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10
RVIINISO IIULLETIN, HONOLULU. T II. A TUIUUY. .U0. , 1010.
i
r
i
K I
m'-.
Half a
Chance
By FREDERIC S. ISHAM.
Author of "The Strollen," "Un
der the Koie." 1he Lad?
of tie Mount," Ctc
Copyright. ICCU. tv the BobLt
Men 1 1 Cumpanv
(Continued.)
Jiilui Steele h ivv s:t-k rang li.-.rd
1'iiif wnj Is-' ii' hi 'i loired tint
close bcl 'ml inn tin- others mini' fa'!,
lain !" r. lint ever, was iicgtr Now tie?
rcachisl It. litttsl the heavy l.o.v Hud
It timit-il ns usual tin- episode would
have been brought tu n openly conclu
sion, tun iik It tin ttn Ley Muck. The
foremot of those Him had been trail
ing fell ujhiu Steele. Iiut soon drew
back. Out- of them, unable tu rcpiess
a groan, held Id, luiuil tu n broken
wrist, while from bis helpless tlngeis
n knife dropped to tho giouuct.
A ndcroiis. hulking fellow about
tilx feet three, with a shook of rod
hair nnil u thick banging lip, cursed
loudly. Obviously this mie of his as
sailants possessed Immense, unusual
strength.
"Let me at lilni. ye!" he tried lu foul
nnd flash tongue, when Juhu Steele
tiuddenly called him hj name, sala
something In Unit selfsame dliikvt or
il6k purses and their Ilk. The rufflan
paused, rt'iiiuloed stock still.
"Hon the Who" the mm bejsn.
"Cull otT your fellows!" John Steele's
mice seemed to thrill. "I wmlt tu talk
with you It'll be more worth your
while Ilia n uuy prigging r bugging
joil'vr mit j el done."
MVell. I'm binned." Suspicion
gleamed from the bloodshot eyes.
"And jou want to tllltt with met
Here's u gamey covel"
"I tell yuu I must talk with youl
I've got u lay better than uooklttff, fob
Jor the dock. An for the oilier, they
cuu i;o. fur till of me."
"Oh. they can!" The big man's face
expressed varying feelings ramie
wonder. At the name time He bpgdii to
edge cautiously uwuy. "That Would
be a nice plant, wouldn't It) Let's out
of this, blokles." suddenly. rThls core
knows too much, nnd"
KMInltl" Steele stepped forward. "I
wuut .inn, Tom ltogers. uud I'm going
to imu you. It'll be quids In your
H)ckut and not Newgate." k
"Sloe for It, mutotl" Tim his man's
tolie raiif out. Around li rprptr ll
the illriftlou of the Tlmmes the lijrjy
UKUre of u polk-em.iu appourcd In Iba
dim IlKht. "Tint's Ills Utile cumel"
mid tunuM. N
Hut John Steele opriui; savaaly for
mini. "Vou fool! You'll not net
iiwiiy no t-jsllyl" he fifimnl Hlicn
one of the others u( ot u ft. ' It
trlppiil him. Jubu Steele's lieaij struck
the curb loleutly.
Tor xjtne moments ho lay still; then
he made out the face of a policeman
beudlni: opr him.
"That m a njstyf.il you L'ot, sir."
"I'iiIIV John Steele iroe, stood
snaylii. "That man must not v'
tape. I n jou bear iiiunt not'" As
he spoke he made ns If to rinli for
uard The other laid stead) lug tlnceri
oj hN arm.
"Hold hanl a bit. sir." he said, "Not
pllle jourself lletldes, they're nell
out of ul.'lil now. No use running
nfler."
Steele mou'd. KraH'd the rulltiiR
leiidliiat up the front step. Ills brow
throbbed; n tlioui-and dartlns pains
shot through his brain. Hut for the
moment thee phslen pangs were
us nothing Ulmippoliitmeut, self re
proach moiiil lilm To li ne allowed
himself tu no down like that to have
hi en laucht by such a simple trkkl
Clumsy clod! And at u moment
when
"l'nrdon me, sir." the ufllerr said In u
lirlsbcr tone, ''bpt hadn't we belter
Co lu? "1 III-". I lake It, Is j our housu.
lint I'l'tu I ool. after ,tourelf somen hat
nnd afterward deM-ilbe J our iissall.
uuls) then we'll start out to Hud mid
nriest them, If isis-dble."
Steele loosened his bold on the rail-Inu-
He a p ie a red now to have recov
euil bis strength. "That's Jmt what
don't waut Jou to do. My tinme Is
.lohn Steele. You know of me" And
na the other ii turned n respectful nf
llrmallte, "It Is my dealt e to escape
any notoriety In this little matter, jou
iiiiileistuudi" Sumetbln,; pissed from
bis bund tu the polk email's.
