?” “Yeu.” “Then I must be looking im the right direction,” I cried impolitely. “You must be— Ab!” My Sreining eyes had located a small, oblong bis the tower not more than twenty feet from where I stood and on a direct line with my balcony. True, I could not at first see a face, but as my eyes grew a little more accustomed to the darkness I fancied I could 4! @ shadow that might pase for one. “I didn’t bye? that little window loop-bole, times of great duress. Bee! close it.” ‘The oblong blotch abruptly disappeared, only to reappear an in- stant later. I was ing to un- derstand, Of course it was in the beleaguered east wing! ‘I hope I didn't starule you @ moment ago.” I resolved to be very stiff and for- mal about it. “May J inquire, madam, what you are doing in my hou—my castle?” “You may.” “Well,” said I, seeing at are you doing here am living here,’ distinctly. “So I percetve,’ distinctly. “And I have come down to ask @ mple, tiny little favor of you, Mr. mart,” she resumed. “You know my name?” I cried, sur- Cad point, she answered id I, rather too (They were the > please,” I called out, struck by a splendid idea. Reach- ing inside the window I grasped the lanthorn and brought its rays to bear upon the—perfectly blank wall! I stared open-mouthed and unbellev- ing. “Good heaven! Have I been dreaming all this?” I cried aloud. My gaze fell upon two tiny holes in the wall, exposed to view by the bright light of my lomp. ‘They ap- peared to be precisely in the centre of the spot so recently marked by the elusive oblong. Even as I stared at the holes, a slim object that I at once recognized as a finger protruded from one of them and wiggled at me in a merry but exceedingly irritating manner. Bensibly I restored the lanthorn to its place inside the window and this time, howeve! LJ b jowever, to take in this dam otch in the curve of ¥ day. = vam for the mysterious voice to ime. r6 you so homely as all t! ‘4 Feet geod cn the shadowy ce ol oe more. bas I thought. ri iidhcartnthed “Tam considered rather |-look- ing,” she replied, seren: oo hease don’t do that again. It was very rude roe , he geen something of you before this,” I sald. “You have tons, beautiful brown hair—and a dog.” ™ was silent. am sure you will pardon me if very politely ask who you orem t wetphat question takes me back ya jue! the favor ation me , to ind as te cease bother Mr. mart? It te areadfully “upsetting, don't you know, feeling that at any moment you may rush in and”—— a“ that, In my own castle, “There ia ample room for both of us,” she said sharply. “I shan't be here for more than @ month or etx weeks, and I am sure we can get along edad jourta ce thos Ge same roof for n 1 wet that Tam here.” Te ae “T can’t very well do that, madam, ‘You see, we are making extensive re- pairs about the place and you are Proving to be a serious obstacle, cannot grant your request. It will eri me enormously if T am com- = to smoke you out, but I ‘Amol out!” wes to % fective.” Ee aia “Surely you will not do note anything 00 “On'y as @ last resort. shall storm the east wing. that we shall rely on smoke. You will admit that you have no right to poach on my preserves.” “None whatever,” she sald, rather bg) plaintively. I can't remember having heard sweeter voice than hers. Of course, by thie time, I was thoroughly con- vinced that she was a lady—a cul: tured, high-bred lady—and an Amert- can. I was too densely enveloped by iness of my own senses at inary feature of the case. March 9, First, Fafiing in wi! 1914 of a muffled quality in her ordinarily clear, musical voice. She was laugh. th ing me, “Are you giving a dinnet 60! barty? “I usually dress for dinne with some haughtiness. “And ao dosa Poopendyke,” I added as an after- tested Conrad, thought. “For Gretel'a benefit, | presume.” “Aha! By George Barr McCutcheon Author of “‘ GRAUSTARK,” “We have been faithful servants to ir Kothhoefens for years,” bbed his wife. bea 4 “And etill are, I suspect,” 3 eried T Het angrily, “Ach, mein herr, mein herr!” pre- uy perturbed, the keys’ you old ras- sternly that even “Where are “Oh, I've known her for years, Isn't plead @ quaint old dear?” will shall discharge her in the morn. She will not like it, mein ing,” said I severely. and her husband ta a poltroon. They positively deny your existence in any shape or form.” “They won't pay any attention to you,” said ghe, with a laugh, “They are fixtures, quite as much so an walle themselves. You'll not be al them. My grandfath fifty years ago and failed. P After that he made it a point to dis- mias Conrad every day in the year and Gretel every other day. As well try to tae aver rae Mr. ey know you can’ ton without thei Le bed “I have discharged her as a cook,” 1 aaid, triumphantly, “A new one will be here by the end of the week.” ¢, “Oh,” she sighed plaintively, “how glad Tam. She is an atrocious cook. py 1 don’t like to complain, Mr, Smart, but really ts getting eo that I can’t eat anything she sends up. It is jolly of you to get in a new one, Now we hall be very happy.” “Do you mean to sa; oerons de Hot : jear me, no! ww ean you think that of me? Gretel merely fi cooks the food I buy. She keeps a distinct and separate account of ry everything, poor thing. will find an; your bills, Mr. will not have my new cook giv- You aurely can’t separate” — “I hadn't thought of that,” she terrupted ruefully. wr a wound’t be all right.” ehe added, “We do not require much, 1 Toiatghed rather shortly —~ Later on, in the seclusion of my & study, the full aay force of it struck me ‘That plaintive nete in her voice served ite purpose. My firmness seemed to dissolve, even as I sought to reinforce it by an injection of harshness into my own manner of “Then you shoul cate my, promiecs, onvers bad here I began to frreso! “ay gain youreaie™ uteness you give me three days tn to think Ayton alt over?” she asked “That te quite impo Ps. ut I fmaae rever Foun Please to “If you knew f am obliged . right to go my own castle, just how mspect to be at present ih terms, new light on the case, Fery een up to, madam?” She seemed to be sidert Ail come to thie window tocmerrow ht at ie ne andé—and let you 0); know,” she said reluctantly, ‘ery well,” eald I, we'll let ft my own account You see, she's Mr. Bmart. Bhe laughed on iy more. Verily, it “will gentile, high-bred laugh. 