The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-28

could not open my mouth. wanted you
to come up at once. for, 20 tell the truth,
II think was frightened After you
went on turned about and looked again
AZ the safe. As sure as ! sit here now
Harding stood there. He seemed TO be
back Of the wall bit and leaning. as |
told you, triAe forward. The whole
scene wavered indistinctly an instant and
then went out, and | went clear up TO
The safe and touched the wall where be
had stood. After that came back and
had not taken my eyes of the spot until
you came in. | expected him 10 appear
third time, and was dreadfully afraid
nobody would be here 10 see him with
me. Ali Look" and Mr.. Taegart leaned
away over the arm Of his chair and
strained his eyes at the shadow. which
was getting rapidly deeper, for the sun
had set.
''You don't mean 10 say you see any
thing now, do your whispered the
lawyer.
"No-no-I was mistaken that time
| was INSTRUMENTATION. But not be-
fore; no sir, not before"
81 am afraid you were, Taggart." said
the lawyer, gravely. "Iets investigate
here and be convinced that you are mis-
taken" He went 10 the further side Of
the room and TagCart rose and leaned
against a desk watching him. Mr.. Drake
grasped the handle Of the safe door and
tried TO shake it, saying, as he did so. in
o careless tone: THAT seems 10 be all
right" Then he passed his hand along
the wall and thumped. "Ahr he added,
you have thin partition or a hollow
wall here"
1T is condemned chimney" said Mr..
Taggart, whose agitation was increasing
"Tho department for the inspection Of
buildings sealed it up several months
ago. We used TO have a fireplace there,
and Harding had it boarded over and
papered TO correspond with the rest of
the room"
The LAWYER thumped again on the wall
without any real object except 10 gain
time for thinking what 20 DO next. He
raised his left hand 10 a level with his
head, and placed it against the wall, at
the same time putting his foot upon a
wall protector that projected from the
mopbOard. Before lac had time 10 re-
alize what lac had done, me felt the par
ttiOn givoundcr the pressure Of his hand,
and the wall protector sink under his
foot. and simultaneously a pant of the
wall swung open in front Of him, dis
closing an upright, CHASTITY, omaciated
form. I'm the intinitesimal fraction Of q
second that il maintained its upright at
titude he recognized the distorted fea-
lures Of the missing Harding, and heard
iaggart gasp, The third timer aud be-
fore he could move his hands the figure
fell face down tOthe floor He turned 10
see Tagg1rt reel and sink lifeless under
the window. So great was lis astoniah-
mcnt and horror that he stood for an in
slant staring blankly from one PROSTATE
figure 10 the other. Then he turned 10
the opening in the wall. HC saw closet
too narrow 10 permit Of man lying
down in il. 1t was completely closed on
all sides, except the one opened by the
door, whose combination lock he had ac-
cidentally worked. On the floor were
packages of paper and parcels that lac al
)ncc Judged TO he the $40 600 distracted
from the safe He rushed 90 Taggart, in
whom be sought TO discover signs of life.
lie raised his head and Chaicd his hands
anxiously.
Il say, Drake, you owe me dollar
and fifteen cents. said "a voice at the
Office door You forgot TO pay your
bin and got tired Of wait-why, what's
the mattcH'
1t was the brother lawyer
run for a pitcher OF water and get
doctor if you can" was Mr.. brakes an
swcr.
When the lawyer returned with water
Taggart had recovered consciousness and
was sitting up on the floor, and Mr.
Drake was saying:
Its all right, Taggart, old man; it's
all clear now. Your money and 6ocuri-
ties are all ia the secret closet that Hard
ing had made TO hide them in. He must
have been at the job when you came
and. having no time to complete it, shut
himself in there without realizing that
the door could be opened only from this
side. The miserable fellow undoubtedly
5uffOcated and starved TO death
Il told YOU l saw him." responded
Taggart faintly.-F r. Burton in The
Bulletin,