Daily Republican., 1884-03-21

smoke before retiring. Something in
the book had been perusing-it was =
strange, weird romanCe-had brought
wildly to mind the oftponderel secret
of the old secretary.
While engrossed with the thought Of
that puzzling problem, the door leading
from the hall suddenly and noiselessly
opened and an old man entered the
!. room. He was clad in loose suit Of
black his eyes were bright and pierre
ing his face shrewd but kindly, aud
bis hair, which Was snow.white, hung
down over his Understanding, old-style
collar.
| Without noticing me by even glance,
be crossed the room to the secretary
with slow, measured tread, unlocked
ii, drew forth drawer at the right,
touched small, BRASS headed hail that
l had never noticed before, at one side
of the space revealed panel slid back
and disclosed narrow aperture. Into
this the old man thrus. his hand, and
when he drew it forth 1t contained a
roll OF parchment tied with red tape.
He held 1t up in the light for moment.
while grim smile stole over his face,
and | distinctly heard him chuckle.
Then he replaced 1t, drew back the
slide, returned the drawer, closed the
secretary and departed rs noiselessly ~
he had come, and was again alone.
1t had all been 30 unexpected. and
10 quietly done. that had been stupi-
fed, and had onl y stared in aniazement
but as soon AZ he had vanished, | sprang
from my seat and started toward the
door, only to be met by my little niece
May, who had come To give me her usu-
al goodnight kiss.
"Why uncle" she cried, you have
broken your pipe" pointing to the
fragmen lying on the carpet beside
the chair where | had unconsciously
dropped it.
hastily kissed May and went out in
to the hall to detect II possible some
sign of my strange visitor. The main
entrance was barred on the inside 1t
was impossible for him to have entered
by that. Nevertheless unbolted the door
and went out on the veraDda. A bright,
full moon was riding high in the cloud
,, less sky, and in its silvery radiance,
objects were plainly perCeptible, but
not the object | sought. Retracing my
steps, made a thorough investigation
of every part of the house, but found
neither the old man of my quest or the
slightest sign of his presence. ! then
questioned my sister and the servants,
but they had neither seen or heard q
caller answering TO my description.
Completely batlled, returned TO my
room and concluded had been dream
. ing And yet-rhe drean-if dream
/ it was, seemed so much like reality
that could not rid myself of H. Sud.
denly the thought flashed upon me,
"why not examine the secretary"
Mechanically | obeyed me impllse
! unlocked the secretary, removed the
drawer had seen the old man remove;
there was the identical irass-headed
nail he had pressed it 81, did |, with
the same resut-a panel nd back and
| was in actual possessio, of the secret
recess of the old seer AIRY, and of
what was still more " nderfu of a
bona tide roll of pare .ent tied with
red tape.
For while | could y bold it in
my hand and stare az III blank Devil
derment tut finally recovered my
senses sufficiently To pen and read it.
1t proved to be "thn last will and
testament" of Mark Warrene, " here
in he heu,,eathed to Mable Slarwood,
the aau. n,rr of his old friend Louis
Starv, Aft hi. nron.rtv real mr.
per.n, Of what yer Kind he might
h;r, ,e.s,d," for her own "ab,olute
n-. :, :. .,.hest.
Wnl. | vat Wondering over the mvs.
,,,u,lv founi document II Suddenly
,,rrurrei IN me- Thar in the pnhlic
I,.dpern a short while before T hal
read an adv erIis.rnent-whicb I had
tbouplt sinonlar at ,he time for a los,
will Havinr hunted m. n,nar I wa,t,d
from amonp the others on tiIe I tnrn.d
to the colnmn If "Tost and FounJ "
and among ,he advertisements rand
this.
IA liberal reward will be oivep for
anv inflammation that will laa1 tn tha
'-''J '--'e' " 80 A''sA " e'S