Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-09-10

would BEGIN to understand what gam" lie
had to play.
After Il few minutes whispered con
versa;iun wi h the colonel. Dora went in
quest of Lady Darncl.
She found Clare Darurl sitting by her
neglected fire, just as Grace had left her.
"'There is Il person here trying to find
out the mystery of my brothers wound"
she said curly. ale wants to ask you IA
few questions
Glare started suddenly to her feet. That
marble face OF hers could not grow paler
than it had been, but there was fright
ened look in her eyes which Dora was
quick to perceive.
"What kind of persons" she asked; IA
police Olliccr?'
"He comes from Scotland Yard"
Lady Darnc made no further remark.
They went in silence to the morning room,
where Mr.. pcnwern was standing in front
of the window, looking out, while the
colonel fdgeted about the cold blank
hearth.
The detective turned as Lady Darnel en-
tered, saluted her respectfully, and looked
at her with grave eyes which absorbed
every detail of her appearance, without
the fainteSt indication of eagcrneSs or
curiosity.
Despite the calm dignityof her attitude,
the statuesque rcpose of her features, the
detective saw the signs of apprehension,
secret fears which she was struggling to
reprcss.
This woman knows more than any one
else" he thought, and then he questioned
Lady Darnel about the contents of the
cabinet.
YES She said dreamily, as if only
i,,.,t ,.,ri,, I. f,,,t. l,,t.a
are some bank-notes there. The money
Sir Allan had drawn for our travelling ex-
penscs,' her voice fatered a little as she
recalled her delight in the idea of that
journey, the sweet expectation of happy
days with her beloved in a lovely land, and
now a grave yawned before; darkest, direst
fears crowded upon her soul
"A large sum of money! inquired Pen
wern
"Three-no | think it was 600"
"Have you the key of the cabinet, Lady
Darnel?"
"My husband and have duplicate keys
but doubt if Sir Allan locked the cab
met that night He had taken out his pis-
tolls in order to examine them-he was ex-
cited, tired and did not put the pistols
back in the cabinet
Twill you be good enough to see if the
notes are still there, Lady Darnel?" asked
the detective.
she started looked at him curiously,
| and then sudden flow of crimson swept
over Ter cheek and brow.
"What difference can that make?-tho
notes are safe, of course she said.
"NOt if there was II burglar in this room
and he was clever enough to secure his
booty before Sir Allan interrupt ed him.
You don't suppose, Lady Darncl, take it
that sir Allan got ~ out of mis- bed and
came to this room to shoot himsclf?'
Il suppose nothing-l know nothing ex-
cept that my husban's life is in danger"
The law wants to know great deal
more than that said Dora. "The law
wants to know how my poor brothers life
came TO he endangered"
"Obligc me by looking for the notes,
Lady Darncl," said the detective. The
obvious reading of this sad business is
that Sir Allan was shot hya burglar-who
managed to escape before you rc-entered
this room. If so, the burglar must have
come after something, and with some
definite purpose. Please try the cabinet
lie could see that she was rcluctant
cuIiously reluctant, to obey; but she went
slowly to the Italian cabinet and opened
the doors to the widest She had been
right in her con jectureS-the cabinet had
| not been locked since Sir Allan took out
the pistol case.
"Do YOU find the notes, Lady Darncl%
asked penwern when she had been stand
ing here some minutes, examining shelves
| and drawers, and SeCret-nOminally secret
-rcceptacles at the back of the quaint ole
piece of furniture.
No they are not here-at least can moi
find Them
"Do You know if Sir Allan had taker
the numbers of those notes?'
Il think not He only drew them from
the bank the day before the accident. He
was out with the hounds early next morn
ing-he was engaged with his steward al
the afternoon
I'VE can get the numbers from the bank
/ dare say" said the colonel
"True. But they will be of very little
use to us. Bank-uotes and diamonds arr
the bread and cheese of the burglar!
trade The thing is to find out who die
this. have an idea that could put my
hand upon the mantle hero of goo,
many portico robbcrics."
Pray, what is portico robberyI' asked
the colonel
"Almost every country has portico
the better the house the bigger he portco,
explained the detective. Nothing eaSe
to scale than handsome, classical pOrticO
No ladder or ropes or tell-tale apparatu
wanted. The burglar watches his oppor
. tunity, generally finds it at dusk, whel
the family are at dinner, the servants al
occupied downstairs. lie scales the poT
tico-thcrc is always at least one window
above it, He gets quickly in at the win
dow, SupakS along a corridor to my lady