The Quest of the Sacred Slipper

of the voyage home. I was perfectly convinced that the curtain had bee

f his troubled affairs. I was half way through a long article, I remember, upon the mystery of the outrage at the docks. The

night) when a faint sound from the direction of the outside door attr

ht, when the bell ran

at-a curious envelope, pale amethyst in colour. Pick

Cavan

or. No one was visible upon the landing, but when I leaned ove

d the dimly lighted hall and came out into the peaceful twilight

to Fleet Street I overtook her-a girl closely v

m," I

ed affri

ent was puzzling, but pleasing. Sh

ts veiling? So, now, through the cloudy folds of the veil, I saw the stranger's e

plain the meanin

annot! Please

med to be trembling. From behind the cloud

t something of the uncanny. Yet I could not detain the girl against her

ere in quest of news; men who would have given much for such a story as this in which I wa

arred to a strange end. But a mist was over all. Here, beside me, was one who

e face framed in the snowy fur was the most bewitchingly lovely imaginable. One rebellious lock of wonderful hair swept across t

hat you will never breathe a w

," I said; "but can

are not, say more! Only promi

d perceive n

do so,"

er veil again she walked rapidly away from me, whis

nd of the courtway. She was crossing the road. From the shadows where he had lurked, a man came forward to meet her. A vehicle obstructe

and shade had deceived me, the ma

mind. Whilst the girl had stood before me it had been different-the mysterious charm of her personality had swam

riting upon the pale amethys

wn case in the porch of his house to-night. If he fails to do

RIE