Evening journal., 1899-01-03

"They seemed strange from the first
and kept all their doors locked. Then |
they began 10 have mysterious visitors
long after dark, and my servant kept |
waking me at night TO say she could not |
sleep for the queer noises. I'm positive |
there's something wrong, and yet l
daren't say anything, for there are fire.
arms about-the man deliberately shot
my cat one day because it looked at his
canary. Bat that's not all. These last /
two days there has been o continual
digging sound down in the basement,
especially at night. / lie and quake. 1t
sounds Just as if they are burrowing
under the street-they might for all l
know be mixed up with those dreadful
nihilist people There. l know there is
a mystery behindl"
That was it, poured out in agitated
breaths. l think twas fully minute
before l could turn my face and say
steadily;
Indeed? And what made you come
to me, madam9"
'To you? Oh, Of course Why, gave
them notice to go six weeks back, and
they simply laughed. Since then they
have not offered a farthing rent. Idread
an upset Of any kind. Several times
have thought Of going to the police for
advice, and always hesitated. But this
evening my girl said there was home
ly constable at the corner. The Win
stons happened to have gone out. So
slipped on my things, ran up and asked
/ a. -. ! l., 20,
what was going on and how could get
an ejeotment notice. He wrote this ad-
dress ON piece of paper and told me to
come straight to you, the inspector, as
you would see into it Immediately. He
said something about search warrant,
but how could p
"He did quite right, and so did you'll
was at the door in two strides. This
| queer accident, brought about so sim
ply, showed the way as clear as day
light. had stumbled upon the nest and
should have the silk within few hours
1 would wait for no search warrant, nor
to ask further details. "This way, mad
am. You say they have gone out; then
I'll come back with you. In any case
you can admit me as friend"
"Ye-es." She had hand to her fore
head. "But-but I'm sure they are des-
perate people, Anything rather than a
disturbance or that the neighbors should
talk. "
Leave that TO me. Er-KatieW
called over the banisters. Don't sit
up, in case I'm late. "
] We went out. A moment later we
were hurrying toward Windygate street
and-what?
1 looked round for our constable. H'
) stepped out from the shadow opposite
No. 0.
Haven't seen any one go in, sir, >
1 he whispered 1.-THE lady asked me t
wait near, in case Of anything. thinl
3 we've got 'em easily. / tumbled at once
No, I'm not relieved for two hours yet
sir.
Z "Como inside with Us, then" Upth
steps we went. The servant girl yer.
pale, was standing in the ball. Togethe
? we all stood listening. Not sound iron
below. Nothing more lucky could hav
! happened. "Now, keep cool. madam,
l said, "and we'll have a look roun
+ down stairs. The girl can watch here
by Jovel yes, every door is lockedF'
/ pulled ont my bunch Of keys to tr
j. them. We were standing in the passag
! below, the candestick shaking in Mrs
J Varney's hand. It was rather an excii
. ing moment.
i "None of mine fit, l know" sh
. breathed nervously. "But do max
u haste, sir--couldnt they imprison L
. for doing this? There, that key look
. exactly like the breakfast parlor one
q this door let me try it, sir. No,
= doesn' { quite turn. Oh, and there's th
u door of the big cellar, whore we kee
~ hearing the digging and knockin
- noises %
/ had forgotten that Flinging ope
~ the door, 1 peered down into the blacl
81 ness. "Hand me that lamp-well 500
s. know, p" I said, and the constable 70
Ig lowed me down the wooden steps.
the foot the ceiling was so low we ha
n to stoop. "Quick, we might find Il
l bales herew I whispered to him.
e. "Mind the coalsp' came madam
N shaky voice down. "Oh, be quick III
" cellar runs out under the street.
D. sounded as if they-Mercy, it's Il
as Winstons come baekl Out with tl
y light, sir-don't move, for heaven
ss sake"
= We were half way across the dam
= black space. Her voice merged into
y half scream so thrillingly, that on q
~ spur of the moment / blew the cand
30 out and grippcd the constable's arm.
d mere nothing became tragedy of su
gu den. There was the sound Of a do
no slammed to, and then heavy footste
10 and deep voices in the passage overhea
% Ii had happened so swiftly and une
" peotedly that we stood holding o
IS breath down there most foolishly. Mo
on banging and humping and talk owe
u' head-then a comparative silence, bI
ken by the oonstable's unoomfortat
- laugh.
Nn "Well, l never What's our ne
Gu move, sir9 They've caught her spyiu
~ and there's more than one to tack
40 AwkwardW
W "Pooh p'- stopped there, becar
ne it suddenly struck me that his VIC