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Show 1 rJ "My Mistress Is Not at Home." ., jfjCIRClWSmNCE WW) Hapry Irving Greene w'fyxJ Author of" Yosonde of tix Vi klcmcss" 'fSM i llhiTro.1totis v Majjis (1. saver of stern. The remains of a natural grove were scattered throughout through-out it, and upon Its center the night shades lay heavily. As I passed an oak that leaned over the path I was conscious of a slight running move-nient move-nient at my back and ducked my head with an Involuntary quickness that Is the gift of a natural boxer. Then I whirled with my heel for a pivot. Close behind me through the murk I saw a big form lurch across the way I had Just left behind me. thrown completely from Its balance by a terrific ter-rific blow that had ken wasted In the empty air. In a flash I became a fighting fight-ing machine; my fists knotted and muscles hardened as with my guard raised I edged towards him, on the alert for either attack or defense. At the same Instant be regained his balance bal-ance and came towards me. "You puppy," growled the heavy voice of Mackay. Cold as ice, externally, but nevertheless never-theless with the fires of satisfaction burning fiercely within. I stepped backward and to one side, my loft hand darting towards him In rapid feints. Knowing the man's reputation us I did, I was not In the least surprised sur-prised at bis attempted thuggery, and I now determined to give him the worst beating I was capable of without with-out using more than my Asts or endangering en-dangering his life. Ills reputation was as an open book. When sober he lined his brains for the destruction of his enemies, but when drunk the beast within him arose raging, and many was the mnn who, crossing him in his cups, had been felled unconscious by his great flut. Instinctively disliking him to the very core of my being, reglng Inwardly at the cowardliness of his attnek, I stopped his approach by a straight left hand blow that cracked like the report of a pistol and sent his head rocking, lie was probably prob-ably as powerful a man as myself, but much slower, much older and In mnch poorer condition physically and mentally. Ills bear like rushes and swings I evaded without difficulty, sending his head backward with short, quick blows until his wine-ftlled mind w hirled and ho staggered as he tried to reach me. My time had come and deliberately I took full advantage of It. For til first time I lined my right hand, Bending it over his guard with the vlclousncss with which I would have struck at the head of a serpent. He spun In his tracks, threw up bis hands and came down like a falling wall. I stepped bnck, readjusted my coat and stood waiting. Perhaps thirty seconds later he stirred and climbed sole Injuries, which were confined to a pair of battered knuckles, I went to the nearest public telephone and called her up. 8he answered rather sleepily at first, her Tolee quickening a bit as I told her what had happened. hap-pened. Rut when I had finished I waited In vain for her answer. "Have you nothing to say?" I Inquired In-quired at length, rather coldJy perhaps. per-haps. Her voice came to my ears again, strained. It seemed to me, and somewhat expressionless. "I very much regret that the affair happened. Certainly you did quite right to protect yourself. Hut I am really unfit to talk any more tonight. You may come and see me tomorrow and tell me more about It, If you care to. I wish you a restrul sleep after your adventure. Good night." Taking everything together. I went home fairly content. She had reputed re-puted bis attempt to call upon her; had made no attempt to excuse him for his actions then or later In his attack at-tack upon me; and all In all It bad been a bad night for the enemy. In ty nature of things, It was but natural that she should be more or less perturbed over the two disagreeable disagree-able events of the night, and l could well appreciate that she might be reluctant re-luctant to talk of such matters over a public telephone, with all Its pos-nihilities pos-nihilities of unseen listeners. Hut I was confident that she would express herself with more warmth upon the subject when we were together on te morrow. CHAPTER XIV. Somewhat contrary to my expectations, expecta-tions, Mrs. Date had little to say con cerning the matter when I next saw her. She accepted my version of the episode practically without comment, and when I tried to draw from her some expression of sentiment on the subject, she threw the whole matter bodily out of our conversation with the request that we talk about something some-thing less unpleasant. In a measure this disappointed me for the reason that I felt that I was entirely in the right and that she, therefore, should have been rather more outspoken In her approval of my actions. Still, I believed be-lieved that I understood her thoughts. Mackay was her business agent; was in a position to be of great service to her, and for that reason hhe did not care to antagonize him by coming out in open partisanship over our disagreements. disa-greements. I had given him a band-some band-some whipping and escaped unhuit myself, nnil so far as I