Wnll.llur quickly up the steps, John
StM'te opened the door, uiiirpiured n
jierfimctory "Cood night" ami let him
elf lu. llut us be mountcil to bis
eh.imbe.rs some of the moment's ex
ultation that had seized him nt sight
if the man reviled,
"Ho tins tome buck He Is here In
Jjnidoii. I surely can lay bands on
him. I must! I will!''
ClIAITI.It IX.
A CIIAMOC OK uio.tr.
HU found the task no easy one,
honeier, ullhougli be wentut
It with his characteristic vig
or uud energy. I'cw men
knew the seamy side of London better
than John Steele Its dnrksumu streets
mid foul alleys, Its hotels and various
hnhltntlons. And this knowledge he
tltjIUed to tlio best adinntnge, always
tu find Hut his efforts cume to naught.
Itejiicluntly John Steele concluded
that the mail be sought hud made bis
jiy out of London; otherwise lliefacll
' nil's, al his louiuiund were stub that
-Ml Ml
beeu nble to attalri Tils end-tlnd what
be desired Soberly attired, be attract
ed no rery marked ntteutloii lu the
slums, breeding iots of the criminal
dimes The denizens knew John
Steele He had been there oflibefoie.
He had on occasion nsslstetl some of
tbem with stern good ndvbe or mure
sulistnntlul sen lees He was neuilnt.
ed with thee men nud Women, had
perhuiM ii l.uger ib.irlty for them than
most peiip.e bud II e.edlent tu I her
Ish One mi li linil sa-en the obje t of
Slee'e -! Iltlde nud to Ibis person.
ii weir.nii-d little "undesirable." the
led headed glaill bad lonilded that
London him i-ielty hot uud he thought
of de 'iimpltig from It.
"'itei till ibis lime tint's gone by,'
be sajs to in, bitter like, 'to tbln!: a
iiiiiii uin't i oine baik In 'Is native 'ome
wlthoill being splid on for what ought
long ugo to be deud nikl forgot!' "
"What brought him lo London V"
"I expect It wns 'omeskknexs. sir.
'B's been ii bud lot. but 'e has n 'cart,
nrter all. It was to see 'Is mother c
cume lack; the old woman drew Mm
"ere You see. "e had wrltteu 'er from
foreign parts, but could never 'ear
'cause she had moved. Used lo keep
n plaie wbeie a woman wns found"
"Dead"
".Murdered!" said the man. John
Steele wns silent. "And she, 'Is moth
er, 'ml gone, 'uvlng saed a bit. out
Into ii peaceable-like little 'nmlet,
where there weieu't no bobbles, only
Insteud bits of flower gardens - und
bright Moouilu'dalTj-dnwu-dlllles. llut,
bllme nie, wbeu Tom touiu nUiKfound
out where she 'nd changed to If she
'udn't gone und shuttled off, uud nil
'e 'ud for 'Is pubis Has the sight of a
mound lu the churchyard."
"Yes, she's burled," said John Steele
thoughtfully, "and nil she might have
tuld about the woman who was-murdered
Is burled with her." '
"lint she did tell, sir, nl the time."
Jilkkly, "of the trlul."
"True." The tbdior's tone changed.
"If you can Uud Tom glte him this
note. You'll be rfell paid"
"I ain't nsklu' for that. You pot me
off easy once and gate me n lift urter
I was let out"
"Well, well!" Steele made a brusque
gesture "We all need n helping buud
ollletiineV' Lai said, turning uwuy.
Ami t but was ns near as be had
come to attainment of his destrei.
Slimmer passed1. Sometimes, the
better to tllttik, tu plan, to keep him
self girded by coustant exercise, be
repaired to the park, now neglected by
fashion uud given over to that nebu
lous quantity of diverse qualities cull
ed the people.
"How do you do, Bteele? Just the
man 1 wanted to sec!"
Near the main exit toward which
John Steele had unconsciously step
ped the sound of a familiar olco und
the appearance of u well known stocky
form broke lu with startling abrupt
nens on (lie dark train of thought.
"I'cep n Home point of luwV went
pn SJr CJurc.s. "Ton honor, believe
jou woufd have tit me. Ilowctcr,
doi't iitsilogfe! you're forgiven!"
"llnst amiable of yuu tu say so. Sir
Cb.iik'3l",pcrfunctoilly.
"Not nt nl! Especially ns our meet
ing U qulle apropos. Obliged to run
up tu tdwn on a little matter of busi
ness; but. thank goodness. It's done.
Never sjw London more deserted.
Dined nt tbo club, nobody there. Sup
ped nt the hotel, dlulug room empty
Strollul up Piccadilly, not u soul to
be seen. Tb.it Is," he udded. "no one
whom one has seen before, which' Is
the same thing, llut bow did you en
Joy jour trip to tho continent?"
