The Filigree Ball | Page 4

saw, a beam of light which argued an unknown
presence within walls which had so lately been declared unfit for any
man's habitation.
"You are right," I now remarked to the uneasy figure at my side. "Some
one is prowling through the house yonder. Can it possibly be Mrs.
Jeffrey or her husband?"
"At night and with no gas in the house? Hardly."
The words were natural, but the voice was not. Neither was his manner
quite suited to the occasion. Giving him another sly glance, and
marking how uneasily he edged away from me in the darkness, I cried
out more cheerily than he possibly expected:
"I will summon another officer and we three will just slip across and
investigate."
"Not I!" was his violent rejoinder, as he swung open a gate concealed
in the vines behind him. "The Jeffreys would resent my intrusion if
they ever happened to hear of it."
"Indeed!" I laughed, sounding my whistle; then, soberly enough, for I
was more than a little struck by the oddity of his behavior and thought
him as well worth investigation as the house in which he showed such
an interest: "You shouldn't let that count. Come and see what's up in the
house you are so ready to call yours."

But he only drew farther into the shade.
"I have no business over there," he objected. "Veronica and I have
never been on good terms. I was not even invited to her wedding
though I live within a stone's throw of the door. No; I have done my
duty in calling attention to that light, and whether it's the bull's-eye of a
burglar - perhaps you don't know that there are rare treasures on the
book shelves of the great library - or whether it is the fantastic
illumination which frightens fool-folks and some fool-dogs, I'm done
with it and done with you, too, for to-night."
As he said this, he mounted to his door and disappeared under the vines,
hanging like a shroud over the front of the house. In another moment
the rich peal of an organ sounded from within, followed by the
prolonged howling of Rudge, who, either from a too keen appreciation
of his master's music or in utter disapproval of it, - no one, I believe,
has ever been able to make out which, - was accustomed to add this
undesirable accompaniment to every strain from the old man's hand.
The playing did not cease because of these outrageous discords. On the
contrary, it increased in force and volume, causing Rudge's expression
of pain or pleasure to increase also. The result can be imagined. As I
listened to the intolerable howls of the dog cutting clean through the
exquisite harmonies of his master, I wondered if the shadows cast by
the frowning structure of the great Moore house were alone to blame
for Uncle David's lack of neighbors.
Meantime, Hibbard, who was the first to hear my signal, came running
down the block. As he joined me, the light, or what we chose to call a
light, appeared again in the window toward which my attention had
been directed.
"Some one's in the Moore house!" I declared, in as matter of-fact tones
as I could command.
Hibbard is a big fellow, the biggest fellow on the force, and so far as
my own experience with him had gone, as stolid and imperturbable as
the best of us. But after a quick glance at the towering walls of the
lonely building, he showed decided embarrassment and seemed in no

haste to cross the street.
With difficulty I concealed my disgust.
"Come," I cried, stepping down from the curb, "let's go over and
investigate. The property is valuable, the furnishings handsome, and
there is no end of costly books on the library shelves. You have
matches and a revolver?"
He nodded, quietly showing me first the one, then the other; then with a
sheepish air which he endeavored to carry of with a laugh, he cried:
"Have you use for 'em? If so, I'm quite willing, to part with 'em for a
half-hour."
I was more than amazed at this evidence of weakness in one I had
always considered as tough and impenetrable as flint rock. Thrusting
back the hand with which he had half drawn into view the weapon I
had mentioned, I put on my sternest sir and led the way across the
street. As I did so, tossed back the words:
"We may come upon a gang. You do not wish me to face some
half-dozen men alone?"
"You won't find any half-dozen men there," was his muttered reply.
Nevertheless he followed me, though with less spirit than I liked,
considering that my own manner was in a measure assumed and that I