The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-08

but he will not be of much use on the
first landing. Didn't you see her scurry-
ing along the road from your Window"
NO. stammered Mr.. Steinworth.
"After l heard the hall door opening l
stood at my own locked door, with my
ear glued to it, trying if l could find
out what had gone wrong-what was
the matter-but l could only hear your
voice and the sobs of q woman This
is terrible news, certainly"
eyes. 1t is rather startling, especial
~ to those that belong to the house.
And now, young gentleman, will you
give me your attention for a bit until the
doctor cOmes?'
"~Certainly,' said Steinworth, pull
ing himself together. Il suppose l had
better abandon all hope Of catching the
z 40 at PaddingtOn?'
Il should think so,'' said Constable
Metcalf. Nov, sir, first and foremost,
the locks of these bedrooms puzzle me.
They are different from other locks.
Can you explain about them?"
A dead body was not much of a mys-
terry to the constable, but the young
man locked into his room was a matter
that wanted clearing up.
"Oh, yes" answered Steinworth
briskly. Il remember l used to kick up
a shine with Mrs. Davorn"-he gasped
as he mentioned the name-''in the be-
ginning, and the unfortunate lady got
brass bolts fixed on the inside of the
doors. That's mine, as you can see,"
pointing to u small brass bolt fixed on
the door. "She told me that when the
house was being renovated-just before
she came to it-whOever did it up
thought the old locks were too good to
throw away" He had now recovered
his complacent manner, and he spoke
with the volubility which had in the
beginning disconnected the police con-
stable. much too good to throw away.
Wonderfully good locks, I understand.
They are all the same in the bedrooms
"a least, SO I understand. A brass box
is all I have got for my money inside,
as you can see. No hole inside for the
key. No use in any II putting her eye
to the keyhOle outside. I used to think
it very rummy myself in the start, but
l got accustomed to it in time. And it
has got it's advantages. 1t is handy
enough if you want to leave the room
for a bit. Lock the door outside, put
the key in your pocket, and there you
are. You haven't to go fishing for a key
inside, and there's no occasion to lose
your temper trying to fit it into the hole
outside. Capital lock, I call it. And
thar, x-hnn I do xI-apf 70 chpt yp1.n1f ,,~
for the night there's the brass bolt that
Mrs. Davorn got fixed for me But
this is awful news about herr The pal
lor overspread his face again, and his
voice grew husky. "She seemed quite
in her ordinary health last night. l
wonder what did she die off,
1--WE must leave that to the DOCTORS"
answered Constable Metcalf, gazing fix
eddy at the lock Of Albert Steinworth's
door. Il suppose" said he after a mo-
mentary pause, ''the other room on the
same landing is a bedroom?"
eyes"
Occupied, l presume?"
eyes. A Mr.. Nickery occupies it. A
rum sort of customer. Always closeted
in his with something or other
which he says he is inventing-unlcss
when he is out on the prowl He's a
strange Ole cOdger-not that he is so
very old either except about the eyes.
They seem to be 100 years of age"
HE sleeps pretty soundly-that is,
if he has no been awakened by Miss
Rodney's cry
"Sleep! He's a rare one to sleep. I
don't think he's ever u of bed before
II O'Clock in the day"
"Let us see if he is up now"
lyon may take my word for it he is
now snoring like a pig"
"Well if the young lady's cry did not
wake him no ordinary sound will have
much effect upon him. He'll have to be
shaken
Like q carpet. -" obserTed Mr.. Stein
worth. smiling ard disclosing two long,
white teeth under his light mustache.
"Perhaps he is locked in too"
Like enough. What do You make of
it? Window below forced, my room lock-
ed from the outside, Mrs. Davorn dead. "
He shuddered as he used her name.
"What ON earth does it all mean? | feel
quite shaken"
:, 1--WE must wait"
Constable Metcalf moved out Of the
room, his gaze still fascinated by the
brass lock.
| You'll excuse me, SIR" said he
suayely as he stood with Albert Stein
worth on the landing, ''bnt I'll inst loci