"It was not exactly a trip fur pleas,
tire." returned the other, with u slight
accent of constraint.
"Ah. yes; so I understood, nut
fancy going to the continent on busi
ness! One usuully goes for which
reminds me. bow would you llko lu go
back Into the, country with met"
"It It Is Impossible at the moment
for"-
I'.ut Sir Charles seemed not to listen.
"Deuced dull Journey for n man to
take alone, gocd deal of It by conih.
You'll tlnd a few salmon to Kill, trout
nnd ull that. Think of the Joy of
whipping a stream after bulng been
mewed up nil these months In the
musty metropolis. Ilesldes. I made a
wnger with Jocelju you wouldn't re
fute ii second opiortiiiilty to bask In
Arcadia." He laughe'd. "'I really
couldn't presume lu usk him again,'
Is the way she expressed It, 'but If
you can draw a suttlcletitly eloquent
pktuie of tbo rural attractions of
St rat horn to woo blm from tils bcloycd
dusty byways you have my permis
sion to try.'"
"Did she sny that?" John Steele
spoke quickly, then, "I am sorry It
Is Impossible, but," lu a law tone,
"bow Is Miss WruyV
"Notcr belter. Lnjoylng every mo
ment. Jolly party nud all that. Lord
Lonsdale and" Here Sir Cuurlcs
enumerated u number of people.
"Lord ltoimdalo Is there?"
"Yes; couldn't keep blm away from
Stiiitborn House now," ha laughed.
"As n matter of fact, he has asked my
permission to There!" Sir Charles
stopped, then laughed, agulu with n
little embarrassment. "l'o nearly let
the cut out of the bag,"
John Steele spoke no word. His face
wns set. Immovable.
'"You mean hu lias proposed for her
baud, and she" Steele seemed tu speak,
with dltllculty "bus consented?"
"Well, not exactly. She uppejrs
complaisant, us It were," be uusweted
"Hut, really, I shouldn't have mention
ed the matter nt ull. Quite premature,
you understand? Let's say no more
about It And what wns It Jou sultl
about going back with me?"
"Yes." anld John Steele, with a sud
den strength nud energy that Sir
C'bailes uil.-ht uttilbiite to the desire
In imtliLlilliijji'lf uii(lesoud,ub(e Qui
din of the street "I'll go buck with
you at" the bitter words, lower spo
ken, the other did tint catch-"no mat
ter whlif cost!"
Sir 'Charles And Johli Steele nrrhnl
at Stmljioril '1 his .little hamlet lay
III n sleepy looking dell As tin- drher
swung down u hill lie whipped iim his
hones uud llteinlly (barged upon the
town, Hwefif . through' Hie main thor
oughfare nnd drew up with n flourish
before the ptliiilpitl tax tin Sir
Cbnrles stftrtnl mid siirtilnd his legs
John Steele gc.1 dm II
"Stmtborn Uniic." Iip ald to Sir
Charles, "Is near I nm In the unsid
for exercise5 nfler silting so long mid
should like to walk thete" '
"Hj nil tuenns." relumed the other,
"since l)'s jour piefercn.e IMeily
apt tu in ei take jou." be went on, nfler
Biting his guest n few dlrei (Ions. Vs
peelally If jou linger over uuy silnls
of Interest "
The trap which had been sent for
drew up nud the two men si-p-irated.
Sir Charles rattled Lrlsklj down one
way, Steele turned In go the oilier
Soon rose before him Hie top of a
modest steeple, then n. church, within
the sanctuary of whose yard old stones
mingled with new lie stepped In.
"Straight on across the churchyard:"
had been t."r Charles' direction Jo'liu
Steele moved quickly down the narrow
path.
Stmthorn House! A noble dwelling,
tnasshe nud gray And jet one that
lifted Itself with iharmlug tightness
from Its solid, baronlal-IIke foundation
It adorned the xt. merged Into the
hudsciipe. Ilehlud, the forest, n dark
Hue. penciled Itself against the blue
liurlznu. Ilefore the ancient stone pile
lay n noble park.
Ling the mail looked Through a
faint veil of mist tttriet and tower
qulicred. strong Hues of masonry vi
brated Wavering as lu the spell of
su isptlcnl Illusion, the structure might
have seemed but n tlgiuent of Imagina
tion or one of those fanciful castles
sung by 'the Hllznbethaii brotherhood
of kmMii. Did the Image occur to John
Steele? DM be feel for the time, de
spite other dlsqutetlug, extraneous
thoughts, the subtle enchantment of
the scene? The minutes passed. He
did not move,
"You find It to your liking?"
A voice, fresh, gay. Interrupted.
With ii gieat start, he turned.
J ik el) n Wnij for It wus she. laugh
ed; so absorbed had he been, be bud
not beard ber light footstep on the
grass behind.
