THE MAN OF A HUNDRED MASKS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 208, 19 August 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MAN OF A HUNDRED MASKS.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

By

W.A. MACKENZIE,

Author of “ The Bite of the Leech,” “ His Majesty’s Peacock,” “ The Drexel Dream,” " In the House of the Eye,” “ The Glittering Road,” &c., &c. COPYRIGHT.

CHAPTER Sfll.-MR. ARTHUR. SACHEV'ERELL HAS A VISITOR.

There was ;»;i agreeable clatter of tea- things, and slim vrhito-aprone<! fedy a‘.t?ndants flitted hither at>! thither with heavily-laden trays. Indigestion in ni.inv shapes and under many reposed on delicate china plates; indigestion, at a shilling a pot. bubbled and steamed; but daring youth laughed at the phantom, and increased the receipts of the Tilxdan Tearooms, the last word in the season s commercial ventures.-

Margaret Armour pushed away her tea-cup. and looked across the table into L’leian Falconer's eyes. !{<■ n;is good to look upon —tall, fair, i man who should have been a soldier, surely. He would have been, inde-s], had ho not !»een plucked twice running, bis gifts being tw» origin d for the routin’* work of the junior service. As she looked at him. tears welled into her eyes. She loved him. and she was going to cause him pain. She would spare him the least small pang, and she was alout to stab him *.o the heart stab th * man she loved more than he: own life. Rut belief that she was right in what she was about to do sent the tears back to her heart, the-o t<- fr-r-r- :v-e the constriction that held it sts in a vice. . ■'Lucian!" she said. “Hell. Peggy?” lie answered, smiling into her eyes. “Ten know that I love you?”

“There’s a question to ask .ne in a public place! How on earth can I answer veil hero? Of course •.•oil love me. and, of coiirs-*. I know that yon fovo -nc You might as well ask me if I km-w that the sun is shining outside. silly gisH” "I’m not siilv. I'm verv serious ” "I see you are. Are those tear, m tout eyes? What on earth is the matter?’’ '’l an: jome (,» hurt yon.”

"Von c mhbi't if you tried.” “I’m not trying, Lucian, but nil the '.wo I must frv. It’s verv hard. I had jt all uh’iuied out what I w.-s going to -av- but sini'-iiow. with yon there in ’’rent of mo, f can’t fiu I the words in which to say :t.” "Don’t find the words, and don’t s.iy it. then.” Ho looked a* his watch. He kne.v well «»n«»ngh by her face that she was in d'-adlvs. oarn- st. and he understood quite well the significance she was attaching to the word ’'good-bye’’; Lot ho simply would not help her. lie wmll ignore iier intention.

"A ou.irter past four.” he Liu.Led. "is a b’l early. I 1 o’sed to Lav • you with in-'* till six : but if you have another appointment—- " Ob. von Icmw what I mean, Lncmn — good-bye for ever!”

■Upon mv word. Peg. I believe.you could piny tr.i ody ’not as well as -m can enmedv. That ‘for ever’ had the true rinr!” “Lilciin. Lu<>:in! don’t make it hard- r r <»r me. Don’t yon see —oh. von mil-*, sin that I am in deadly earnest '*

Thor permitted smokinp ,in the Tibetm t 'a-rooms. Liician ioek nnt his ci -n'-ctio-caso. showed it apolo'etically to M.ir'X'rct. received her no,’ of permission, and ht up. 'Yes,” he .said ' T see yon are in dcadlv earnest. which is a state- one should not bo in. when one is on'y a very Ikf’o over twenty, and one is in love. I’n’ not pol-iim fnn, any more than I was disrespectful to your ear;; estness when T ashed to bo allowed to smoko. b’or proof let me say that I know all von want to say to me. Xo tip —hear me out! You are coins to toll mo that. :»rt« th« perfect nnderrtandtnw arrived at between ns. you mean to <?o hark on ynnr word; yen want your freedom, or y.m want io Enyn i;m mine. Well. 1 don’t want mine: I couldn’t thank yon one little 1-lt for it: it would be a nnisanie to mo ij | had it. Therefore-• no. no. von prnmiS’-rl to hear me out. Remomler that wo have talk'd over all this before. You told mo that your father was a thief; yon hinted even that r<”ir father ;< not dead: von s.-iid that until your father had cleared In’s name nr pursed I.is offence, yen could not and would n-.t m.irrv me. What did I i<>ply? I s.-iid that it did not matter if yonr father wore a murderer.” A spism of pain shot into M ,r---"arci’s eyes. ~f her stro::’ effort nt self-c nitr-01.

