Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 100: what you’re looking at

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94 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, a ———————————————————————— —=E=—_—— * Not very; but I will do my best.’ ‘‘ Could you do a dumb boy to-morrow night? ”’ ‘“¥es:. 1 think so7’ “Good. Then I am allright. You may consider yourself cast for Juan, Miss—Jones ?”’ ‘Rose Mortimer.”’ “Miss Mortimer,’ said the manager. Capital line in a poster.”’ ‘‘ Yes,’ said the heavy man. ‘“‘ But Mortimer’s been done so much. I did the midland counties once myself, starring as Leo Mortimer, and drew immense houses.” ‘‘T remember. think. Eh?” ** Good. That was Bob Wilkinson’s spec I Yes,2” ‘‘ And he smashed up.” ‘‘Ahem! Yes.”’ ** Well, Miss Mortimev,’”’ said Chowler, ‘‘ we are going to rehearse a farce to-night, Would you like to attend the theatre with us ?”’ ““T should,” replied Rose. And accordingly they prepared to depart, Rose hastened to the hostess to inform her of the good fortune which had befallen her. A brief explanation of the sad plight from which the kindly-disposed. woman had rescued her had to suffice for the present, with promises of a lengthy account of the horrors to which she had been sub- jected at an early date. It was arranged that Rose should continue to reside there, The town was at a short distance only, and she could easily reach the theatre. The only difference now was that our grateful heroine took the footing of a lodger and a customer, instead of a poor houseless wretch suing for bread. The contrast in her present prospects and in her past career was so great that Rose could scarcely deem it possible that so much good fortune should fall to her lot at once. Not to dwell too long upon this position of our history, the rehearsal was attended, and Rose had the satisfaction of receiving some small compliments from the manager. Then, when it was concluded, Mr. Chowler gal- lantly offered to escort her back to her hotel (as the heavy man designated the public-house). Rose begged him not to trouble himself, but Mr, Chowler insisted, and she gave way. Between the town and the road-side house at which Rose Mortimer was to stop there was but one house. This was a residence of some importance, the pro- perty of some of the local gentry, and was a fine building situated on a large piece of ground, The grounds were noted in that part of the country for their beauty. Mr. Chowler drew up as they passed, and called Rose’s attention to such parts of the garden as they could see from without. ‘Why, hullo!”’ said the manager, “‘here’s the gate open at this hour. There, look in.” Rose looked in as desired, but drew back imme- diately. ‘* What is it ?’? demanded Chowler. ** Somebody there.’’ “Ts there? By jingo, so there is—and somebody who doesn’t want to be seen.” It was true. Creeping along the garden with stealthy cat-like strides, they could see the figure of a man. The faint creaking of the gate evidently caught his oat for he turned round sharply and looked about im, *f See, see!’? whispered Chowler to Rose, “he’s got a black mask on! Here’s something queer on. Let’s follow !” CHAPTER XXXIX. WATCHING—TWO MASKS—THE BEDCHAMBER— THE SEARCH —A FATAL. DISCUSSION — THE PILLOW—‘‘ HE LIVES!’’—THE ASSASSIN—THE KNIFE—HORRORS—NEARLY DISCOVERED. TREMBLING, and rather pale with the exciting position of her new character of a spy, Rose Mor- timer followed Mr, Chowler into the garden, The man they were watching had not observed them. This they could easily perceive by the unconcern in his movements after a while. The whole house was in darkness, with the excep- tion of a faint light which burnt in a side window upon the ground floor. : To this, with stealtily strides, the masked intrude made his way. The window was guarded by a wooden shutter, which stood just the least bit open, and a faint streak of light shone through it upon the grass plat. The man advanced and placed his hands upon the shutter. It creaked, and its rusty hinges sent forth a dis- cordant sound which seemed to grate most harshly upon the man’s nerves, From the distance even they were from him they could perceive that he started and shivered in yery apparent alarm. ‘*He’s going to break in,’’ whispered Mr, Chowler, laying a trembling hand upon Rose’s arm. Rose endeavoured to take him from the spot, but he could not stir, There was a fascination in watching this masked marauder. What could be his motive for this ? A minute’s patience, and we shall see. The shutter having been opened to its full extent, the man endeavoured to raise the window. But it was firm. It was fastened upon the inside. This appeared to cause the man some annoyance, A whispered malediction reached the trembling lookers on. A second effort to raise the sash proving unsuccess- ful, he turned away, with an exclamation of disgust, and quitted the spot. ‘See, see,””? whispered Chowler to Rose, ‘‘ he can’t do it, and he’s going off.”’ ce Yes.”’ And Rose felt great satisfaction at this, although she scarcely knew why. Instinctively she had dreaded to pass the tlires- hold of the garden gate. But they were wrong. The masked man was evidently baffled only for the moment, Not yet defeated. Quitting the window which was inaccessible, he approached the main entrance. Here he produced a key from his pocket and opened the door. A deathly stillness prevailed. He glanced around him, then entered, noiselessly closing the door. ‘‘ He’s in!” whispered Mr. Chowler to his com- panion. ‘‘ I’m glad he’s gone.” ‘** And I, too.” “But why did he attempt to get in by the window when he had the key ?” °° T can’t think,’’ “And yet that was evidently his object.’ cE YVesa4 , “*T wonder what is taking place in that room there. Let us see.”’ Rose would have preferred not going.