The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-26
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE EXTENSION.

A few minutes later Sturgis, APP
parently absorbed in the contempla-
ton of the paintings which hung in
the hall, heard the door of MurdocRs
study open softly. Although the re-
porter did not turn his heed, he at
once became conscious that the chem
lists piercing eyes were fixed upon
him. The observation lasted so long
that Sturgis. self-possessed as was his
nervous, when at last DR.. Murdoch
broke the silence:
II have to apologize for leaving you
standing in the hall, Mr.. Sturgis. L
was under the impression that | had
invited you to step into the parlor."
The words, courteous in themselves,
conveyed to the hearer an impression
of biting sarcasm.
81 found the parlor already occu-
pied; | hesitated to disturb tete-a-
tete," replied Sturgis, quietly.
Murdoch eyed him narrowly for
moment. and then invited him into
the study.
The chemists study was spacious
room, plainly but luNuriously fur
nished, and containing every conven
fence and comfort calculated to light
en- the labor of a busy man. The
table, Uttered with books and papers.
stood near a small safe and almost
directly OPPOSITE the hall door.
Speaking-tubes and electric call but
tons were within reach of the occu-
pant of the easy chair, and probably
placed him in communication with
the various portions of the house
hold; while Il telephone on one side
and a typewriter on the other showed
that the chemist kept in touch also
with the outside world.
Murdock's interlocutor. whoever he
had been had disappeared. But how?
The question interested Sturgis, and
his mind at once began to seek an
answer to it.
There We're three doors leading
from the study. One of these was the
had just entered from the hall. No
one could have passed out that way
without meeting them.
Then there We're the folding doors
leading into the library: but, as the
door leading from the library to the
hall had remained slightly ajar, Stur-
gis felt sure that he would have heard
the man had he gone out by that
way.
tension.
''He must have gone into the ex-
tension thought Sturgis.
The only alternative was an exit
through the windows. This in itself
would not have presented any special
difficulty; for the distance TO the
tagging below was hardly more than
10 or 10 feet. But the yard, which
was of diminutiye size on account of
the space allotted TO the garden on
the street, was incloscd by an un-
usually high fence, protected by Il
row of sharp and closely set spikes.
These looked so formidable that the
thought of anyone attempting to
scale the fence instantly suggested
Visions of impaled wretches writhing
in oriental fortunes. The only pos
4 SIDlc cAlI lIoIli lHe SdIu, lueTeIOfc,
seemed to be through the basement;
that is to say, past the kitchen and
the servants department.
All these thoughts flashed through
the reporters brain in a small frac
ton of the time which is required to
record them. They occurred to him
unbidden, while his conscious efforts
were conferred upon discovering how
Chatham had managed to escape from
the rear of the Manhattan Chemical
company's building.
4 This sturgis recognized without
much difficulty. 1t was directly in
line with the house in which he now
was, and it's yard did not differ from
the neighboring ones, the fences of
{ which could be scaled without much
Il trouble. Chatham evidently might
have passed into any one of several
{ buildings which lacked the protection
szspf the formidable spikes that so eff
fectually guarded the approach to
Murdock's house from the rear.
One point, however, was puzzling.
Why should Chatham take the trou-