The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-12-29

off the wing from tho rest of the house,
when shout from Pallatti, who had been
following at little distance caused us to
stop.
.Eurekal Eureka!" he almost screamed {;
II ought to have seen it at . Cancel Come
hack both of Won; We shall know all about it
in five minutes1
Tho usually calm and impressive Mr. Pal
latti was in such violent state of excite
ment that we almost feared for his reason,
Int we obeyed him and returned upon our
steps.
Without hesitation he went straight into
n room called the best bed-chamber, in ono
corner of w'ech there still stood the great
iron chest from which the fatal title-deeds
had been distracted, and taking foot-rulo
from his pocket carefully measured tho
wall on one side of the door-nine feet.
Then he came out into the corridor, which
was panneled throughout with darl. oak
from floor to ceiling, and measured off nine
feet from the side of the door on the outside,
marked the place with deep score of his
knife. Transferring his attention to the
next room (linown as the blue-bed chamber
! he scored off seven feet. His discovery was
patent enough now. Again applying his
| rule to the space between the two scores, ii
was at once seen that there were eleven feet
| ofwall unaccounted for
"There is carpenter at work close by"
painted Pallatti; 1--WE saw him as we came
up Run, my dear Houghton, and bring hin
here with his tools"
! was off like a shot, and soon returned
with the astounded carpenter, who had beeE
adding gimlets, bradawls, nails, and
! veSvs and such small articles plentifully by
4 SO wayside out of his basket in his haste
Pallatti had already sounded the wainscot
the rusty nails gave way at the first wrench
the planks were removed, the carpenter was
dismissed, and then, with an almost indie
scribable feeling of awe, we stood within
the very room l knew so well. The stuffed
birds, the crazy furniture, the dingy prints
all were there, and on the little table in
the center stood tall and furnished silver
candlestick the candle long since devoured
by the great-grandfathers of the mice VINO
scampered into their holes as we entered.
For two or three minutes not word was
said, and then I sprang at one of the prints
and tried to tear it from the wall, but Pal
latti stayed my hand.
"There is not a secret spring in the world
could battle me for two minutes" he said,
quietly.
With one touch OF his fingers the picture
few open, and putting in his hand he pulled
out mass of crumpIed parchment.
A short inspection proved to Sir George
that they were the long-lost deeds, and we
all saw for ourselves that one corner wa,
shriveled and stained with grease and
smoke.
The next morning l found Sir George
waiting breakfast for me alone.
"Where is Pallatti, Sir GeorgeP l asked
"Gone" replied Sir George, bursting Out
laughing. HE said he was afraid of your
punching his head if he stayed" .
what on earth should do that fora"
wondered.
Because he played you q trick-went
into your room after you were asleep, blew
out your light, stole your matches, and hid
himself in the cupboard in the hope that you
would be able to give us the benefit of one
of your experiences, as you call them. But
he told me to assure you on his honor thai
not one hint of what happened that nigh
shall ever pass his lips"
"And quite believe him." l said warmly
"Pallatt is a glorious fellow, and although
it wasn't very pleasant for me at the time
the game, in this case, was well worth the
Isbsence of the candle. "-Ldrard 4. IrViAg
| in BeigrGyia