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Show "Wla.at.tlie Gray Hoiase Hid Tke Mystery of a Hauiiteil Mansion Hy Wyndham Martyn W. N. U. Service Copyright by Wyndham Martyn be a fiunillar name. There Is tbe Selenos river." "And you were named after It? I was bom near a big river, too but 1 bad a lucky escape. Think of me as going Uirougu life labeled Housalonlc Hanby !" "The river was named after me," she explained. Mr. Hunby thought a moment. "Of course California came into the Onion late, didn't It? In tie forties. I think." "The river was named after my family, not after me personally; but 1 did not come here to discuss mj family affairs or to listen to yours. You are about to buy an estate near Pine I'lnins?" "1 am to complete the purchase this afternoon." "You must not go there I" she cried dramatically. "1 cannot allow It!" Her manner began to antagonize Hanby. "Why not?" he Inquired coldly. "It Is sacred ground, and you are not tit to dwell there. The Idea of its Pi fC me as you will, but do not go away thinking I have wronged you." "Yon have wronged rue!" she shrieked, ber black eyes flashing hate. "Ah, ha 1" muttered Adolf Smucker, who had hitherto listened unsnccess fully. Pausing a moment, he opened the door, as the signal bell had commanded com-manded him to. Apparently the strange woman was placing under a comprehensive curse Hanby and all that was his. Smucker gathered that I his employer was one of a band of hardened men whose entire energies were expended In keeping Miss Selenos Sele-nos from the Gray house. "You go there at your peril I" she shouted. "1 accept the risk," said Hanby, icite unruffled. "My vengeance will follow you," she added. "Delightful!" Hanby told her. "1 shall escape the monotony that my friends prophesy.'' Smucker, who was always nervous in the presence of unusual violence, almost admired Hanby for his calm. "This way, madam," said Smucker. He led her to the elevator. Mrs. Smucker In her Weehawken home would enjoy this. When the grille of the elevator door had closed upon Miss Selenos and her pets, Smucker went back to the oflice smiling. Mrs Smucker would certainly enjoy this. So would his old father, and the men he talked to on the ferry. As a rule they talked abrut taxing the rich. Taxing the rich was a passion with Smucker, and be pursued his hobby viciously. But Smucker did not catch his usual boat. It was late when he returned re-turned to his home. By that tim'j the strange visitor and her pets had .been driven from bis mind by other things. Outside the oflice a big man. red-faced and jocund, slapped him on the back. "Say," the stranger said, "ain't you Mr. Hanby's confidential clerk?" Smucker looked about him. No member of the office staff was visible. "Yes," he said with confidence. "I am, but you have the advantage of me." "1 want you to fix It so I can get a word In private with the boss. want to see hirn right away." "He goes home at half past four, t stay till six." "I guess you have to, being his con fidential man." The stranger was evidently evi-dently pondering over something of Importance. "Do you happen to know If he's considering purchasing a big estate up in Dutchess county?"' "He completed the purchase this afternoon," said Smucker. The news brought dismay to rie red face of the stranger. Almost It seemed as If he suffered. "My G d!" he cried. "And Mm will) a family !" "Why shouldn't he buy It?" Smoker Smok-er asked. "He's got the money, as 1 happen to know." "I can't tell you here," the other replied; "hut I'd like you to give him a message from me before it's too late. Had your dinner?" "Not yet." "How about a bite to eat now?" Smucker considered the mattet with the deliberation that u confidential confiden-tial clerk might be expected to show He was a heavy eater when anofheu man footed the bill, but he was also prudent. He did not feel drawn to this big, coarse stranger. Furthermore, Further-more, he wished to be sure that thin was a genuine invitation. It would b of no advantage to pay for a meai while In fair Weehawken a pot roasJ simmered for him. Perhaps the stranger sensed th economic struggle. "This Is ou me," he explained. "Why?' Siuuckei demanded. "Because I 'guess you have your boss' interests at heart, and I wan vou to tell him somet liing. I'm pull lug out for Chicago tonight, or I'd tell him myself It's a warning." "Some reference to a disgraceful past?" Smucker demanded eagerly. "Some reference to a h I of a fu hire. There's a place down here run by a pal of mine not much to look at ,but the planked steaks, oh, baby I And there's some real beer that the sailors smuggle in." "If il is really Important. 1 sup pose I must consider the welfare of my colleague before my own convent ence." Planked steak and real beer 1 Out d d pol roast 1 Mr. Smui ker ate with the peculiar ferocity that Is sometimes seen In thin, undersized men. 'TO BE CONTINUED.) s CHAPTER I "There's a lady asking for you, Mr. Hanby. She says she won't go away until she sees you." Hanby looked at Smucker, and Blghed. The secretary he had chosen this designation himself was a Email thin man with an active Adam's ap pie, who despised tact as something beneath him. Hanby had often set out for his offices Id Leonard 6treet with the Intention of letting Smuckei go, and of replacing him with a neat. Btnlllng, efiiclent girl; but Invariably some sixth sense Informed Smucker of his danger. Invariably he would Bpeak of his vast responsibilities, of bis large family, of his Invalid father, of the house he was buying on the Installment plan, and of the ravages v of Insects In his little garden. A Deat, smiling, and efficient girl would bave known that her employer was busy, and would have found out what the visitor's errand was. "What does she want?" Inquired Hanby. Smucker assumed his superior air "She wouldn't say. Otherwise I should have Informed you, Mr. Hanby." Han-by." "What do you think she wanted?" "1 6uspect she is desirous of selling sell-ing you a dog." Hanby brightened. "That's easy. Explain In well-chosen language that in another incarnation I was a priest of Bubastis. 