The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-02

sound asleep and snoring but Mr.. Danger
nelo crept nearer tc assure himself it was So
AS ne looked the lamp gave flicker and tnen
went out, so he crept quietly back and up
stairs again to Anthony's room.
anthony met him at the open door
is all safe?' he whispered.
Yes Give me your hand, and I'll guide
you-lts so dark, said Mr.. Danderfeld, shlv-
er1ng and without another word, the two
men went slowly and carefully down the
stairs and into the hall, keeping close to the
wall for guidance. Mr.. Dangerfeld leading
straight to the organ.
Stop" he whispered; there's a STEP"
A breath of cold air waved across An
thonys face, and he heard little click, and
then Mr.. Dangerfleld struck match
I'VE can have light now" he said, as he
lighted small hand lamp Its horrible, 1
think to be in the dark.
Anthony looked round curiously; they were
standing On a spiral stone stairway, with
some stone walls on either side, and small
oaken door at the bottom.
You'd never think of the secret passage
being here said Mr.. Dangerfield. 81 call it
good idea of the old man to build the or
gan in front of it, for would think the
paneling behind the pipes hid door, would
they?"
II haven't seen it in the daytime, and 1
d1d not know there was secret chamber in
the Manor" Anthony answered.
Very few know of it, replied Mr.. Dan
gerfield. Come on''-and he went briskly up
the steps; there's not too much time, for
they will be up and about the house again
soon.''
So they went I'D the staircase and along
passage and down another staircase, at the
end of which was door with a narrow
! thread of light coming from beneath it. Dan
gerfleld pushed it open and they entered
small circular room, with walls of undressed
stone There was no fireplace window,
but on looking closer, Anthony noticed two
or three lantern Sits high on side; an
oaken bench and narrow table stood in the
Mode, but there was no veStlge OF other
furniture, and the place was bitterly cold.
w a ytQrn
a talow candle puttering in it, and by its
light Jasper Mannering could be seen sitting
dejectedly with his head downcast, and his
hands claSped between his knees, WhiStling
melancholy air between his teeth. He rose
when he saw them, and shrugged his Shout
ders, for he was cramped with the cold.
It's lucky found this candle he said,
with an affectation of Indifference; else it
would have been Internal sitting here in the
dark I'd only half box Of matches" His
face was ghastly pale, and his eyes were
serve the impassiveness behind which he had
grown accustomed to hide a rather sensitive
disposition. Whats the exact charge
against me-? That woman told me murder
was fool to take fright and come up here.
had better have faced it and fought it out.
I didn't murder her. What's the charge, Dan
gerfeld? Give me all particulars"
It's for the murder of Juliette Mannering
your wife" answered Dangerield with a
SILVER; "at the Mechanics Institute, Nor
thington, the night was lecturing there"
= I L
Jasper bitterly.
Were you married?' asked Dangerfield.
II was, more's the pity Jasper answered,
still more bitterly 1--we been married seven
years She was. But what's the good of
talking? I was young fool. and she was
clever'-and he stopped.
You'd better tell US, Mannering," said Mr..
Dangerfield.
I'VE didn't agree for she drank" Manner
ing continued, with desperate calmness.
When 1 couldn't stand 1t any longer 1 left
her-she had terrible outbreaks, and nothing
could stop her. Besides-Never mind I took
care she'd plenty Of money'-callously-
death the sooner the better. l met her at the
Institute the night of your lecture; she was
in the corridor and she set me. 1 was fool
CROUCH to let her irritate me- pushed her
away, for she caught my arm. Ahi"-with
a shudder of disgust-"she had been at the
old game-she smelt loathsomey of gin. There
were some idiots looking at the scene. I
got away, and she followed me- shouting:
t but she didn't come into the lecture room at
ter Well after the lecture l met her
again, for she waited outside. She caught
hold of me, and l pushed her away-I shook
myself Free and that's all know of it, We
were at the top of some staircase but
whether she fell down or not 1 don't know.
don't think she did, for 1 should have no.
ticed if she had
You didn't look like a man who had COM
mitted murder" said Sir Anthony Il met
you coming down the staircase"
Did you? I don't remember seeing YOU,
Mannering said Il know I wished she were
dead, many time: but 1 didn't kill her-at
least, not inter Jionally, and / don't see how
could have stabbed her by accident"
Neither do l." said Anthony. '.It'll all
come right if we only have patience and 1ook
out carefully. Some clue to the real criminal
ic 10 ,1rp