"And I now.” went on l.ncrin. "that jt does not matter if your father is murderer.”

TTo spoke wi;h siw-h meaning that Maroard enuid nut but see that her lover know rioro thin she had suspect s’ She n little ~.l sp nn| j tprm-d -v u- h r head.

r<-st,” !)<■ c >nti>nnxl. ' T a>n cores'*' that the man who calls himself LanoeJo* Aimnar i-. ,nu< father lam certain, i-m. tint it Ms he who did poor St.-lla to death.'* "Hush’ H.ish?” "You k*ton* von think the same. . et*jty. Olt! whv can't von fie reasonable .anrl ennfi-'l*' yopr fears .and worries to ire? Don’t you «•*,-. that T am only va»ttn<? to- mm n <>rd from yon to trv and boh yon? Can’t »•„„ nnderst:.nd that I love yni. -.nd ihnt I nant tn Share your t .•'■!,■ < - y,., ireatlm- lover, dear and f m „>>hwatiirn/ for (O'! >O >; V o »i... ~ ~,.,t to show V<i that |’m not.” , ''i. 3 ’ do yon want me to sir T.nemn® , d” tn nrot -t VOU tn shield von freq- v ., tlr ~v , , ideas of bonm l; -. < n f rv j ‘ ' sane.’* ‘•Am T rmt y . ( with a »ro:>rv “I am not. sm -d >nf ; t . 3 I.UCinn, n >i. My taU-r ndvnnL, . th" nnmhir dm j,..,.,, Torriel >o ••.>!>• f.,t1.,..are opttm-- id- t(>> -<■><,. „f th>’nki n «. • bent nd;.,,. y.-f , r ■ p'. near, rm bare v-nr wn |;f„ tA j”;;’ Aon- tail, . - admit that he \ ;1 H that r;n t! nk ho m- f„f him .n.f „f von- ht • He ha- the tmnm or Armour. Tale t. ... c „., ( (1 , m* rncomm.'nd Falconer ; >s j n „ ,* A t a i.ao MiUtitHtv T .halt „ Tl . I“et lrt „ s t „ vn ~. 4 .. k ;„. r ;f H ftithor w ,e a ;>.„f %J , <? u n r „„. <leror 11 v#4f uHI. thnf , hlfKnn f, tr rp ‘’ardimr y,mr-4f ns a thief, a pos*ulda assays i>> ’ ’

I "Until ho does the right thing ” ! ‘Tntil ho confesses, you mean?” i "Yis. and makes restitution.” ! “Don’t count on him doing anyi thing of the kind. My own idea is that vour father is mad —mad as a March hare, and that all lie has done Las Lein under ihe empire of some rrnnii.’’ “Da yon really think so?” Margaret clutched nt tin* feeble straw. ‘ I do most assuredly. And that being so —come, now Peggy dear. let us : get marriml. Be my wife and let me ! protect you in the future. If your } tat In-;- molests you now I have no legal t right to come to yettr aid. As your Jmshand ] will bo there for him to Ideal with.”

Somehow the strong resolution with ’vhieh Margaret had entered the Td.. ■tan ten-rooms was fast melting away, like froz m '■now under the ardour cf the spring sun. Tears filled her orcs. She Lowed her head over her plate to bide Imr weakness. Lucian devoured her with his eyes. He was not mo ’cly awaiting Lor reply, he was pcmrrm into her. as if ho were the hypnotist. his will that she would answer “Yes.”

Neifher of them noted that a gont’r*r.in cn»,so and seated himself nt the tinv fable next tli'-m. Thev sat in silen •'* lr throe ar four minutes. Suddenly a strange voice broke in upon their prc-nccupntion. It was tlioi'- noiekkoiir who «nrk<>.

"P.ird' n mo for intruding on your fctc-n-f: t-.’’ Io s u’d "and permit mo to if T Lav>* not the pleasure of addressing Miss Margaret Armour?” Margaret looked at him wondoriiigly. saw something in his face that seemed to startle her. for she grew very white; and then turned appealingly to Lucian. <‘s.” < a id Lucian. "this is Miss Margaret Armour.”

