The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-03

Is the moor gate, where the old gentleman
left his cigar ash 1t is a white wooden
gate with a latch. Beyond it lies the
wide moor. 1 remembered your theory OF
the affair and tried TO picture all that had
occurred. As the old man stood there he
SAW something coming across the moor.
something which terrified him so that lie
lost his wits. and ran and ran until he died
of sheer horror and exhaustion. There was
the long, gloomy tunnel down which he fed.
And from what? \ Sheep-dog of the moor?
or a spectral hound, black. silent and mon
strous? Did the pale. waIcnful barrymore
know more that he cared to gay? 1t was
all dim and vague, but always there is the
1 dark shadow of crime behind II.
one other neighbor 1 have met since I
wrote last. This is Mr.. Frankland OF Laf-
ter Hall. who lives some four miles TO the
south OF US. He is an elderly man, red
faced, white haired and choleric. His pas
sion IS for the British law. and he has
spent a large fortune in litigation. He
fights for the mere pleasure Of lighting and
Is equally ready TO take up either side or a
question. so that it IS no wonder that he
has found it y costly amusement. Some
times he will shut up a right-of-way and
defy the parish 10 make him open 1t. At
others he VIII with his own hands tear
down some other mans gate and declare
that a path has existed there from time i'm
memorial. defyIng the owner to Prosecute
him for trespass. He is learned in old
l4IdAlOil 1A4G uAAd 4iSAiob III no
applies his knowledge sometimes in favor
OF the villagers of Fernworthy and some
times against them, so that he is perioIi-
caIly either carried in triumph down the
village street or else burned In eiligy. ac-
cording to his latest exploit. He Is said
10 nave about seven lawsuits upon his
hands at present, which Will probably swal-
low up the remainder of his fortune and so
draw his sting and leave him harmless for
the future. Apart from the law he seems
= -- --.,- -ar-a- ~ Il nntU
mention him because you were particular
that l should send some description OF the
people who surround US He is curiOusly en-
ployed at present, for. being an amateur as
tronOmer, he has an excellent telescope, with
which he lies upon the roof of his own
house and sweeps the moor all day in the
hope Of catching a glimpse of the escaped
convict. If he would cOnfine his energies to
this all would be well, but there are ru-
mors That he intends to prosecute DOCTOR
Mortimer for opening a grave without the
consent of the next-of-kin. because he dug
up the neolithic skull in the barrow on Long
Down He helps to keep our lives from
being monotonouS and gives a little comb
relief where it is badly needed.
And now. having brought you up to date
In the escaped convict. the Stapletons. Doc
tor Mortimer and Frankland Of Latter Hall.
let me end on that which is most important
and tell you more about the Barrymores,
and especially about the surprising develop
ment Of last night.
First of all about the test telegram,
which you sent from London in order to
make sure that Barrymore was really here
1 have already explained that the testimony
OF the Postmaster shows that the test was
worthless and that We have no proof one
way or the other. I told Sir Henry how tie
matter stood, and he at once, in his down.
right fashion. had Barrymore up and asked
him whether he had received the telegram
bIpnsalf ParrynOrA said that ne had
did the boy deliver 1t into your own
hands?' asked Sir Henry.
Barrymore looked surprised, and consid-
cred for a little time
NO" said hek"I was in the bedroom at
the time. and my wife brought it up TO
me"
Did you answer 1t yourself?"
mo; 1 told my wife what to answer and
she went down to write it"
In the evening he required to the subject
OF his own accord.
"I could not quite understand the object
Of your questions this morning. Sir Henry"
said he. IT trust that they do not mean
that 1 have done anything to forfeit your
confdence?'
Sir Henry had to assure him that 1t was
not SO. and pacify him by giving him a
considerable part OF his old wardrobe, the
London outfit having now arrived.
Mrs Barrymore is of little interest to me.
She is a heavy, solid person, very limited,
intensely respectable, and inclined to be
puritanical. You could hardly conceive a
less emotional subject. Yet I have told
you how. on the first night here. I heard her
sobbing bitterly. and since then I have
more than once observed traces Of tears
upon her face. Some deep sorrow gnaws
ever at her heart. Sometimes I wonder IL
she has q guilty memory which haunts her,
and sometimes I suspect Barrymore OF
being a domestic tyrant. I have always felt
that there was something singular and Ques-
tonable in this mans character. but the
adventure Of last night brings all my sus-
picions to a head.
And yet it may seem a small matter in
itself. You are aware that I am not a
very sound sleeper, and since 1 have been
on guard in this house my slumbers have
been lighter than ever. Last night, about =.
2 in the morning, I was aroused by a
stealthy step passing my room. I rose,
opened my door. and peeped out A long
black shadow was trailing down the cor
ridor. 1t was thrown by a man who walked
softly down the passage with a candle held
In his hand. He was in shirt and trousers,
with no covering to his feet. I could merely
see the outline. but his height told me that
It was Barrymore. He walked very slow
ly and circumspectly. and there was some
thing indescribably guilty and furtive In his
whole appearance.
1 have told you that the corridor Is broken
by the balcony which runs round the hall,
u lndI II IS TtSuuleQ UPON the ID -utE
side. 1 waited until he had passed out OF
sight and then 1 followed him. When I
came round the balcony he had reached the
end Of the farther corridor. and ! could
see from the glimmer Of light through an
open door that he had entered one Of the
rooms. Now, all these rooms are unfur-
nished and u~noccupied. SO that his ex-
petition became more mysterious than
ever. The light shone steadily as II he
were standing motionless. 1 crept down ths
passage as noiselessly as I could and peeped
round the corner of the door. =
Barrymore was crouching at the window
with the candle held against the glass. His
profile was half turned toward me, and his
face seemed to be rigid with expectation as
he stared out into the blackness Of the
moor. For some minutes he stood watch
ing intsntly. Then he gave a deep groan
and with an impatient gesture he put out
the light. Instantly l made my way back
to my room, and very shortly came the
stealthy steps passing once more upon their
return Journey. Long afterwards when 7
had fallen into a light sleep ! heard a key
turn somewhere in : lock. but l could not
tell whence the sound came. What II all
means l cannot guess. but there IS some
secret business going on in this house OF
gloom which sooner or later we shall get
to the bottom of. / do not trouble you with
my theories, for you asked me to furnish
you only with facts. / have had a long talk
with Sir Henry this morning, and we have
made a plan Of campaign founded upon my
Observations of last night. I will not speak
about it just now, but il should make my
next report interesting reading.