Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-18

and SO on. Heavens! if this should be
brought to a public investigation, how such
matters would be laid barrel"
1T may come to a public investigation,
| suppose"
Il sincerely hope not
The doctor turned aside, and Amelia, who
| had shown no disposition to prolong the
conversation, left the room.
From below stairs came the sound of
Louise's laughter, as she listened to Mr..
| Philbrick's comical remarks Outside was
! the constant rustling of the Miniski. Here,
| an atmosphere heavy with mystery, and
| just beneath the table spread tiny strip
| of brass that seemed to wait some magic
| touch to tell-what?
DR.. Williams once more stopped down and
examined the lever. He even ventured to
| turn it through quarter of a circle. 1t
would go no further, but he could not infer
| one thing another from the ease with
| it hack, for ne dared not risk the possibility
| OF having made a connection by which
dangerous current of electricity had been
set In action.
There was nothing whatever on the out
side of this table leg, or of any other, to
suggest mechanical appliances, save this
| switch. He lit a match and held it close to
the surface of the leg. By this means he dis
covered the all but invisible crack that
| marked a panel in the leg. in the center of
which the switch was set.
That panel can be removed, of course"
he thought.
He stood up and listened Nothing but the
RI mbling bass Of Mr.. Philbricks tireless
voice and the low murmur of the Min;sli
The doctor was irresolute He walked out
into the hall and so to the corridor where
Starkweather had fallen. There he lit a
match and made cursory eXamina ton of
the floor and walls. He saw nothing sug-
gestive
Again he heard a peal of feminine laughter
from below. and while his heart famed with
rage that shamed him, it was wholly against
| the man who interested Louise and not
against herself.
She shall be saved from the pangs of an
exposure the doctor said to himself, land
he shall be checkmated in his investigation"
He still believed that Mr.. Philbrick, with
all his fancy for Louise, had set out to solve
the FalrVlew mystery. Perhaps he had dis
covered the electric switch. If he had not
the time might come when he would.
DR.. Williams returned to the dining room
| In drawer of the sideboard he found a
| strong case knife with thin blade He in
serted it In the crack at one side Of the panel
| In the table leg. To his surprise and salts
| faction the panel yielded readily to little
prying, and In half a minute 1t was off
| Without stopping to examine the mechanism
| inside, by which it was plain at a glance that
| the switch established an electric connec-
| ton, the doctor unScrewed two nuts and the
brass lever fell to the floor. AS he was about
to replace the panel he saw wooden pin on
| a tiny shelf within the aperture. Its pur-
pose and application flashed upon him. He
| took 1t out, replaced the panel, pushed the
| pin in the hole through which the switch
had been connected with the interior mech
| anism, and the table leg showed no sign of
| what it contained. Only by the closest scru-
| tiny and by knowing where to look could
| he distinguish the pin from the rest of the
| wood
| He placed the brass lever in his pocket
and withdrew to the hall, hot and excited
Louise presently came upstairs, and at the
| same moment Amelia came down. Together
| they laid the table, while Mr.. Philbrick
| brought up various articles from the kitch-
en-
Here's the professor" said the doctor,
who stood at the front door and saw the
carriage coming over the hin.
A moment later he saw that Prof. Drum
mond was not in the carriage. 1t was driv-
| en- by a small boy, who took the horse to
| the stable before reporting at the house.
| The doctor was disturbed, but he said moth
| ing and withdrew to the further end of the
| hall.
Amelia went to the door when the boy
rang.
"A note for you. Lou" she called.
Louise came out from the dining room,
Mr. Philbrick faithfully tagging after.
She read the note, and a look of conster-
nation came upon her features.
"Papa's gone away" she said in fright
ened voice.
Go be continued tomorrow.)