was concerned, therefore, there had been no damage transformation I could not determine. Almost breathlessly I watched the maid as she swung the door slightly and stood blocking the opening with her lithe form. From without rumbled rum-bled the heavy tone of a man unsteady un-steady and thick from drink. "Good evening, Janet. I would like to see Mrs. Dace." The girl's answar was softly apologetic. "My mistress la not at home." The reply which followed was preceded by a laugh. "You know better, Janet. Tell her I w ish to see ber. Tell her, also, that It Is a matter of importance." "Hut I have said that she Is not at home. Hut of course she w ill be here In the morning and you can then communicate with her. I have no doubt she will be pleased to hear from you." In the Instant of heavy hanging silence si-lence which followed I shot a glance at Mrs. Dace. She had leaned slightly slight-ly forward, her hands clenched and her ears strained in the direction of the door. Then the notes of the man arose again, a sullen growl sounding through them. "Did she order you tell me this nonsense non-sense or are you acting upon your own responsibility?" The voice of the yellow girl, theretofore respect ful, took on a cold Insolence. "That is a matter for you to form your own opinion about. At least I am willing to accept any responsibility for what I may tell you. You may ask her concerning it when you see her again." Tlalnly and distinctly Mackay swore, and I saw the door yield slightly slight-ly to the pressure of a heavy hand from without. In the twinkling of an eye the maid's slender figure became that of an enraged panthress, and her tones rang out with positive vtelous-ncHs. vtelous-ncHs. "If you try to force your way In here against me I will have you thrown head and heels into the street by the employees. Helease that door Instantly." ' lie swore again, the pressure ceased and I heard his heavy step as It retreated re-treated down the hall. In a trice the maid had closed the door behind him and atood before us with a hot flush upon her face and her eyes alight. Mrs. Pace, drew a long breath and her form and features softenM. Once more she became the low-spoken, perfectly per-fectly self controlled woman of the minute before "You did very well, Janet. I think that Is all for the present. pres-ent. You may retire now." Nolielens-ly Nolielens-ly the gill slipped, pant us and disappeared disap-peared behind the portiere. I turned to her nilf tress. "What does this mean, Matle?" I asked quiet-ly, quiet-ly, but with the sickening sensation that I had experienced once before, making my knees weak and my throat dry. She faced me wllh nn almost Imperceptible lifting of her eyebrows ami shoulders. "So far as I know It means nothing except that Mr. Mackay has been drinking and wished to see me for some reason of which I am as Ignorant Ignor-ant as you arc." "Hut at this hour of the night! It seems strange that even a man like him should have the presumption to call. I think under the circumstances I have a right to Inquire. Does he sometimes do such things?" "He never has before. He had no right to do so now. If It la a matter of Important business he should have notified me of his coming at least a few moments In advance." "But what business eoulJ he possibly pos-sibly wish to confer with you about at ouch a time of night that could not bo transacted over the telephone?" I pursued unhappily. She waved her hand. "I am sure that I am as Ignorant and disturbed over the affair as you can possibly be. When I see him again I shall demand an explanation. Then I will be able to tell you." "And thoe ring they sounded almost al-most like a signal one short and two long ones." "It Is one of his peculiarities. I think ho so announces himself everywhere." every-where." She came close beside me. dropping her hand upon my shoulder. "You told me once that you would never mistrust me again. You are doing do-ing so now. I cannot wholly control the actions of others, and there are reasons why I do not with to quarrel with Mr. Mackay unless I am drlvi n to It, Your jealousy may ruin our prospects and make us bad friends after all. I do not feel flattered by It." J got upon my feet and slipped my arm about her. "You must forgive me once more, dearest. While I admit ad-mit that my love Is a Jealous one, yet where my heart Is my faith also reposes. re-poses. I trust you impllclty and will ask you notMng further. I was very touch surprised, that Is all." She smiled upon me with a sweetness sweet-ness that was Incomparable, and for an Instant ber palms held my cheeks. "You had better go now, Tom. It really real-ly is late and I am Just plain, physically physic-ally tired. You may kiss me goodnight good-night If you wish Just once." She turned her cheek to me and my Hps paid reverential tribute to It. She accompanied me to the door, her hands locked above my elbow, blew me a farewell from finger tips that touched her lips and disappeared behind be-hind the oaken panel. Sobered of spirit by the occurrence of a few minutes before. nd dekplte myself aouiewhnt depressed by thougl ts which. notwlihstanjing the fact that I would not