Ills face chauglng. "Kntlrely!" he
managed to suy. And then, "I did
not know you were near."
"No? Dut I could see that. Con
fess." with accent a little derisory, "1
startled you "
She looked Hi him curiously. "Shall
we walk ou toward the house? I
Went duwn Into the town thinking to
meet my uncle," she explained, "but
as I had n few errands, on nccnuut
of a children's fete wo are planning,
reached the tnieru after he had gone."
Sho stepped Into the path lending
from the churchyard: It was narrow,
and she walked before, blm.
"The others went buutliig." she said.
Site stepped quickly from the by
way Into the main road. "There It
Is." she said, pointing with a small
white linger.
He moved now nt tier side. At the
entrance, broad. Imposing, she paused
A thousand perfumes seemed wafted
from the garden; the rustling of myri
ad wings fell on the senses like faint
cadences of music.
Within the stately house, near u re
cessed window ut the front, n man
stood at that moment reading n letier:
Shall b down to see you soon. Catu
coming on; links nearly ull complete, in
volve a new and bowllderlnif possibility,
llsve dUioverctt the purpose of S.'s lstt
tu the continent, II was
Lord Jtonkdalo perused the words
expectantly.
"So tbut was It." ho said to himself
slowly. "I might bue known"
Voices without caught bis attention;
he glanced quickly through tbo win
dow. Jocelyu Wray and Jobu Steele
weie walking up the marblo steps.
CHAI'TUIt X.
a luiimr.
AI'UW days passed. The usual
round of pustlmes Inseparable
from house parlies served to
while uwuy the hours. Other
guests urrlted, one or two went. I.md
llonsd.lle bad greeted John Steele er
funclorlly; the other's manner was
likewise mechanically courteous. It
could not very well have becti other
wise; u number of people were ueur.
A rainy siiell put a stop to outdoor
diversions. The second morning of,
the dark weather discovered two cf
the guests lu the oak paneled smoking
loom of Struthoru House.
"ileove I shall ruu over to Ger
many very soon, Steele," said Kor
sythe to the lawyer.
"ludeed?"
"Yes; capital case coming ou In the
criminal courts there."
"And yuu don't want to iiiIbs It, For
J the?"
"Not I! Weakhess of mine, as you,
know. Most icujle look to novels or
plajs for entertainment: I Uud mine
lu the leal drainu, unfolded eiery day
In the lourts of Jtistke,"
John Sleek wall lied u young lad ap
proach outside. He waved ii paper In
bis hatid and called with easy famlll
urllj to ii housemaid lu an open win
dow ulsjve:
"Telegram fi tint London, miss."
The slleine that followed was. again
broken by Captain I'lirsylhe's toke:
"There are one or two featuies lu this
(jei man affair Hint remind me of an
other case some years baik one uf
our owti-lbal Interested me."
"Ah?" The Ibletier's tone was only
politely Interrogatory
"A (an- lu London-peril tps j-ou
bHie.htaid of It? Tim ufurdt r of a
woman, once well known before the
footlights, by a one time champion ot
the ring the I'llsio Pet. 1 think be
was en I led. I once puzxled n bit over
thai one; ImcsMgiitcd It ""mow hat oil
in own a (oiuit iluu't'yuu' know."'
"In what wny?" Steele's manner Wns
no longer Intlllferent-
Then It iittuiid jou, too, ns an
liitesilgntiir?" mummied the captain
lu n ui.itltitd tune. "For 'your book,
perhaps?"
".Not eie tlv llut jotl hnvpu't yet
told me.' In a keen, .licit ton,-, "why
jou lo'nkisl Into It 'mi jour own ac
count.' It Hi HIS simple. ob Ions."
"That l Jusl It." said (.'aplalii For
sjtlie. vising "It was peihups u little
too simple, too bliiloU!'
"You aliende.l the trial of this fel
low ?'
"The lai-t p.irl of It: wasn't lu Lng
bind when It lir-d came on anil what
I heard of It raised some questions
and doubts in uij mind llov.eier. I
didn't think in., eh more uboiil the case
until ii gmd in.1 uy months later, when
chance alone cre.v my attention more
closely to It. Wns down In the coun
try, when one night I liupeiied to
get ou this almost forgotten case of
the Frisco 1'et, whereupon the laud
lout of the Inn where 1 put up Inform
ed me Hint one of the villagers lu this
Identical little towu hud bec.i laud
lady nt the place where the nff-llr oc
curred." "The nnmtn who testified no one
had been to her place that night ex
cept" John Steele spoke sharply
"This fellow? Quite so." Captain
Forsjthe walked iqi nud down "Now,
SHi: LOOICLD AT
I'd ulwnjs hud a little theory Could
never get out of my mind one senteiKv
this pour. Ignorant f.'llow utlcicd ut
tbo trial. 'Seems us If I could remem
ber n man's fate, a stranger's, that
looked Into mine that night, your lord
ship, but I ain't exni lly cocksure.'
