Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-08-17
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! FIN gctor's Stratagem, \
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fools paradise, and, heaven knows, the
awakening is hard.''
1.-THE best thing might be to put the
matter into the hands of the police"
Stephen suggested, calmly.
Il cannot bring myself to it," Geof-
frey said. 1T would be making public
what l have promised should be sa-
cred"
Stephen knocked the ash off his cigar
as he said thoughtfully:
Il wonder if Hammond would de-
stroy. the papers? They would be dan
gerous things to keep"
Il don't fancy he would-at least, not
yet; he would naturally hope to make
capital out of them"
Stephen nodded assent; then he add
ed:
You know Hammond has married a
widow with bit of money, who has a
house somewhere in the suburbs?'
Would he go to his homer? Geoff
asked doubtfully.
Very probably" Stephen answered.
Then he took out his watch. Il must
be at a rehearsal in half an hour" he
said.
But what can be done, Stephen? Can
you think of nothing?"
"a plan that would serve us is not to
be thought of on the instant" Stephen
said; but l will do my best"
IL was midnight, and in small house
in st. Johns Wood the lights were all
eXtinguished, except those in the spe-
cial sanctum of the master of the estab-
lishment The other inmates of the
house were all wrapped in slumber,
while George Hammond sat brooding.
On, the table before him lay leather
letter-case. The question he was de-
batting was whether or not the papers
should be destroyed.
1t had struck | o'clock when he was
reused from his reverie by a loud
knocking at the front door. He started
up, and was about to thrust the letter.
case into his pocket, but changing his
mind, placed it again on the table be-
fore he hurried downstairs.
Hammond was anxious that the
household should not be reused, 1t
would not mend matters to have his
wife coming down inquiring what was
amiss. SO he unlocked the door, and
drew back the bolts cautiously; then,
leaving the chain still up, opened the
door few inches, demanding who was
there.
.N.,I- 10 .rIo
eye came into the dark hall, as a voice
answered.:
"A constable. Are you the owner of
the house?"
Hammond replied that he was, and
asked what the policeman wanted.
Il have reason to believe that an at
tempt is being made to enter your
premises" he said. "A man has been
watching at the back for the last hour.
Have you much plateT'
we have some plate, certainly, but
| don't think any one could get at it.
My people are all asleep, so hope there
will be no disturbance"
Let me in, and will look at the
fastenings," the constable returned.
The chain was undone, and, saying
he was glad the women folk were
a-bed, as they always took alarm at the
sight of policeman, he told Hammond
only to close the door, as he should be
off again directly. Then, throwing the
light of his lantern before him, kitchen.
scullery. pantry, all We're visited,
places into which Hammond had never
before made his way. The policeman's
keen eye scanned each lock and win.
dow, but all were securely fastened.
AS they emerged once more into the
hall, the policeman asked:
(which is the room at the back of
the house. where the lights are burn
ing?'
MY private sitting room," Hammond
said impatiently. 1T is impossible any
one could reach it from the outside. 1t
must be thirty or forty feet from the
ground"
Few things are impossible to de-
termined mind" the constable answer
ed, as he made his way noiselessly up
stairs, Hammond following
The policeman entered the brightly.
lighted re m, and gave a quick glance
round men he turned out the gas.
leaving the room in darkness. save for
the occasional glean of his hulfs-eye.
lie asked Hammond to draw up the
blind and open the window. Then the
two men peered into the garden be.
meath.
"As you say, it is impossible for any
one to get in this way" the constable
said; land having ascertained that, |
must be off"
He quilted the room. leaving Ham
mond alone in the dark.
He ws still fumbling for the matches.
when the front door CLOSED with q