permit thrm to crowd themselves Into mr brain, neverthele h"red upon the hot-iron of it. I darted homeward on a brlk t!k aft-i aft-i er having ordered the car. now hern, to one of the garages within the building build-ing A vacant lot with a path cutting i jlagor.aliy acroas it spread itself be- fore nie, and In accordance with my 1 usual custom I took this short cut as days. I was snxlom to meet him. a I was wondering considerably what he was up to, and was desirous of questioning him as to progress. Hruce I had hunted up on one occasion after my Interview with the detective, and had found him In seemingly far better bet-ter spirits than when I had last seeo him upon the day arter the burg'ary. He did not seem to hold It against ma that I had charged him with having had the key, telling me be bad no doubt but that I was honestly mlsta-ken. mlsta-ken. Hut when I made a slight allusion al-lusion to his operations on the board he shut up tight as a clam, which of course was unusual for Bruce. Therefore There-fore I did not feel warranted In pursuing pur-suing the matter further. He was on-erating: on-erating: openly now and I thought us recklessly as ever, but whether his deals were being mnde on his own account ac-count or on behalf of some client I had no Information beside what the detective had given me, Clare while equally uncommunicative v about his business affairs, still remained defiantly defi-antly loyal to him. "I don't believe there Is a crooked hair in Hrure's head; won't llHten to anything that anybody may say against him, and have my own opinion opin-ion of those who do," she asserted strenuously. I sincerely admired her fealty and told her so as I emphatically emphatical-ly Indorsed her views. Still I could not help secretly acknowledging that there were very ugly 'ooklng features about the case that I would have considered con-sidered him wiser bed hs explained. Hut ho seemed rather inclined to avoid me since the affair of the safe, and as It was his business after all, and as I did not care to be snubbed, I went my way and allowed blm to go his without disturbance. A few evenings later I happened to be standing In front of one of the leading hotels. I bad nothing in mind that I cored to do. and was Idly watching watch-ing the pnssersby when some one gave me a poke In the back and I turned to find IfDuc grinning at me. We shook hands and sauntered off together as I plied hlra for tb latest Information. He was mystically evasive. eva-sive. "Talk about hustling." he said, with a short laugh. "A fly on a banquet ban-quet table Is Idle beside the way I have been buzzing around. If there bus been any busier man In town I would like to stand somewhere und behind something and watch him go by. He'd whiz like n bullet. I have run down every possible clue that 1 could gel hold of and tried out every reasonable theory that I could conjure up. and at last know pretty m-ur where to put my tinners next. Anyway, Any-way, I know who stole the money." I stopped short, seizing blm by the arm. "Who?" I demanded. He pulled me along with bim, gently shaking his head. "Can't tell you Just y It Is always al-ways bad Judgment to let a cat out of a bag until the right time comes. Hut I know who he Is and I will tell you soon enough." Hurtling with impatience im-patience to know whom he referred to, but restrained from further questioning ques-tioning by the manner of his refusal to enlighten me, we continued our way for some distance without further fur-ther conversation. In a certain sense, his statement was a shock to me, and I could not rid myself of a haunting Impression that when he made his disclosures there would be disagreeable disagree-able facts revealed. Yet my curiosity could hardly have been at a higher point. "Are you positive?" I ventured after a while. It there was a.r doubt Jn his mind aa to the Identity of the criminal bis voice did not betray It. "As absolutely sure In my own mind as though I had been hidden In the room and seen him. Hut you know proving these matters to the satisfaction satisfac-tion of other people Is quite another proposition, and It is the proof that will convince those who do not wish to be convinced that I am after now." He turned to me with a slow scrutiny of my face. "Hut I am going to get that proof tonight, and I want you to help me." I pondered his proposition over briefly. I could see no objection to acting upon his suggestion, and It tuight give me an Inkling or whom he had In his mind. Therefore after a short reflection I agreed. "Very well, I will give you any assistance that 1 can. Where are you going and what do you want me to do?" He pulled out his watch. "It is nine o'clock now and Is a dark as It ts going to be tonight. Wo can take a stroll around and inspect the place I want to visit. If the coast la clear we will go ahead; If not we can watt until It Is." He uttered a little chuckle. "For your information. I will say that I am going to commit a burglary on my own hook." I must have hesitated a little In my pace, for he laughed, and taking me by the arm led me, half resisting, with him. (TO BE CONTJ.NTED Naming tht Gerrymander. The