"Th' n.” went on the stranger, 'will yon p-rinit. me to introduce myself? I

'.ivo just been to the Thespis Theatre to inquire for ymi \ voting lady who entered the stage-deor at +ho' same film ns T told me she had soon you coming in here. I hi-.ve hastened here ;.t nnr-.i.”

lie pau.-cd for a moment, and Lucian Lroke in.

Ami ,<p >ke of introducing your-

'I he stranger smiled. ”1 am ono of Dickens’s characters,” h > said ’ I am the rich uncle from Australia whi> turns up unexpectedly. I am. Lancelot Armour, your father’s brother.”

Had :> bombshell suddenly fallen into tls * niietau Tea-rooms, scattering multi-i'tilouri’d indigestion to the four winds nnd flooding the place with a deluge of tea. the consternation thatseized Margaret and Lucian could not have been greater. i *i * stranger, <>r as wf- may now call him. Lancelot Armour, affected not to see their snrpri-c. He went on in his pl.-.sant I’l-assuiing voice:

"Lui may have heard of pin. or you nu y not J was a l>it wild in mv .’.ontb and 1 left my country, certainly tor niy own good, and perhaps for mv I’ouitiry’s :il-.i. Under these cirruinstaii -os tour fatli<*r may never have rpoken of me : being a stern bu>iiie-s man. h.* took tint course. I should .magine. s»r> much the Is-tter — I can enino to you with a clean sheet, ami tell vmi that as soon as I had heard, in tuy far-off homo i n the Dominions beyond ihe Seas, as the please goes now, <>i your father’s death an of vour noble aetmn in giving up all von possoised to )jj s i-reditors. I packed my carpct-ha g eamo home.”

1 hort* was a ring of sincerity in his -.-ome tli.il left no doubt in I.urinn J,’al-om-i'- mind that this was tin* real R’.'inm Pure. But he had a duty to perform towards Margaret.

"Fo”give me fo- interrupting you,” b'» said, “but I hope yon have come t<i England furnished ' with adequate proof., of your identity.”

“B foio I answer, may I know who Vi"'lf HTO'’”

“My name is Falconer Miss Armour i-' to honour me by becoming mv

'■[ti.leed. Mell, ’ and the vagabot-.d uncle Ja.igheiL ’m that ca.-e I may tell von timt 1 have proofs which are more than adequate. lint whv do yon ask lor thorn? In England wo are not obliged to <(.> as ’.ho poor h-'iiighted Cuiii inootnls h ive to go about with tho-r ttdl description in their pockets. \Ai’v do von ask?’iieenuse th’-re happens to Im another Lane lot Armour m the livid.” ■‘What!”

“Exactly whai T spy.” “It’s ininossible ” “Ask Miss Armo-tr.” Margaret nodded her head affirmr.t--n-Tv.

‘•Hunt* Look here. will the two of yon come down to Whitehall with me non? The Agent-General for •Quecii •Jami's word should he good enough for you, slionldn’t it?”

“Surely ?” "Ami then T shall go on to Stotland Ya d and- ” “Don’t trouble.” bvtan Lucian. ‘Ti u’.l.-i trouble! It will he a rd.-a<:i,c to run down this fellow who has borrowed my name.’* <> ilv th<- half of jt Look hero. ! -t’s get lo the Ageiit-Gcneral's off -i- ar oi:<-... If h> assures us that >-011 are really Lancelot Arniote. and Margaret's uncle, then wo shall tell vm all about the other Lancelot. When ven have heard all. f don’t think you -•’I to g> m-ir S-otland lard.” "(’ w-. then.’’