1 cannot, lherefore, as a one-time worshiper of the Sacred Cat, buy dogs from strange ladies." Adolf Smucker sighed. His employer's employ-er's frivolity always saddened him He would have preferred to serve a sterner, more unbending, portlier, and Dlder man, a man who never made lokes or saw them. Smucker often wondered why it was Hilton Hanby had succeded so well. A swift glance showed Smucker that his employet was looking at the photographs of the splendid estate he was about to buy Mr. Smucker passed to the outer oflice with slow step. The lady who would not go was the sort of person whom he always surveyed with hos tile eyes. She wore too much Jewelry and was enwrapped lavishly in fur "If," said he coldly, "you wish to sell one or more of your dogs, Mr. Hanby says for me to say he's not In the market." The stranger pressed her three tiny beasts so closely to her that they yelped. "Not all his money could buy even one of them 1" she snapped. "1 must see him. Tell him I shall stay here all day until he comes through that door." "Madam, 1 suggest telephoning from a pay station." "My darlings will not enter a tele phone booth, and I dare not trust them to anyone else. Tell him 1 do not want to buy or sell. 1 have some thing to say of vital importance, and he will be wise to see me at once." Mr. Smucker, who had all the nas tier little curiosities about life which dwell so frequently with bis sort wondered If here ut last tie was to learn some hidden details of his em ployer's past Hanby was a handsome and generous man. Women liked him Perhaps ttiis singular creature had 8 daughter who had trusted too well. "Something about his past?" Mr Smucker suggested. "Something about my past," flamed the caller. Mr. Smucker turned on his heel and Te-entered the private office. "It Isn't the dogs," said he. "What she wants Is a private conversation about the past. 1 may be wrong, Mr Hanby I hope I am but I think she knows something about your past which may not b creditable to you ' "Thank you, Smucker I" said Han by. "1 can ulways trust you to take the kindly view. You are quite right My past was blacker than uiglu It 1 hnd my deserts, 1 should long ago ' have been electrocuted. Bring the lady In. I trust she Is beautiful!' Smucker went out, offended. As usual, Hanby bad laughed at huu Well, the day was not so fai distant when Adolf Smucker would have his turn I He wasted a lot of office time dreaming of what he would do whet he was in power. "Madam, I have persuaded the boss to see you," he said loftily. Then he Jumped back. "That black dog nearl bit met" "1 can rely on his Instincts." she said. "You stand convicted as one whom no woman should trust. Do uoi attempt to deny It, and don t move your throat In that Impudent man "I Suspect She Is Desirous of Selling You a Doa" beiug desecrated bj a large family Is intolerable 1" "Really, Mrs. Selenos" he began. "Miss," she said. "Above all else 1 despise and loathe men. Men have always oppressed me. How tbey have lieu and perjured themselves to keep me from the Gray house I But at last I am in a position to buy their silence. Whal did you give for the' place?" "That, nij deai lady," he said suavely, "is entirely my own affair.'' "1 expected you to lie," she said. "A man ot your type would." Miss Selenos took out her check book. "Well, what profit do you decide to make? I wish to buy the place from you." "It Is not for sale." "You dare to refuse to sell?" Her voice rose so that the dogs barked furiously. "After all my years of wailing, o) persecution, ol bitterness and exile, you dare to refuse?" "It Is not for sale. I ain sorry, but my heart Is set. on the place as a home. You have had plenty ot time. II has been empty for some years." "I am only now able to buy It. It you will uot sell, will you rent It?" "I am going to live there as soon as it is ready." "1 despise and loathe men," she cried, "and ot all men I Ion I he and despise you most I Of the Innutner able houses In this country you delib erately clt.xs-. this one because II will bun mel" She raised her right hand .o heaven. "Those who have tried to kill me lu the pasi have perished You and vout f.inilly and all that is yours I pul untlet a purse. You are goiDg to a house of tragedy, a house wherein walk gliosis of those foully murdered !" "I'm afraid that's the wrong tack." he said soothingly. "1 am not to be frightened away like that. You are ot fair to me. A house was for sale, and I bought it. Loathe and despise I uer : She swept past him Into his eui ployer's room. If be bad expected youtb or beauty Hanby was disappointed. It was a tall, gaunt old womao who faced bini lie Judged that some day, now long distant, she had been beautiful He could see that she was richly dressed and that the Jewels she wore were cosily. There was a look of tragedy In her smoldering dark eyes. "I'm afraid you were kept waiting.' Hanby began pleasantly. "1 have been kept waiting for thir ty years." she said. "At least you cannot blame me fot that." lie observed that ber eyes were fixed on tbe photographs of "lie bouse he had made arrangements to buy. "1 don't think you sent In your card." "My mime Is Selenos." sue said. "SelinaV" llanby asked. "SeH'tios. Selenos." she repeated "Il ou were a Californian. It would |