'Ain't exactly tocksure,'" repeated!
Captain Forsjtlie, "1 lints what
caught me. Would u man not telling
the truth be not quite 'cocksure, or
would ho testify to the face us n fnct?"
"II'ui! Very Interesting, I'orsjtbc.
Very Ingenious. Quite plausible"
"The limlbidj's toliinuny cm hided
the fice, made It u llgmeut of nu Imag
ination illsoiilcled by drink." Cnptnlu
Forsjthe waved his baud ulrtly
"You went to see ibis woman?"
"Out o i urloilly. ami found bbc- was.
Indeed, t le same periuii. She seemed
qullu 411 and feeble. I talked with bur
about au hour that day. Tried I'u
everj" sa.i to get her to remember she
had possi.ily let lu somo other person
that uljlit, but"-
"llul?"
"liless jou. she stuck tu her stoty,"
laughed Captain Forsjthe. "Couldn't
moiu her 1111 Iota." One of the listen
er's arms fell to bis side, his baud
dosed hard. "Quire bowled over my
Utile theory, don't jou know Of
courx? I told r.ijself It didn't mailer.
The iiiiiii iciivUhd was gone drown
ed "
A shrill whUtlesmotuiheiil,. Steele's
glance turned lo the window. The
boy, lnvlu- oclUercd his message,
had left the dot r. With lips piickcicil
to the loud uud Imperfect rendition of
u popular hireel melody be was mak
ing his way tlfliugh the grounds lu.
voliiiitarllj the unit's look lingered ou
lilui. "A telegram from London j For
whom?"
"Ileg puidun!" A footmun stood In
the duorwuj. 'Sir Clurles' cuuipll
uieiitu lu the geuilemcii, mid will Ihey
bu good enough to Join hlui lu iiruiory
hall?"
John Steele tinned quickly fo the
servutit, su quickly 11 close, observer
might huve r.uu'lt-l he wekumed tho
Interruption "Ca tain I'orsjtho's und
Mr. Steele's loiiipllments to Sir
Churles," he said lit otiee, "and say It
will rive tbem pleasure 10 ruiqply."
As Steele mid bis companion, pgelh.
er with Jo'eljii Wt.ij-, win, had Joined
them, etitcicd the armory hall sounds
of morilmeiit ami applause greeted the
eur,
"A little contest with the foils, a
fencing bout! Uood!" exelulmed For
ijthe. '
Jo'elyn Wr.iy walked over to tho
group, mid I'orsylhe followed.
"Unto, Lossdllc!' iA number of
people applauded. . -
"lie has won Now the reward!
What Is It in be?" v .
"Not so fust! Here ore ot hers." I
"Tine Lou-date looked iirnund
tvllli his ni'd Millie. His glance vague
ly Included John Steele mid Cnplillll
Forsjthe
"Count me out." laughed Hie hitler.
"Not In uj Hue. don't J oil know, slucu
1 I Joined lie- ri-tlr.-if.lst,"
"Howeter. there's Steele," Sir
Charles, pipe In band. lemarUed
"Do jou use Hie foils, Mr. Steele?" ,
nsked Jo plyn Wray. .
He moved for w aid Lord llonsdilo j
stooii iiem tier. oc lining over won u
slightly proprietary air.
"I"- Steele looked nl tbem. "Only
n little."
"Then you must try conclusions with
Lord Itimsdnle!" culled out Sir Charles.
"As liter over the rest be must
inn I ull comers."
"Nothing to be put out by belug
beaten by lloiisdale," lulerHjsed flu
obsoiver. "Had the reputation of be
ing one of the best swordsmen ou the
continent; bus even bad, I believe,"
with a I nigh, "oue or two little af
fairs of bouor,"
"Honor!" Steele's glance swung
around, phijcd lirjgbtly on the noble
man. The niter's face rcnmlned jiiqias,-
' t&'$
iT W
'.
Yr
m-
II1.M Cl'HIOl'SLY.
sll'c- iTl ..."ill ".T fill l-lllil sl- lll-l
swung It. The hiss thai followeu
might have been toiisiiticU ns u thai
leuge John Steele tossisl aside Ills
coat.
Itoiifdale's ejes suddenly narrowed
Uxpeclmiiy made Ifsell fell hi his
manner. "Aren't jou going lo lull up
your sleet e?" he nsked Hoflly "L'su
nlly Uud It glies ki enter freeiloin of
movement myself."
"Perhaps jou are right," Steele said,
coolly, and. following the nobleman's
example, he pushed buk tils slieve
The action revealed the splendid arm
of the ptrfcctly tralueil athlete, mark
ed, however, by u gteul scar extend
ing from Just ubuvo the wilst to the
elbow.