'’l d- n’t think I went to . owe.” s->'d \!argarm. 1 ,• 4 :■ tri*l-> unset I.V V. h-.r h.m Imom-ia-d I’d like to go l-.-m ■ for .> nt i I.- ai d re t. If . Id< cenil-m-m is rcaliv mv uncle. Lucian, him ronin’ t . 'Honor to-ni-dit after th-- th,. ’’

On <hat F.-dc-nor -,nv Ik-- into a 1.-tn -ini -he l,. l( l net ■’•oho a hin’dr-’d ya d v '-n 1..- ms'-ed iu> I he ti->n-'!o>>- i-> the rd -nd d i r •'•* • a I ■ he cabbv fo ''*• 7’>. .J r nv i Str •>* Ar- : v-’ i) n..., iec-’ii.-d fo- M~ 1.-rc -I>, Are.-.tlr T1,.-> I Oller ,-f th s Sol.--« R-vir line F-'ahli-hn'-'-nt in-f-rir, d her fl at Mr Armno” was nnf V. S ’ n-V- V : Mr h.,,1 Im 1 Ua.’ no .antbei'tv to d’vidsr'. A ei-y tiossibb- t'"-' vepno | . l v iviebf. h r Mr. trirnnrh niece. bn< it ’,- rts more than his- nlaeo was worth — still as t'o ■ •nun? Hdv -, V a-. : so wonerewt—lm bad lost a half-sovereign that wry morning

(did not mention it was on a horse), and tnifc’ was like Providence—he would risk ins place and tell her that Air. Armour had gone down to the Temple to consult his lawyer. The lawyer's name? Yes, ho could tel! her that: more, he could even give her the ad-dr.-ss; it- was Mr Arthur Sacheverei, 1, Elm Court. Margaret considered her half-sover-eign wet! spent. Noir, when she tapped at the door of Mr. Arthur Sacheverel’s chambers, their occupant was expecting a visitor, a man. In response to the decided knock, Mr. Saehewrel came and opened the door. XX lien he saw who his vi•■•itor really was. his jaw di opped, he stared with round eves and do what he would ho could not prevent himself from erring cut, “Margaret!” CHARTER XVIH.--MR. ARTHUR SMHEVEREL HAS SEVERAL VISITORS.

John Joseph Armou*- loved •hia daugnter very dearly: but at the moment when site appeared before him at Vo. 1, Elin Court. he could have curs’d her very heartily, for she was interfering with a carefully elaborated plan. Th'? visitor whom he was awaiting was <',*aetnno Zucciii. and the carefnllyelaborated plan was to apply to him. Thar it would be satisfactory to that gentleman, after all, that did not con eern John Joseph Armour. It was a question of a knife, and a Saratoga trunk, amt a Carter Paterson’s man who would call sba-p at six. Zucciii was worrying the man of many disguises, and che cutting of a Gordian knot is so much simpler than the unravelling cf it. And now here was Margaret come to interfere. More, ho had betrayed himself by his erv c.f surprise. ITo .strove to recover his ground The moment lie bad c i d "Margamt!” ho s-iw bis mistake, nnd he immediately add’d “Armour,” and then ’’■Misw Margaret Armour.” The daughter looked her father straight, in the eyes. "You know mo. sir?” sdm said. "Everybody in London does,” said he. stammeringly. "I wi.-di to speak to you.” she went on. ’‘X’on ar.- Mr. Sacheverei. of course'” There was meaning in the ‘of course.” '■'That is my name. XVill yon coin-.* in o I should like to apologise fo’’ mv indcnoss of a gioment ago. A lady visjinr in the Tempi? is the rarest of things. I—- ” SJio throw h'Tself into a chair and e.arf. a r.wift glance round the room. “You krow Mr Lani'olot Armour, niv uncle?” she interrupted. “ T am Lis m-n n f business.” ‘•Vei have known him for a low tim-.o”

“Fur ? yc-rv long time—before ho wo- t to .'tr t'oLa.” IT'* w-s beginning tn recover h 1 '’ nofrnid. and b'-linvn that Vari'”’* 1 had not. n ted hi« disguis**, p,nt , kn..'.- h’. 1”° voice : r> i> ,r "i in..”' change his skin. Isis hair, oven tlio very shape of his fa' - e, but the voice romrins. True, h* may alter it slightly, and he may )>e able to keep vp the change for many minutes, but at th" critic.’il moment tin- original timbre sound-; through the artificial intonations and roflortiors. nnd the true man stands '-ovcalod. Outwardly, Atehw S-''hover. ■! w: t . as unlike what l|.ofather had been as a .statesman is unlike a scavenger; it was the “Margaret” that had betrayed him. "I have been to bis boarding-hous • in Jermyn Stieet. J’J.e butler told w I should find him here. It would swm that he has left. I u ill, therefore, give yon a me.ssagc for him a message which I would ask vmi to transmit t<> Lim as soon as possible.” ”1 shall lie verv ploasisl to cha'g.’ myself with your c immands.” “Tell him. then, lint he had better go back to Qneen-lniid as quickly aever ho can, to Queensland or wherever *t. is ho came from, for if be does not, ho runs great risks of being arrested.”

