Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-18
Lad in my office, sharp fellow. Yos

As matter Of fact l believe he was nearer this place than we thought. You said he had disagreement with his uncle because of scientific practices which the old gentleman considered dangerous and unprofessional,' I thfnk?" .r
 "Yes, that was the case"
 "Ah, then, the key to all the mystery of the will is in this room" e--
 ''Where?" ;
 "There." Hewitt pointed to the book case. "But why, who's this? Some- body coming up the drive in fly, isn't it?"
 "Yes," Mir. Crellan replied, looking out of the window. Presently he added: ''It's Cranlcy Mellis." l
 'Ah," said Hewitt, The won't trouble us for little. I'll bet you a penny piece that he goes first by himself to the small staircase and tries the secret rccess. If you get Q little way along the passage you will be able to see him; but that will scarcely matter. l. can sec you don't guess now what am driving at."
 ''I don't in the least"
 ..Thc thing is fairly well summarized, see in that encyclopedia there in the corner. 1 have put a marker in volume seven Do you mind opening it at that place and seeing for yourself?"
 Mir. Crcllan, doubtful and bcwildered, reached the volume. It opened read fly, and in the place where it opened lay blue foolscap envelope. The old gentleman took the envelope, drew from it white paper, stared first at the paper, then at Hewitt, and then at the paper again, let the volume slide from his lap and gaspcd:
 "Why-why-its the will!'
 "Ah, SO l thought" said Hewitt, catching the book as it fell. But don't lose this place in the cncyclopae- dia. Read the name of the article. What is it?"
 Mir. Crellan looked absent-mindedly at the title, holding the will before him all the time. Then, mechanically. he read aloud the word ''hypnotism.
 ''But-but how? don't under stand it. This, this is the real will, suppose?"
 Look at it; you know best"
 Mir. Crcllan looked. 'y
 ''Yes," he said, "this certainly is the will. But where did 1t come from? It hasn't been in this book all the time,r has it?" :.
 '.No. Didn't I tell you put there myself, as a marker?"
 ''Why, do you mean that Miss Garth has been hypnotized by-by Cranley Mellis?"
 .sI think that is the case; indeed, am pretty sure of it. Notice, on the occasion of each of his last two visits, he was alone with Miss Garth for some little time. On the evening following each of those visits she does something which she afterwards knows nothing about-something connected with the disappearance of this will, the only thing standing between Mir. Mellis and the whole of his uncle's property. Who could have been in a weaker nervous, |, ': state than Miss Garth has been lately?~ Remember, too, on the visit of last Saturday while Miss Garth says she only showed Mellis to the door, both you and the nurse speak of their being gone some little time. Miss Garth must have forgotten what took place then, when Mellis hypnotized her. and inn pressed on her the suggestion that she should take MT. Holford's will that night, long after he-Mellis-had gone, and when he could not be suspected of knowing anything of it. Further, that she should, at that time, when her movements would be less likely to be observed, secret that will in a place of hiding known only to himself. Yes terday, not finding the will there, he hypnotised Miss Grath once again, and conveyed the suggestion that, at mid night she should take the will from wherever she had put it and pass it tc him under the front door,"
 What, do you mean it was he you chased across the grounds last night?'.
 That is the thing l am pretty cer- tain of as
 And where did you find the will?''
 ''Now you come to practical details. You remember that I asked about the handy mans tool-house? We'll paid it visit at six o'clock this morning, and found therein some very excellent carpenters tools in Q chest. l took selection of them to the small staircase, md took out the tread of stair the one that the pivoted framing-plank rested on." Iet
 .'And you found the will there?" f
 ''The will, as rather expected when I examined the recess last night, had slipped down rather wide crack at the end of the stair timber, which you know formed, so to speak, the floor of the recess. The fact was the stair tread didn't quite reach as far as the back of the recess. The opening wasn't very distinct to see but soon felt it with my fingers. When Miss Garth in hypnotic condition on Saturday night dropped the will into the recess it shot