gerrymander was christened In 1813. although It must have been in operation long before that. A stanch old Federalist. Cor Klbrldge Gerry, controlled through his legislature the redisricting of Massachusetts under the census of 1810. In the office of Henjamtn Rusetl. aa ardent Republican editor, hung a map of the state as newly subdivided by Gerry and his men Gilbert Stuart ready pencil whimsically added to the outlines of a grotesque district the wtrgs and tail or a dragon "Ha:" he said whfn he n.td flr I'hed. "How's that for a s!ar.ian derr The Republican Ruil i;--nw1eli Tetter rsll It a Ce-rymner " ArJ American politicians he taken he advice The Independent: "If I Don't Get You for This, You Will Be the First One That Got Away From Me." W 8YNOPSI3. Aimer HillMuy, a miserly millionaire. Is fmill'l tSil.'ii-l, hnuml Htnl I tfen - i Ill Ma p-ni. 1 1 in nafe n1.l hii.I hm tn In The threwl nf live stury In lukrn up t.v din nephew Tmn. Living in tin- nw horn-" ar, other relatives; n-i kl Iti-urn 1 1 iIII.Im-hii.I pr-ltv Clare Wlnion. Hi m e, wtm in a I.diiiI broker, lias li-en trying to rl lie nit ir, pin thrmit-h il,-iil n,l nvr Mnmcir from fiiirtlu iMl ruin lie turn Pplll t his miserly unrip an! to others fur the loan hut lias been refuseil Tmn -nlM fur Will'uin iIHio. nn ehl time frleml innn-i-inl lili a nVteetlve uiietiey. In r,-linina Ihe si.iry Tom reverls lu ,gaif ai-iiiiuinlHtieej wllh Mrs. I . a weuUtiV i' r Mow, whose huslm-n agent is Ulrhnnl Maekay. liiwuller ami pollth'ul Utmi. Tom la jeiilous of Mackay ami Is oWtily In l.no with Mrs. Ir. Brine HaMLluy WMrna him to shun her a an Hilvenl ur,-. Tom fs Mrs. lima anil Maekav to-th-rr Me Hftfrwarris meets the woman nt a hurst- raee. mid. happening tn mention that Mrurfi hail a tip on tits winner, ehe lilies him t'i) to plHi-e on the rue. The tip goes wrong anil she losi-a lu-r money. I.lrr Tom Invests In aloeks. He makes oine money, ami returns the lost ') to Mrs ti e. It Is nt this juncture ttint th theft of the u"i from ohl "r llalil-Hy llalil-Hy oci-tiia. lui! meets dure anil Uruee. He learns that the key which Clare had to the liouae la missing-. Mc-kay'a Mc-kay'a nVxIlnaa with Mrs. laca make Tom more tenlous. The detective lnlinuit"S a siisplelon against Hrur IIhIIMhv hs the thief. This liare Wlnton Imllvnantly re-puillMtea. re-puillMtea. Mrs. Iaea aceepta Turn aa har fiance. CHAPTER XIII (Continued.) "Hut nevertheless I am going to do 1t Soul and body I want you to prevail, pre-vail, and your sacrifices to the common com-mon cause shall be mine. There will tie enough wine left for us when we do not hnve to think of a tomorrow. Come. I't us go now." I looked around and then glanced al my watch. It was It o'clock and a steady stream of humanity was flowing towards the exit, as we wedged ourselves Into It. Once outside the enclosure I started the motor and taking my place asHlted her to her seat, standing erect for a moment thereafter there-after as I allowed my eyes to wander over the outpouring stream. Through the midst of it I fcaw a big man with a coarse face and flowing mustaches plowing hln way, bis small evilly set eyes riveted upon me wllh ominous fixity. It was Richard Mackay. and the malevolent Jealousy of his expression filled me with an unholy Joy of triumph. I laughed point blank In his face as I seated myself beside my fiancee and tucked the robe close about her wllh lingering and ostentatious familiarity tiefore throwing forward the lever. A idelong glance stolen at her told me that she had not noticed him in the press, and with no rererence to his having been present I sent the car bumming homeward. She asked me If I oared to come within for a few moments and together to-gether we were lifted to her floor. In her reception parlor I seated myself close beside her, gathering her hands In mine. The first intoxication of success had passed and a great, quiet Joy had settled upon me, soothing and reposeful. Never had I been filled wUh better Impulses than In this hour. In my victory the better side Of my nature rame uppermost In my gratitude to the Infinite. Firmly 1 resolved that my life In the future should be one of which no man might be ashamed, and for what I had done la the past that was unworthy I silently si-lently avowed amends. For the sake ef the woman by my side 1 should tead a life that our sons would be proud to emulate. I w:ld command ier respect tn all things. SpeculatUm I did not consider a moral offense. !t was but a battle of money and wits, and to th" victors of the earth the spoils legitimately belong. I told her the general trend of my thoughts with much earnestness and she listened wlthtnit comment, her face slightly averted and her hands resting contentedly In mine. I kissed her eyes and forehead and she sighed softly as her bosom rose. Just what the slsh meant I did not know and did not aBk, but believed It was the responsive chords of her nature sounding sound-ing to my touch. She had told nie thut she cared more for me than for any other man, and that under conditions condi-tions which I appreciated were not unreasonable, she would rather live within my arms than those of any other person. Neither