Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-03-14

The last letter went out with Il bright
flash, giving Lampkin vague view of
the large room ard the Benton party
about 20 feet IN front of him. The next
instant the room was totally dark. 1t
remained So for two or three minutes.
Then the flute note sounded again, and
a large square of light appeared ahead
of them. II looked as if it were half a
mile from where the spectators sat.
Slowly it began TO take the form of the
interior of \ room. The walls, pictures
and curtains came into view, and then
the furniture, desk, man sitting at it.
Alice Benton stif1ed scream. 1t was
her father. He sat writing. He leaned
forward and dipped his pen in the ink
stand. The spectators saw the movement
of his hand over the paper and heard
the scratching of his pen. He turned his
head, looked at them and then rose de-
liberately, laid his left hand on his
breast and pointed steadily at them.
His lips moved, but no sound passed
through them. Then Dr.. Lampkin heard
some one gasping for breath and a
heavy weight fall to the floor. Instant
Iy the room was dark.
GA lightr' cried Ralph Benton's
voice "Turn on the l1ghts Something
has happened to Mr.. Allen
''What has haPpened?" asked the
adept from the darkness.
"Mr. Allen has fainted," replied
Ralph. "Hc was not we'll and did not
want to come here anyway. Why don't
you turn On the Iights?"
DR.. Lampkin felt some one touch his
aII r. o J., cf 10
tective on his ear.
Remain where you are, " whispered
Hendricks. "Blsst his ugly pictureP'
''Give US light, say'' cried Ralph
angrily.
''See, he-ycur Mr.. Allen is waking"
said the adept.
''Waking:' sneered Benton. DO you
think that's the way he usually retires?"
The darkness was lifted slightly.
How it was done Lampkin could not
tell. Montcastle and Ralph could be
seen standing and supporting Allen be-
tween them.
''The door is open,' said Kola.
tfYou'd better all go out into the fresh
air.
Montcastle and Allen were cropping
toward the door, led by the adept. Sud
denly Ralph, who had not moved, raised
his voice:
81 don't intend to leave till I know
what this internal business means. I
say, Montcastle, give me matchP'
Course the young daredevilP' ex-
claimed Hendricks, still near to Lamp
kin, and the doctor heard him take
something t -om his pocket which rat
tied like pieces of metal. ''Ill pay him
for this. %
Then the flute note sounded twice.
''The master wants US to retire. said
Kola.
"Who the devil is 'the master?'"
sneered Ralph. ''This thing touches my
own family, and I am going to look
into it. -
''Dcn't be a FOOL" cautioned Stan
wood. "The ladies are here, and they
have already had enough
''For my sake, come on, dearp' i'm
plored Miss Hastings. "We dom know
where we are, and''-
Montcastle,'' commanded Ralph,
f'take the ladies out. I am going to
look into this. It's all trick to work
on our imaginations by that Internal
Hendricks. -
Lampkin heard the metallic clicking
in the detectives hand and saw him
glide suddenly forward. He had no
sooner reached Ralph than another
clicking sound was heard. There was
a struggle, p rafting Of a chain, and
an angry oath escaped Bentons lips.
''What do you mean?" he cried, turn
ing on Hendricks and raising his hand
cuffed wris-7 thre ateningly.
''You are under arrest for the murder
of your f. err said Hendricks. He
whistled s. 4ly, and light was turned
ON behind screen in the rear It's
beams partially lighted the long room