1 you snaee Beto thee te. tha y or two?” she asked, * eald I, too surprised te eay anythi lee. le A aychigg @ “Te—te there any. “Nothing, thank you,” she reptted. Then: “Good night, Mr. Smart. You “Don' it to-morrow” —- But the obi aperture disap- ae a a sphynz-like wall, my CHAPTER II. 1 Become an Ancestor, RUB to the promise she had extracted from me I laid off my workmen the next morn- ing. During the remainder of the day I insisted on the ut- most quiet in our wing of the castle. Punctually at 9 o'clock I was in the balcony, thanking my lucky etare that it wae a bright, moonlit night. There was every rea- eon to rejoice in the prospect of see- ing her face clearly when she ap- peared at her secret little window, “Good evening,” she said, on open ing the window. She wore a white, filmy vell. “Good evening,” said I, contriving to conceal my disappointment, “How is the baby?’ “Very much better, thank you. It ‘was #0 good of you to stop the work- men.” “Won't you take off your veil and stay awhile?” I asked, politely face- tious, “It ten't quite fair to me, you know.” Her next remark brought @ blush of confusion to my cheek, A silly no- tion had induced me to don my ful) ning regalia, spike-tail coat and How very nice you look tn your pew suit,” she said, and I was aware it HH Seo tf Cy “A telephone!” “Circumstances make it quite un’ for me to have a telephone in my fame, but you could have one in without creating the least You are*—— “Madam,” I cried, and got “—pertectly it ip hi sf no further, wi free to have a telephone use about the {f you want one,” she continued. “The doctor came this evening and it really the lady in the east wi: Don't you see you history of t! Rothoefens could have telephoned for me and futile. The would tat eran wasn't necessary. saved him the trip?” Tam “Madam!” I exploded, “will you be collusion with “we'll let good enough to listen to me? Not to be trified with. some time I shall enter the east wi of this building if I bave to knoci down all the doors on the place. Do 7 De mig rag madam?’ Mr. Smart, arran| grag ih in about 6 o'clock. It i! afford me a great deal of leasure to give you some tea. May expect you at S—or thereabouts?” “I don't believe a word you say about a sick baby—or a doctor! It's fina’ yourself, ‘bag and Dagease, 3 an ting at the bottom of this fait!” she cried. “Are you really, truly tn earnest ?* “Most emphatically!” “Then I—I shall surrender,” sald, very slowly—and seriously, I Wirhat's more like it!” T erted thusiastically. bail “On one condition,” she sald. “You must agree in advance to let me atay ™ Tt—it east wing. It bad been dropped the courtyard from one windows, The reading I went on, knit- formed me into a into demon. She very wa: my “how am I to ie ia ae” e . X* good ower. “They shall be delivered to you to- morrow morning, mart,” 4 eaid soberly. * a id anal end t wee nA ne smiling moonlight. eee: 8 I summoned the Schmicks, she. ts Gott! aller shame us all! fo who, was one mis Newport. T am sure idly that long hee J Wrong of the century was B 5 F } To-morrow me at seven, Britton,” ea. iinet ae Renta de dist oreted op De Probably not the next, Bhe will drive us and 80 go gentle and kind not et Ht the present Amason rth to-night in the east I had some reason to of the fami Savor of About the middie century the last of ti rful, 9 four-ecore 7 all this time on my food?” produced a mal: Tho estate, nancial as jon, fell into the went from before reat et | i i : s. & z i d i § 2332 Be gE F i iil ite cBzioe t i deper hen they got 3 : d Ht i ! All attempts on my part to fell,” eald 1, yawning in {t go over til! i CHAPTER IV. I Meet the Foe and Fall. Dill, wait- brought a letter Hasards, inqut would be in shape to receive charge house parties she ing them to an intermediate of peril from drafts, leaky sheets and vampires. f wit it roots, At 11 o'clock, Poopendyke @ @ note from the chatelaine i id HH [litt cal: headache i i t In the courtyard I found a score or “Conrad,” said I, fixing the ancient more of idle artisans. with a stern, compelling has gone quite far enough a mein herr?” % you serve ine, or do eerve the lady in the east wi: wree “thig them to fetch their files, saws, Axes and augurs, I led the way to the ighty doors that barred trance to the other side, ignoring the supplications oe “I do,” said he, with a great deal Schmick and the ominous more wit than I thought he pos- hi “T have been talkin; thie evening,” said I. m3 the lnty “Yes, mein hi I know,” said he, “Oh, you do, Well, will you be f gtd enough to tell me what the devil w th te! the frowns js two sons, we sot about on @ padlocks d chisel: i @ wooden els. IT ot ‘ling minions and I venture to say they never worked harder or r in thelr lives, By 33 o’¢leek had the great doore open he meaning of all this two-faced, swept on ie the next obstruction, underhanded conduct on your part?” be Continued.) Next Week's Complete Novel | CHERUB DEVIN —= By Sewell Ford — WILL BEGIN =NEXT \Monday’s Evening World i