had she made my financial success an unqualified condition of our marriage, but had merely pointed out the great desirability desira-bility of It as an added stimulus to my endeavors. That the principal reason she had advanced as to why tihe wished me to possess wealth was that I might be able to be more often at her side thrilled me with Joy whenever It recurred to me. Had she not really loved me her dealres In this respert must have been Just the reverse. The buzrlng of the door bell aroused us from our close communion with a mutual start. It was an unusual summons, sum-mons, one sharp pressure upon the button closely followed by two more of some seconds duration each. At the flrt alarm her hands involun I aril y tightened In mine, and as the longer notes hummed their Insistence I saw the color rimh from ber cheeks In a scurrying tide. Her form straightened and grew tensn, and arising she gild id with swift tiolscleitrineHs serous the room and touched the buttom thut summoned tier maid. As though she hsd been waiting In the doorway Janet slipped into the room. Her mls-trens mls-trens addressed ber swiftly. "Janet, say that I am not at home. I'nder no circumstance permit him to enter. If he says that It is Important, tell him that he may call me up in the morning." Heyond all question greatly agitated she returned to near where I sat. placing herself before the piano In the attitude of one about to play. Her face was unnaturally un-naturally bloodless and a thin. I air-like air-like line about the corners of her mouth aeeiiud to be constricting her lips. Altogether the change tn her appearance was not to my liking, and the quick stealth of her movemmts caused a most uncomfortable sensation to run through me; a mlngltd feeling of guilt and dnggednesi as thoiurh I bad been surprised In a forbKden bower by Its rightful lord. A totally different type from the soft and perfectly per-fectly poised creature of the moment before was revealed to me in tliose fleeting seconds of quick action and awUt aentenees. and my breath c me faster before the contrast. In the few steps that had been require I to take her across the room and lack, her face had become that of an o Or, harder woman. The sensitive bemty of ber mouth bad been lost it its compression ; her cheeks were like polished marble; the soft luste of ber eyes had turned into the gl'ntlr.g brilliancy of gerfis. Whether It was fear or anger or a blending of the two that had wrought this oiagtc to his feet after several unsuccessful efforts and stood rocking In his tracks as he wiped the blood from his face and glared at me. "If I don't get you for this you will be the first one that ever got away from me," he said, wickedly. For the second time that night I laughed In his face. "At any time and place that suits you. Mackay. There ts a beauty doctor doc-tor a few blocks down the street open day and night, I believe. I wish you a pleasant evening with the dvll for your partner." He picked up his bat, coughed once In his peculiar way and disappeared without reply In the direction or the lighted street. Although Al-though I knew that I had made an unforgiving foe. against whom It had been charged and almost proven had more than once hired professional thugs to half kill his enemies; know Ing also that there a no reason why he might not do the same in my ease. I was still more tl.ao half glad that the affair had hsp"eneJ. At any rate, ir he had any stct 'U vond that of a busineps agent wl the woman who had promised to be - wir. this Incident would t'eve'op t 'act Kven though be w ber float gunr.!in he would be seriously 'rTAM-i should he atten.pt to u Mn-self In what he bad done th ; and certaicly if she cared U it a'.l she would express her sal !n to ' me over the outcome. N -itg my done. I accepted this as the natural solution of her desire to refrain from further comment upon the matter. From my own standpoint I considered rcyself invulnerable to bim. except In the case of treacherous physical attack, at-tack, and that I could guard against by watchfulness. Figuratively speaking. speak-ing. I snapped my fingers In his face. Of t'ncle Abner, still mumbling and grumbling like a bear stung upon the nose by a bee. I saw as little aa I conveniently could. Wben I was at home I kept myself pretty close within my own quarters, and he seldom sel-dom disturbed me beyond the occasional occa-sional opening of the door to glare at me for a moment and then close It with a bang. In fact, be seemed to more and more consider me as reapon-slble reapon-slble for his loss by reason of my not having been present upon the night of the assault. The few attemi ts I made to reestablish myself even par-tlslly par-tlslly In his favor met with ijch lit tie success that I gave them up. leaving leav-ing matters to take their natural course. The securities ttiaf he hsd previously kept In the safe he had now depiwlted In the bank, eveu going to the Client of rep'sing his rilij watch among them and inning a d.,1 lar tiinep'ecw for his dally use. The experience of the nlgl.t of the crime had seetuej to make an arrant cow ard of htm t had not seen l)xc for several |