"Ibid Jali Unit, Bteele!" cried Sir
Chillies. "Looks us If It might hare
been made by an African spear!"
"No," John Steele smiled,
Lord HoiimIuIu breathed quickly
"Ilecent wound, 1 should sny."
"Not very old," said John Steele.
"If tbere'H n good,stury back of It
we'll hive It later," Captain Forsythe
rcni.nked.
Their blades crossed. Ronsdule's
suppleness of wrist nnd arm. his cold
steadiness, combined with a knowl
edge ot many Hue arlltkcs, had al
ready made bill) u fuvuillo with those
of the men who cured to back their
opinions with oild pounds.
"Ten to flvo!" une of the men near
her called out Jovially, "Odds ou lions
dale! Any Inkers?"
"Dune!"
Joielyn snw John Steelo draw him
sulf bail, sharply Just lu lime, Sheulso
funded 11 new, omluons gleam In his
ejes. His demeanor underwent 1111
abrupt t banco, if Lonsdale's quick
ness was catlike, the other's movements
had now nil tho swiftness and grate
of u panther.
"Hello!" Through the swishing of
steel she hcuid again tho tnau at her
side exclaim, make some laughing 're
mark, "Perhaps I'd better hedge"
llut even ns hq spoke, with 11 fiercer
thrusting and parrying of blades, the
end dime. A sudden Irresistible move
ment of Joint Steele's urui uud the 110
bli man's blade clattered lu the Hour.
"Lgiul! I uever saw anything pret
tier!" Sir Charles imiie forward quick
ly "Met jour match that time, lions
dale." The nobleman stooped for his foil.
"That lime, jesl" hu drawled
Steele Cjud ldnje! vvjkl"i i'JlM
miy
Jocclju Winy lu word II10 window.
Across the room a footman now ap
proached Lord Itonsdnle and extended
n salver
John Steele's glance' Unshed toward
Lonsdale. Tin! telegram, tbeii, hud
been fort- He M lin Inscrutable
smile cross the nobleman's face.
A door rlosisl quietly as Iird lions
dale went mil
The iifiermniii ilf that same day there
ui rived lit the v Hinge of Strathoru
flom London 11 dls. reel looking little,
man who. descending nt the Hidden
Lion, was shown lo a private sitting
room 011 the second story. 1 11 about
an hour he was Jollied by Lord, IIous
dale. I
"Wcir'-lio spoke qulokly-'i fancy
jou have a little something to tell me,
Mr. Ulllett?"
"'A little something!"' The latter
rubbed Ids hands. "Mure than n Ut
ile! The special Inquiry which yuur
lordship mentioned Just as he wns
lent lug my oflUe proved for a time
most Illusive."
"You mean the object of John
Steele's visit to the continent?"
"Kxnctly. And. tho object of that
visit solved. I have now a matter ot
greatest Importance to communicate,
so Important It could ouly be Imparted
by word of mouth." The police agent
spoke hastily uud moved nearer,
"Indeed! You have reached a con
clusion, oue that you sought to re
ject perhapi, but that wouldn't be dis
carded?" Mr. Glllclt looked at him earnestly.
"You dou't mean It Isn't possible that
jou knew- ull the while?"
"Let us start nt the beginning."
"True, jour lordship." Mr. Glllett
swallowed. "As your lordship li
aware, we were fortunate enough In
tin- begluulug to find out through our
airent In Tasmania that John Steele
nine to that place lu 11 Utile milling
M'liismer, the Ijiura Demie of I'orts
tooiilli; Mint he had been leseutsl from
1 tin allied tried reef, or Me. on Dec
"Jl stiuii-three je.us before. The po..
by longitude and latitude, mirks,
through 1111 idd colueldcni e, the pi.ue
Wjerc the Loin Netsi 11 met her tale'
"A t olm Idem e truly," mm mured the
nobleman "I'm nt this stage lu join
Masoning joi. rcvallcl that ull ou
bojiil were embarked, lu the' ship's
boats mid reached Iv lllz-itlnu, ex,ep-
Klk!iblj "-
"A fen of mj charges between
decks? A bid lol of n:ly brutes The
sturj of .lohn Steele's res lie." went 011
Ml, ClllclJ "as lolil tij' lilin-elf. was
wcll.kHuwn in Tasmania A luwvel
by profession, lie had been pisrcugcr
011 a merchant vessel, the Murj Vt-r
uuu of Uiillluioie. t'nltid Slates. This
vessel, like the Lolil Nelson, had come
to grk-r All of those In John Steele's
boat had peilsbtd except tiliu Some
hud gum- mail ihruugh thlrsi ami suf
fering. Others bad killed I heir fellows
In 11 frenzy llelng of superb physique,
billing been through much physical
tratuliig"-lbt listener stirred lu bis
chair "he uiiiuagisl tu survive, to
reach the Utile Isle, where. iiec"tU'
to bis story, he remained ulmust u
j ear."
