The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-04-18

since his day. There is good reason
for it; we have been, for generations.
members of the Roman Cathol faith
'Will you ct me compare this ring
with the one on the fin ger of the por-
TAFT" / asked at venture; for, though
/ had seen this very ring on the right
hand of Sir Guy last night. yet 1 h
! forgotten how it appeared in the pic
ture.
''Of course; you will see it plainly re.
pr lduced," Hillerton replied, as he led
the way to the gallery.
1t was bright, sunny day. A flood
of light poured in through the broad
windows, and striking upon the highly
waxed floor was ieiie ted directly upon
J the painting. Very carefully 1 COM
pared the ring l held with the one RIP
resented upon the third finger of Sir
Guys right hand. 1t was the same ne
m nutely repeated. Then 1 cast my
eyes down and read the We Sc. read
/ it over critically three or four times.
! bordering every word. Suddenly a
light dawned upon me. 1t seemed as il
brother Mason spoke to me from that
dead panel. Three words made clear
the meaning of the verse. They were,
"Grip-FrdternGL- Three"
So far the train of reasoning / had
been pursuing bore me out in the dim
suspicion haunting me since last night
and now fast becoming a certainty.
III re remained, you will observe, two
questions yet to answer: the careful in
structions about caring for the panel,
and the injunction not to NEEDLE with
the painting what did they mean'
Their presence in the will was nothing
strange. had not felt they stood kim
drei to the carved verse, exceeding the
mere letter.
Hillerton had only one answer when
1 asked him: "Why to keep the por-
t. ait and panel in good p eservation, of
cou se"-the same answer I myse I
might ha made had l not q clue to a
deeper meaning"
again inspected the picture closely,
especially the hands. The right one
soon engrossed my attention.
"Hillerton," l exclaimed abruptly.
for l was laboring under ill-supp essed
excitement, will you ave me alone
with this portrait for half an hour or so?
The result may tie much or nothing.
After all, have mind to try an ex.
pc iment; but can't very well have a
witness. Iwon't harm the picture. In
fact. may be enaoled to do you much
good.
The heavy door closed. and 1 was
alone.
ut is very G ident Sir Guy" I said
half aloud, You mean by this We Sc
that l am to give you the grip of a
Master Mason-yoi ga me a sign last
night ca not mistake. TO take yo
by the hand is impossible but to inIi-
cafe thereon the pre- Use spot where a
ce tain part of that glip would fail is
easy enough.
II teel sure there is more about this
panel than men have thought. and
somewhere beyond it is your easure "
So speaking, and with a fast-beating
heart. scarce daring to hope TO any
result. pressed with all my might upon
a certain part of hand The spot
exerted my strength upon was SEEM
ingly, the most skillfully painted por.
ton; yet was sure fe t it yielding
slowly. almost imperceptiuly under the
prrssu e brought to bear upon it.
now distinctly saw that a portion of the
hand-about two inches by one inch
had receded crarking and flecking of
little of the paint so deity co ering
it and then it returned slowly to its
place on the reno al of my touch
The panel itself had given no signs OF
yielding evidently. was not a SWING
ing one but made to slide up down o.
sidswis Try us l might 1 could not
STR it. Flinging open the door and
rush nc. into the hall. / called so 10 dly
for Hillerton rs to alarm the whole
house
..Hiller:on'! Hilletonr l exclaimed,
breathleSsly, as he entered the rom. II
have found the next thing to the treas.
u,e. l have found a Sc ret spring in sir
GUYS picture and l want you to help
me S ide the panel up or push it down,
o. to one side or the ether, whichever
way it goes. i am sure there is some
thing behind it."
Both of us to work with will
both trying to keep very cool. and both
failing miserably. Yet by Int of my
holding in the spring, and through the
grip tn afforded. we Were able to move
the panel up an inch or so-when. as
sisted by levers which we inserted I'M
der cath the edge, tie old knight slowly
ma lie u triumphant ascent, disclosing,
as he did so, a strongly bound chest,
fitting tightly in the wal behind.
1t was impossible to remove it; and
when the cover vas at last forced u,
bringing away with it a fra ment of t G
chest Itself, shower of gold pieces
poured out and rolled along the floor.
The box was bimful of gold and silver
coin, valuable pieces of plate, and guam.
titles of unset gems; a hand ul of he
magnificent stones being. calculated,
sufficient TO offset all obligations bear
the name of Hillertons
My story is finished. There is far
more truth than ii ton in it. Hillerton
of Hillerton, is still living; and what
makes me happy is -H,LLERToN is his.
Horace Gates, IN The Continent.
Antipodal Meat Diet.