Evening journal., 1899-10-20

nest ana should nave the SILK Wlthln
n few hours l would wait for
no search warrant, nor to ask further
details
A moment later we were hurrying
toward Windygate st. and-what?
I looked round for our constable.
He stepped out from the shadow op-
posite No. Q.
Haven't seen any one 80 in, sir" he
whispered. "The lady asked me to
wait near, in case of anything.
think we've got 'em easily-I tumbled
at once. No. I'm not relieved for two
hours yet, sir"
Up the steps we went. The servant
girl. very pale, was standing in the
hall. Together we all stood listening
not a sound from below.
''Now, keep cool, madam" I said,
"and wen have a look round down
stairs. The girl can watch here. BY
Jove, yes, every door Is lockedF'
pulled out my bunch of keys to try
them. We were standing in the pas
sage below, the candlestick shaking in
Mrs. Varney's hand.
"None of mine fit, / know" she
breathed. nervOusly. "But do make
haste. sir-couldnt they imprison us
for doing this?.- There, that key
looks exactly like the breakfast parlor
one-this door; lie me try it, sir. No,
It doesn't quite turn. o, and there's
the door of the big cellar, where we
keep hearing the digging and knock
ing noisesw
/ had forgotten that Flinglng open
the door. / peered down into the black
ness. "TIand me that lamp-we'll soon
know" / said, and the constable fol-
lowed me down the wooden steps
"Mind the coalsw came madam's
shalzy voice down. %, be quickl The
cellar runs out under the street. 1t
sounded as if they. Mercy, It's
the NVinstons, come backl Out with
the light, sir-don't move, for heavens
saler
We were half way across the damp,
black space; her voice merged into
half scream so thrillingly, that on the
spur of the moment l blew the candle
out and griDped the cOnstable's arm
There was the sound of n heavy door
slammed to, and then heavy footsteps
and deeD voices in the passage over
head.
We had no search warrant-and
there might be a mistake. after all.
Besides, to disclose ourselves might
mean n bad half hour for Mrs. Narney
If not for us.
The cellar door had evidently been
closed as no light came down, and the
sounds were muffled. Finally | con-
cluded that the best thing in the CIR
cumstances would be to find some IN.
eliminating evidence if possible, and
get away without being seen-if pos
sible, again. / felt for my matchbox,
and rellt the candle.
, There were no signs Of any excava-
. fions whatever that we could discover.
Z went cautiously back to the steps
and pushed. 1t gave me quite little
thrill TO find the door immOvable. The
| constable looked rather pale in the
/ candlelight.
"Queer's the word, sirg he whisper.
, ed. 81 don't half like it. ! just
! thought Of the coal-shoot. and there
something on 1.-THE plate won't shift
! They know we're down here, mark my
! -'shl that's cart stopping outside
| Mr.. Girdlestone. they're clearing of!
| For time we stood, in sort OF
stupefaction: then, in a spasm of rage
= / made a dash at that door. deter
s mined to chance anything. Useless
I It resisted our united strain; clearly
D we were pushing against some welgh
] ty object.
= LET them gow / painted at last
ave must have them sooner or later
- she'll come down and let us out the
, moment they turn their hacks"
4 useless they've done for herr h'
:. whispered. at took something t'
;. frighten that woman sirl"
p And almost simultaneOusly-sha
4 ever forget it?-there came a lull II
s the scurrying overhead, and then
!. voice. thick with nervous laughter
Just out side that door:
n 'lgr-mind the coals"
+ It was Mrs. Varney's voice. The hal
!. door banged. there was Il sound OF
2 cart rumbling away, and then-utteI
significant silence.
O "Your runcheOnw | gasped. "lo'
I haven't one? Up with some of thi
l. coal: aim high and splinter that dOol
Il I'll have them yetH
q The top hinge save-a panel shat
n tered: in two minutes we were clam
q herring across a heavy wringing ma
q chine that had been wedged betweel
q the door and n projection of the wal
d The place was, save for one or IVY
q rooms. practically destitute Of furni
r. ture-clearly enough it had been reni
ed more for nefarious than for dc
L mestic purposes. Ten minutes late
N we painted into the police station. an
4 had sent all the available men. wit
IN descriptions Of the young widow
a flying over Camden Town.
n Then I started back for home.
q would get rid OF the Crime and COS
4. dust. and then take a cab straight
IN Scotland Yard.
s- I got to the door and pulled out m
10 keys. My keysl They are not mine
8. with gasp stood and realized thf
4. that clever creature, asking TO tr
,e them. had handed me back her ow
IN bunch in exchange. Twice | lSnOcke
e loudly before the door opened an
~ showed me my wlfe's face as whit
IL as n sheet.
N "You. Jimmy? o. thank HEAVIER
no. We haven't dared TO mover
81 "W-what do you mean|-in II
| merest whisper.
1--WE were sitting in the kitchen, M
% half an hour ago. and we thought "
y heard some one moving about up hel
IN creeping up and down stairs.
rs screamed out something. and Jar
M SAYS she heard this door click. W
Ia couldn't stir hand or foot till | heaI
se you knock I knew it couldn't
~ yOu.n