The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-09

go learn If anyone else has been dis
tur bed. -
He returned simultaneously with
the servant and his tray Of tea and
toast anchovy and eggs. with an even
more deplorable look
Panther the butler. was missing.
and his wife was sure the ghost Of
Robin Hood had spirited her poor.
dear John away.
remem bered the nocturnal vis-
sions. the one that had become two.
the twang of the bowstring and
said when the footman withdrew.
Il would not like you to laugh az
me, sir but the key to the mystery SIS
held, I am confident, by this grinning
monster in Lincoln green"
'sEh?" astounded as if I had pur-
posed cutting his grandfathe RS por-
trait into whip snappers
There is hole in the wall or floor
somewhere. here or there, and the
handle to the trap or panel is in this
figure. And the machinery is in
actual use, for / should have heard
the creax if it was let get rusty I've
felt the thing all over, and found
nothing, though, like boss It's
boss puzzler, sir, that's what &c is."
Dear me! Bless usl' said he rub-
bling his chin in the hollow Of his
hand The eyes don't move. do
they?' as If it made any difference
whether they did or not.
More like the hands. I blurted
out. conjecturally. ''Do you see?
mean the bowl I'll have a good pull
at the bow, anyway"
You are welcome not TO believe its
but when put one hand 10 the bow
and the other to the wire chord and
pulled at the first while a-pushing al
the other they bowed apart wide. and
as the bow ends came down the figure
bent in the middle and duclred its
head and shoulders,-as If to make "a
back for leapfrog.
And, sir, - 1 said, ''if you will turn
your eyes yonder you'll see that the
bow has done the trick"
A yard square panel Of the vain
soothing had slid right down below the
floor level clean as a whistle. We
ran up and looked down. 10 was an
easy jump, and candle box was put
there for a step. The cell was not as
large as you could give a promenade
concert IN, but it would hold a Daniel
Lambert without squeezing him
tight. There was a very tidy collec-
ton of empty sardine boxes and
American provision tins, showing
that good living does not depend on
the length or your dining table But
the birds had flown. There were two
or three jewel cases. empty also
under my feet when I stepped down.
There was a puff of cold air
There is another opening" said L
'You may come down and look
around for the skeleton Of your great
great-grandfather if You like, sir'-
nettled BY his still looking, struck am
of heap. and this was nothing So
wonderful, after all II am going to
push straight on and see where the
business comes out"
1 nearly broke my neck by falling
down some steps in the walls, but
after that it was smooth sailing into
the open air. 1t was not In the woods
that we were to overtake the butler
and young woman who had begun
by helping him to reduce the larder
stock and then took care of the prop
erty which he stole from the guests.
They had managed it neatly. When
she was afraid to tackle the guest in
the Robin Hood rooms she would open
the door to let him in; or if he had
robbed the tenant of another cham
Der. she il1ewise opened the way for
his passing the goods to her ia her
receptacle. For cautions sake she
dwe1t there as long as possible with
out change. Luckily for the owners.
the precious pair had intended 90
elope with their spoil when complete
and nearly all the valua bles were
recovered, and quite a show they
made in the justices private room at
the town hall. Mr.. Painter was
mailed" at Derby. she nearer Lon
don. The trial was brushed through
without more evidence than sufficed
to convict, as Lady Massarene did not
want any parade made over her name
The hole in the wall was filed MP
Master Robin was put ont iD the gar
dens when Mr.. Gunthorps died re-
Gently. and his still young madam
had a gas tube stuck in the bold
poacher's hand instead of the bow.
which had pulled to good purpose.