"A year? Then he set foot In l'as
mania about ro 11 r years after the I.ord
Nelson went down." observed the no
bleman, a iuiious glitter lu his eyes.
"Four years after." he reieated, uc
cen ting the lilst word.
"Such were the details gathered In
Tasmania," answered the isillce agent.
"Co oil." said Lord IIoiimIiiIc.
"1 mm the male of the tjiuru Deane.
tbo schooner thai rescued him from
the Ule. uud oue of her crew whom
1 managed tu locate ut Ptj mouth, us
I huve Informed jour lordship by tet
ter." answered Mr (Jlllett. "These
men now furnish lodgings to seamen
und Ini Idenially shanghai u few; of
them foi dubious 1 rafl. Itolh of them,
the mate and 'the sailor, recalled the
mau of Hue bearing und education
whom they found ou the llllle Isle, u
soil of (ireek statue, half dot lied In
rugs, si lo seak, who made bis per
suiiallly felt at once 011 lbeie simple,
Igliiir.ilil lellows. Al the spring oil the
llllle Island I he mm men tilled I heir
water bulls This kept them seveiul
dajs. lulling labor with skj linking,
during whl. li tune one of llieui picked
up somelhliig-a siutli uitiikcd with
II mi me." ,
"Which was?"
Mr (illlell leaned' forwaid. sjsvke
sol 1 1); I.011I Itoiisdule stared straight
uheiid "ill 1 nurse," he hiild; "of
eouise!"'
"This, I will confess, startled, pux
iliil me," ( unturned Hit- silke ugetil.
"I 1 1 led 10 explain it 111 a (lo.en differ
ent vvujs Then It was thai die Hue
of special liivi-silgatlou IicIhs1, John
Steele's oiillug to which jou directed
my attention was passed oil the ion
Uncut. After u good deal of pains wo
discovered thai he visited u icrtalu
large building In Purls.
"This h'd 10 nu Inspection uf the
tenants They proved of ull sorts und
kinds. The place wus 11 beehlie Hun
dreds of people eutered mid left every
day At this time I happened 011 uu
Item lu a perhxUoiil uImiuI some le
murkiible work In 11 leltalu line by a
high class mecllcal Hpc-cbillst, Here Is
the pjmgiHpli"
I.011I ItoiiMlale look. the slip of inper
the clhei handed hltu mid bllettj look
ed ul it "ou vlsliisl this srsou?"
"Yes, us his nllUe uddress as men
tioned as being In the large building
we were Interested lu llut ul Ibo line
iiieul I hud no suspleluii tint John
Steele's pilgrimage to 1 'ails could bare
been for the pin pose of consulting"
"An eminent specialist lu the Hue of
removing birthmarks." lead the uoble
111:111. glancing nl Urn slip of paper, "or
other dlsllgureiiienlM"
"One question, my lia-cl. Ilo Is dis
cerning -knows 1 lull jou are"
"Nuows? Yes, He found that out
uvg tb-i In 'J, de u-irlaj'
"Aluyel In' conies .,.i bete, dares
to leuve London, win re in oil his
chances ure better for 1,11 ii'
"Why?" l.otd Ituii-.p, m lie tf
uot itulii'ilile, "W'bel 11 iiiiiii lie
lume llloutiiil? Wbeii . lie -i.iepl
chances, however clespemii'
"When?" The pod t tones
explessed vaglla1 wolufel -.a (11. W Hell
thele l iiTvomau In tin .a-.-, slid
deuly -"11 woman or s -111
"Is time t.nyi lillav s e Jim lino lo
tell il.eV asked l.nld i.c.u.tle
Old) olie thliig,ui..l It iiiiij hue 110
beailiig on the a use. Some one who
has lint been eeu ll these pirls lu
j'c-ats. the ii-d tieaded.son of the land
lad) whole Hie Herald minder of
curled lias lieen bail, lu lauulou. and
Steele's liniklug fol blm, tor what pur
sise I doll I kuow ' I he Uublemau
moved quickly "llut he liusii t founu
blm -yet Aip.irelitlj the fellow look
ulutlii. know tug the isillie agent mlglit
waul him. mid vanished again."
laird Itoiisdule moistened Jils lips
then got up nnd walked buck atid
forth.
"I Imve made my plans," he Dually
sdld. -XLd-1 Intend to net."
"Where.?"
"Here, abd at once."
ClIAPTKItCI.
IlLVri.ATIONS.
NIOIIT al Strathoru House.
