Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-08

amy other way OF leaving this room ex-
cept by the % we came :n?'
'tOh. yes. sir; there's a private exit!
/ viii show YOU"
Stepping quickly across the room, he
drew aside the folds OF a heavy curtain
OF dark gold brocade.
This door opened on a hall dimly
lighted by a skylight window of stained
glass. The hall was about sixteen feet
in length, and at it's extremity was an
other door.
What a singular arrangement De-
tectiye Hantlin murmured to himself,
in a musing tone. as he followed the
officer and Carl into this dim hall way
well, it is. rather returned Capt.
Monroe. But there's no accounting for
the freaks Of these rich men. / sup
pose, now, he a some special reason-
your master had-in having this queer
way of leaving his dressing room?'
80 He had, sir. He had two reasons,
Carl returned, eagerly, for he seemed
to think that the police captains words
threw some kind OF a disagreeable re-
Election on his poor masters ~eccentrlcl-
ties-if one chose TO think them so. In
the first place. this passage way LEADS
on one side to Mr.. Grayson's bath room,
which he chose to have at a consider
able distance from his dressing room,
because he rad a nervous horrir OF the
dripping of water, that sometimes takes
place from the pipes, however carerui
because he had a nervous horror or the
other side of the hall, outside of that
door, is a stairway hat leads to the
kitchen. Mr.. Grayson was the most
particular gentleman / ever served
about his food. He suffered at times
from acute dyspepsia. and he was SO
sensitive about II that l was, besides MS
physician, DIR. Sprague. about the only
person in the world who. knew 1t I'm
a skilled cook, gentlemen. / learned II
In Paris, where I served a marquis, and
often, after all the household has re-
tired for the night, i used to COOK a
dainty little supper for my master. and
bring it to him, unknown to anyone by
this private entrance 20 his dressing
room. 1t was as much as my place
was worth to be discovered-to be met
going or coming-and / beg to assure
you, gentlemen, that I would not now
reveal my poor masters little weakness,
only that it seems necessary to explain,
the existence of this passage way"
Just so-just so!" returned Capt.
Monroe. Then it would la been pos
sible for the murderer to have made his
escape by this PASSAGE"
Just barely possible, sir-that is to
say, he might stumble or a means Of
escape by rushing through here, discoV-
ering the staircase that leads TO the
kitchen. and so find his way out into
the back yard-but not without being
seen, sir. Why, all h servants were
down stairs. 1 was myself among them,
for / was expecting TO hear my mas
ter's bell. The wedding party were to
have started on their wedding journey
Immediately after breakfast, and L
knew that Mr.. Grayson might ring for
me at any moment. No, sir; / don't
see how any one could have escaped
that way"
Let us take another look, anyhow.
Surprising the murderer to have reached
that door and 10 have found his way
into the hall beyond, he might have
concealed himself-he may yet be in the
house. 1t seems impossible that he can
have left it."
1.-The monster-the wretch" cried
Carl, with concentrated fury. "Oh,
that / could find him, But I'd make
short work of him. This way, sir"
He hurried on ahead of the police cap
tain. who, however, made good haste
after him.
Hantlin, the detective, followed more
slowly, his gaze wandering about the
dimly lighted hallway, and then mus
ingly turned toward the skylight of
stained glass above him, as If intent on
observing it's various hues, and compar-
ing them with the colored reflections on
the floor.
Presently his toe grazed something on
the door. He skillfully avoided step
ping on it, stopped. picked 1t up, and,
with a light throb of excitement. drop
ped 1t into his pocket.
At that moment the valet and the
captain of police reached the hall door,
and Carl, seizing the DOR knob, hur-
riedly turned 1t, and would nave torn
open the door, but it resisted. He pulled
and shook 1t. In his excitement he did
not seem to understand why it would
not open.
stop, stop," cried Capt. Monroe.
Don't you see the door is locked. and
the key is on the inside? No one has
escaped this way"
Carl dropped his hand from the door,
and, for a moment or two, stood gazing
stupidity at 1t.
THAT is so, sir, as you say" he then
answered. mo one has escaped by
that door,"
What do you say, Hantlin?" asked
the captain of police, addressing the de-
t~ective. who had now approached them.
We'll, / say it looks that way" re-
turned the detective. Now, let's re-
urn to the room and make a few in
quiries."
Have you found anything, gentle
men?-anything calculated to throw
light on this awful crime?" Mrs. Martin
exclaimed, coming eagerly forward, as
the three men returned to the room.
II lave found something" Hantlin
returned. His gaz seemed to take In
every one in the room as he spoke. Il
know not of what Importance 1t may be
yet, but / think / have found the weap-
on with which the deed was committed.
There 1t ISL"
His haad had gone to his pocket
while he spoke. and. as he uttered the
last words, he held up a curious weap-
on to have found such a use, and yet a
very deadly one.
1t was a long. slender stiletto, the
L Ia ~ xvAszl -..x1 A.