Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-10-16

myself among the men. I could not keep
back the tears Of joy which were yelling
from my eyes.
1t now occurred to me that, as most of tho
rooms in the hall had been searched by the
police under Mr.. Eastmead himself at the
time of Daisy's arrest, I might begin my
own investigation by exploring this secret
passage in which w had already found so
important a piece Of evidence. Bidding the
servants remain where they were, We slowly
climbed the narrow winding stair. It led
into a corridor equally narrow and very
long, unlighted and i'll VENTILATED, so that
more than once the candle which Eastmead
carried seemed to be on tho point of cxpir-
ing.
At the end was apparently a blank wall of
dark oak. But looking closely at it I de-
tected the place where the girl had intro
duced the knife on the night when she had
brought to me the note from Daisy. Ihad
brought the knife with me, and in another
instant, by means Of it, l had caused the
panel to slide into a recess. 1t revealed an
opening Of the depth of the wall, beyond
which there was another panel. This l was
able to move without difficulty. Ipushed it
aside with my hand. Still the way was
barred, but upon this occasion it was moth.
ing more substantial than the heavy leather
hangings of the haunted room. Great inge-
nuity had been shown in the arrangement by
which an opening could be made ct will
through these hangings without any evidence
of its existence being afforded to an occupant
Of the room.
Once moro I found myself in that well-re-
membered chamber. 1t looked cold and
dark despite its handsome furniture. APP
parently it had not been occupied since the
night when slept there. I opened the door
leading into the little sitting room where I
had breakfasted by myself on the morning
on which I left the hall. To my surprise it
showed signs of having been recently occu-
pied. There was a book lying on the table.
I recognized it instantly. 1t was the copy Of
Guy and Terriers forensic Medicine"
which I had studied SO intently during my
imprisonment on board the yacht.
"We IRE in the enemy's stronghold" I
said to Eastmead. And l babe him take the
book in his hand and see where it opened.
He did so with the result which I expected.
He shook his head gravely. II think, Mr..
Fenton, We shall be justified in taking a
very close look at anything we can find
here"
There were several books on the table.
They were for the most part old account
books, some of them bearing Flinter's name.
They apparently related to transactions
which had taken place SOM years previously
in Australia. One volume was Of a different
kind. It was a cheap metallic memorandum
book, such as a man like Flinter might very
well have used for the purpose of keeping
notes of incidents Of importance. Eastmead
took it up and opened it. For some time he
appeared to be examining it with a look of
bewilderment on his honest face.
u can't make anything of this, can youa
Is it Greek"
He handed the open book to MO, and to
my disappointment I saw that, whatever
might be the nature Of its contents, I was
none tho wiser through possessing It. Every
page was covered with cabalistic marks like
nothing I had ever seen before.
II think we may as we'll leave that behind
Us" said the chief constable. "But I am
going to take these other books to examine
at my leisure"
Iacquiescel for the moment in his pro-
posal to leave the little note book in cipher
where we had found it. but before W. had
completed our close examination of the two
rooms l had changed my mind, and without
any scruple regarding the robbery I was
committing upon the unconscious Flinter, !
Slipped the volume into my pocket.
1t would ba tedious to tell Of the long
hours which we spent in examining the other
portions Of the hall. Nowhere did we find
any evidence that seemed to bear on the
crime of which the place had been the scene.
Indeed, Eastmead warned me beforehand
that this would probably be the result. The
one part of the hall which had escaped his
notice on his first visit had been the secret
staircase. The other articles which he had
found. and which might possibly he Of use
against Flinter, had evidently been brought
to the hall after our party had landed from
the yacht, and consequently after Daisy's
arrest.
When our tedious task was completed, we
went to the dining room, where We found
DR.. Branksome awaiting us. Cold meat and
wine were upon the table; and we were 50
thoroughly exhausted by our labo,s that we
were glad to make a hurried meal before de-
parting to catch the last train to York.
did not care to talk much to Branksome.
He had heard of the discovery of the strych-
mia, but said wonderfully little about it.
thought, indeed, that for once something
must have occurred to stay the flow of his
brilliant conversation.