John Steele walked slowly on
the broad stone balcony to
ward the ballroom. There he
bad stopped; Ibeu, stepping lo the bal
ustrade, he stood looking off. The
night wus vyurni. lu the sky stars"
seemed trying to maintain their places
between dark, tloatlug clouds. Th
sound of music wus war ted from with
in. John Steele listened. They woC"
beginning once more to dnuce el
llePi'Hsl toward the window nnd paus
ed Ills ejes seemed searching the
I'iroiig , They found what Ihey sought
n slender, erect form, tho gown soft,
white, like foam; a face aulrantcd. Joy
ous, l'or,jin lustaut only, however, be
saw the beautiful features; then ns
Joccljn turned lu the dance around
her wulst glimpsed- a black band tip
lccl by slender masculine lingers;
above, a cynical countenance. Or was
II all -cynical now? A brief glnuce
showed more than the habitual ex
pression, u sedillousuoss, some passion
ale feeling Lord Lonsdale's look
seemed once mote to say-lie
dalmed her thai she was hi
held nnd
bis or soon
would bu.
Tin- moments passed A distant buzz
replaced nii'lody he human murmur,
the scraping of strings. From the
forest caiiie a faraway cry, the me
nueholy sound of soihe wood crcaturo
He continued motionless, then sudden
Ij wheeled swiftly, ,
"Thai Is jou, Mr Steele?" A voice
.Viuiq-, gl), sounded near Jocelyu
W'ruy came toward hlui From hei
Shoulders llo.Med 11 white searf. "'
bate come out for the f--'-sh"r ol
Ihe fiii-lu Ail.-igli' sue lidded
Va,n suoiii ,11 1 mil gei..er sc-eluOe your
self from the madding crowd."
"Nu?"
Did she note the strangeness of the
look she sei-imsl 10 have surprised on
his fine? Her own glance grew uu
Ihe lustaut slight') puzrh-d mid show
ed u passing loiisiralut. 'lheu hei
liiauuer tieaiiuie light again ".No. V.
pes hilly us- You ure leaving tumor
row. I believe?" Je-v
"Yes." He tiled to speak In convei
t Iiiiiii I tones, bill Ills gaz, swcrvislfruu
the gnu fill ticuiv wltli lis dim, wblti
Hues that 1 bunged mid llullered lu Hi,
(aim breath of air. stealing so gentlj
bj tlieni ami iiwaj. "My lime Is nl
Ulosl tqi -the allotted perhsl of Ul)
brief Lljsliim!" lie hair laugtinl "1
have eiijtiv ed hivself Immeiisi I) -iniieb
more lluiu'l deseiie"
"Have jou?' She glanced ul him
A llliker of light lollelieil the slioug
fat e.
II si-euied tlllllciilt for hlui to speak.
Finally lie said.
"I hate iift-lct'li-d or rnrgotlfii tho
pleisure," Willi a -dl-tlit laugh, -ot -ou.
grnlillalliig Jon Is that Hie wont?
Or Lolil IIiiliMlilli- lie, I lia-lleie. Is lliu
oue lo lie loligrullilnleil,'
"Coii.Tuliilnled?" Her fan- bait
chaugiil. gmnii .oilier Ills hand
graspul the slotie balustrade, lull nu
foiled a smile 10 his lips. "I cannot
Imagine who has i an eel -why jou
speak thus, l,.ud Itonwlale Is uu old
friend of my uncle und mine. too. but
thai Is ull. You are mistaken"
"Mlstuken?" The word broke fioiu
him quickly The strained expiesslou
of his face guve way lo u not tier be
could ill conceal.
"Ooodby!"' he said slowly. "1 am
leaving rnlher early lu the moriilu.'. 1
shall mil see jou again:"
('oodby-ut leust uutll we meet Jn
Lopdun." she etided lightly.
"That may 1101 be."
"Why. you 111 u not thlnklug of de
serting jour ding) metropolis?"
Ill iltil 111,1 tinaitia.
Did she realize he was ruylng goo:
ny 10 uer rur mi time? She held hei
head higher, piessed her lips "Silghtly
i-liMcr; tlii-li she sought to wlthdravv
her baud, hut he. us hardly kiimvlug
v,-hul he dltl or yielding to sudden, li
resistible le mptiitlnu, 1 lusped fol uu III
stum the slim lingers closer They
seemed lu quliei In his
John Steele I, loathed deeply He
continued to ivsurd her, so fair, su
beautiful. An lusiuiit und bu beul. A
breath or his lips swept the ileileale
while lingers; then he d-upp,s ilu-m.
Her baud swuug back against the cold
stone. On her breast sotm-thlug ,rlgbt.
uu oimiment, tlutletisl, ti-c-ame stilt
Ueblndt a hlui chliptd Her glance
lurued toward the ballroom
voices, loiul, merry, coining
from one of t:e open Freneli wiuuuivs
lllleilllpiisl , , ' T
M
i- !