The age-herald., 1901-11-03
By DEREK vANH. Author 1.-The Three Daugh- ters of Night, " "The Mystery of the Moat House." Etc.

might have seen 1t.
 s.'No," I said, q have heard nothing. What was it?'
 .sThe gentleman who has just taken the Grey House over there-hes got a queer name: Mir. Terah 'Schlich-was out r, ling this morning, as you might be now, when he was thrown from his horse and L-oke his leg. They telegraphed to Lono m doctor to come down. and he set it. and I hear the poor gentleman's going on all light. But it'll be hard lines for him. so fo, as he is of being out and about. Such a pleasant gentleman, too
 with friendly word for everybody
 I had started at the name and Black Bess shook herself playfully, so that the lady beat a hasty retreat, and my sur prise passed unnoticed
 What an unfortunate thing" I said.
 "Is the gentleman living here alone?''
 Yes. He said he had not been having very good health, and had come down for a rest and change. I'm afraid this will
 throw him back again."
 When l said goodnight to the landlady.
 l walked my horse in the direction of the
 Grey House. l knew it by sight, for l
 had noticed it when out riding It was
 gloomy, neglected looking place, sur rounded by extensive grounds, which had l been allowed to run wild The house
 had stood empty for some time l knew,
 and eidently Schlich had not troubled to IL. the road the trees were so thick and high that but little else could be seen. I went 1 past at the slowest pace that was pru- | dent scanning it as closely as I dared. 1 With such willy adversary one could not be too cautious. The Grey House had not neighbor for half a mile, and there was very little traffic along the road Ger | tainly If seclusion were desired he had come to the right place. And what was 1 to think of the acci- l dent? That was feature In the case | for which l was not prepared. and 1t puzzled me. Was 1t genuine or was it | not? There seemed no ground for sup | posing that 1t had been arranged for my benefit, to baffle me or put me off the scent. It had occurred before I had made a movement, and, besides, I had no | reason to believe that Mir Schlich was even aware of my existence. I had never been mixed up with him before.
 | Supposing I accepted the accident as genuine, then what aspect did the affair assume? Schlich confined to his bed
 with broken limb, could certainly not | take an active part in any mischief that | was brewing. But I remembered what
 the chief had said, that 1t was probably
 from the least likely quarter that trouble
 would come. Though the arch-plotter might be shut up in one roon his brain could go over the world. He could form l his plans and, give his orders almost as well in his present condition as though
 nothing was the matter. -sHe had, no doubt, more than one trusty agent, or
 with secret code and the penny post he | could dispense with even the risk of a go-between. His accident might, indeed, I be of assistance to him, as affording him l an excuse for shutting himself up If he wished to do so. | I reached home, restless and uneasy, undecided what to do.
 A day or two passed but brought me no light. went for long, lonely rides as was my habit. contriving to, pass the Grey House either going or returning, but could see and hear nothing. It was as silent as house of the dead. I pie tured the ruthless master wea,.ag his webs in the silence and darkness, like human spider, hungry for lives, and ragged inwardly, because not one single thread found it's way to my hands. made cautious enquiries of my friend, the landlady, and at the village postoffice, but all I learned was that MT. Schlich was progressing favorably and that he had very few letters. If Sir Edward had not been so sure that he was plotting mis- chief might have thought that he was here really only for rest and change of air, his existence appeared so harmless. There was no disguise about him, not even in his name. If 1t were not the frankness of innocence, 1t must be the audacity of guilt.
 had gone for long ride one evening and 1t was getting dark when I found myself again on the road to the Grey House. was approaching The Films. the nearest residence to MT. Schlich's, which also stood in we'll wooded grounds, and was occupied-I had heard-by a sci enlist of some reputation and his only son. piece of ragged common land ran by the side of the road here for more than mile, and I was riding quietly along on the grass. for both Black Bess and were tired, when I noticed cart drawn up on the other side Of the road. The horse had on ainosebag and the tall of the cart was turned towards a little door in the garden wall of The Elms I was little curious as to what the cart could contain that it should be un- loaded so late at a side door and, half unconsciously, I stopped a moment to look. As paused two men came out and heard one of them say
 How many more have we got?' and there was sound like the striking of match.
 His companion uttered a sharp excla- nation. and stopped him with gesture of alarm. Are you mad?' he said. Do you want to blow us all to blazes?'
 There was a muttered reply, and the man began rolling something towards
 
 me to see distinctly, but I could distin- guish the shape of a barrel He lifted 1t on to his shoulders and carried 1t through the garden gate, his companion following with a similar load.
 When the sound of their footsteps had died away, I. very cautiously, went up to the cart and looked inside. tarpau- lin sheet was thrown back, and under meath 1t 1 saw two or three small bar rels. Looking closer, I noticed some writ ing on them in white paint. It was the word Gunpowder. ElF % Instinctively rode quietly away before the men could return. Gunpowder The word haunted me, though remembering that the occupant of The Films was en- gagged in scientific pursuits, told myself there was nothing extraordinary in his having this explosive in his possession. But in such a large quantity! He must surely be engaged on an experiment. of considerable importance to need so much. And then the thought struck me that he was Terah Schlich's nearest neighbor. | Could there be any connection between 4 | the two? I was in such suspicious | frame of mind that I was ready to i'm agine anything. n- | I was too restless and excited to sleep. and waited until the moon had risen, so
 as I should have light enough for my purpose, I put on a dark cloak, drawing l the hood over my head. and slipping a | revolver in my pocket, left the house. Fortunately I was a good walker, for I | had some distance to go, and I could not ..s. lrfr, nlr kY.t~