"Arrested! Gocd Imavons! Mi>; Armour, von must bo joking! Whatever has my friend done that he should eomo into the clutches of tho law?” "He knows that best hiinself.” 'I eannot believe it.” ’ “Till him. ti o. (lint there is another Lancelot Armour in tho field.” “AV'nat?” "Tlat another man, calling himself Lancelot Armour has arrived in London from Quconsland. and is at this moment nt tho .' gont-Gonoral’s office in Whitehall, confirming his identity.”

“Tmp''ssil>lo “And that this row Lancelot Armour means in take acH m against the other, who calls- himself me uncle.” “This must bi some groat hoax!” The calm way in which this man took her warnings irritated Margaret. That her father should treat her so was the last of insults. Her heart, which had soft; tied to sccli an extent, as to allow her to come and give him direct warning, began to harden again, began to rebel. She rose to her feet, and she drew herself up. Her ’ather remained sitting. "You need not attempt to deny it - you are my fatli- r. Ymi have passed yourself <ff as l.nime’ol Armour; you call yottrseif. abn Sacheverel —why, 1 know not, nor do f -rant, to know. You arm thief. y<’H ••ho a murderer.and ymi cr itiuii ■ to *’v -. I loved yon --T Leber >' 1 love yen still: blood w thicker than water T would go on loving you if von urre co take the honest course >1 making ’-estitution of all yon have stilon. <f confessing to Stella Gordon’s murder, and of executing justice on vou"self. Ihe t sounds quixotic? I n-e by the curl on your lips that you think so Mell perhaps it is quixotic But I was brought up to look ui>. n von as all that was good ami great. I was taught to reverence you. 1 loved you b a-arne you wore good and k : nd to mo. For years I lived with that pir-tur.' . f all virtues. Then came the awakening -my father was a criminal. “Think, if you can. what that means to a young girl ; to have her ideal shattered, t 1 Lav* a’’ her pa-t sip’pt from ho", to fin-1 that tin* .adored father was only a sham and c villain. “Mv door voung Indy, pardon me for interrupting ven: hut really. I do not -O' wh- t <ll ties has got to do with me. Aft- i-.'ini ' i- fiae’wvorel. 1 .-”>1 a solicit -r. •• nd I am a bachelor. M'hy vov <dr>e!d tr< .1’ m-- s ymtr f 'tbor. and i-all me a tLi"f and a murd-'ror. ngs-os my comorehi-rsi.m unless, indeed. T am to think tlint vim are m-'d. Yon come l>ere to tel! vonr uncle. M-. Lance!- t .Armour. :: store that on flu* fo-.., ,f ;f , p , n .< ip me. if not. impossible. nt L nst Ivgt-Jv s<-.>r»robahle.' fT-'v-iim confided that amaz.'iig s'-'-w t-> mo. whom v n b -v ’ nr-vw met Loforo. von p.oy» > gnr- cd fl —>’l ’ ll n VOOV r.l’.'r. A ..,1 O-. fTo”" dr if is a trifle d: : -- tn"l'” • Ip •' > iii.-t ppH-, "••--■d’-o- l-.v--ver-f 'How "hr nv'rt r--i-«ainly lias not b’-n in 'he sun to-m,v.” Oto ir—.-i.r - 1 ' no- 'tiff -rifW Tbo voice was h -r f.-i’-bor's- the "r<« v—>-« ‘"atlier's : the hands were ho” father’s * V. h Lave b-on warned.” she said.

j "I camo prepared to help you to do the right thing. Now--I do nothing, for you have forfeited all claim to love or esteem.”

1 With that, and without turning her head to look at him. she swept from the room. S ! e was wounded to the very qn ck. She had acted out of affection, the old affection of blood that, , will out ; and she had been rejected, j Tho love was dead ;it was not hate yet, but it might scon degenerate into | that. ■ John Joseph Armour sat back in his i chair a pr 'V to the most poignant .emotion. His mind went round and ! round in a vicious circle, over coming : i back to this—that his daughter had ■ i told him he vas a thief and a mur- i ; dcrer. His memory went back to tho ■ | days when he had dandled her on his ! I knees, a bapny, smiling child, tho , : child that bad become this grave-eyed i j young woman who spoke to him as . i though she wore his Conscience made I manif'st. | | Ho w.-tild hove run after her and i ! cillod lor Inck but his limbs refused i ; their office. He was struck with that i i ton-.porar.’ n.ornlvsis which sometimes i | affect i crimiivils after they had per- : I rotrated the r crime. Who lias not j hoard of mnrd'-r''rs found fast asdeon | i beside Hr* dead body of their victim? i j Tho body inert, his brain was active, ' jins s'-nses wore suporsensitive. | I T’-ns h-* h-ard n stealthy foots ten ; i in liis dressing romn —a stop light and f cautious as that of a panther. _ I 'Dio curtains dividing tho dressing-, j room from the sitting-room were drawn aside softly, and in the aperture appeared ih? saturnine face of Gaetano Zucchi. ' The Lonrl-n director of the Black Hand laughed a trifle melodramatically. j ‘ “I have a curious trick. Armour, i have T not?’’ ho *.n : d, "of turning up | at the critical moment. A few mm- i utes oarli-r and T might have boon j carried downstairs in a Saratoga , trunk bv the Carter-Patel son’s man. ; whom I now hear clumping up. Yon j allmv me to «v d t?ll him that ais I services will not In* required?’’ Zue-hi entm-ed the room and passed i immediately into the passage. He went | to tho “oak” and confronted the cari t ier. , , ~ J “You’ve come lor a trunk, haven t I 5 “Yes, -ir Is it ready?” I “No. I have changed my mind. I shan’t want you. There's a shilling for yoii’S’lf.” “You see. Arinmir,” be wont on, reentering tho room, "that T am tho sort of man who does not allow himself io be Mirp-isod. The man who I can 1 o taken mtawares is never .successful. I conl'eiv; that it is sometime; difficult not to be taken unawar s; but with the resources at my command I can meet and boat even so clover a rascal as John Joseph Armour.” . | He threw hinwlf into a chair opposij ito the miserable father of Margaret ar><! lit a <’i-riir-*tto. •‘From the lii’.>< moment of otvacquaintance yen have been watched pitilessly. You barn boon tho fly— l have boon tho spider. Tho knife that is lying ready in your admirable dre-s--suifi-reoii was purchased at Grimshiw’s, i’n Holborn. The Saratoga trunk which reposes -there, also was bought at Ansley’s, in the Strand. Both I were destined for me. How did I dii Vino that? How does the poet conceive I the idea of h s glittering epic? It ! comes, doos it not? My divination was I confirm! d when I ciffl.xl at your rooms ’ in Jermyn Street, and was told to come ! in here. ; “You were to have stuck mo: you 'u ore to have packed me into the Sarai toga; yen were to have delivered mo ! to Cartcr-Pati'ison’s man : and by the ; label which 1 have just seen on your drossing-room table. I was to have been deposited at the Metropole, Brighton Ln pretty pre: ent for an unoffending hotel' ! “Well, my do;u- Armour, I’m not : going Brighton this trip. When I visit tl.o Qii’iJi cl th.* South Coast watering-places ! shall travel by Pull-" ' man and not in t'<e goods van, thank yon.” j “Have you not I.mg to say? ' I No. J<h') -Joseph Armour had noth;m? to say; but if ever hate spoke out of blazing eyi s. it d d then out of tho unmasked miscreant”, and what it i said was diabolically to the purpose ! “Thank you,” said Zucchi. who could I translate the !o<>k ‘I am much ohi liged to you. I came prepared in any i ease.” With a sivi:t gos'iue lie unbuttoned his wa : st coal ami opened the Irons of his shirt ■‘Milan is teill famous for its coats of mail,” he said, with a smile. "This 'only weighs 4<n cunecs, but it will I turn the edge < I your admirably chosen ■ knife a< if. it note a bit of lath or a i sl'Ct* of butter ” ! As he was buttoning up again, a knock sounded <n the oak. I "I forget to tell von, Armour, Siat j 1 have invited a few friends—you will j find them incongenial —to pass the evening with us. With your permission I j will draw the. blinds and turn on the ’lights. There!’’ | (To b? Continued).