Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-30

1HNaa Ra1 hNNh NNHNU NLNNnH
at the back Of the room, and in order TO
avoid the others we lunched together At an
opposite public-house in Brentford, on the
opposite side OF the Thames TO Kew Gar.
dens. IL was the only place we could dis
cover, save the hotel where the inquest
had been held, and we had no desire 10 be
interrupted, for during the inquiry he had
passed me a scrap OF paper upon which he
had written an earnest request to see ma
alone afterwards.
Therefore, when l had seen E~thelyynne
Into a cab, and had babe farewell 10 Sir
Bernard and received certain private in.
struetions from him. we walked together
into the narrow. rather dirty High street
OF Brentford, the county town OF Mlddlesex.
The Inn we entered was close to a soap
works, the odor from which was not con-
ducive to a good appetite, but we obtained
a room to ourselves and ate our meal OF
cold beef almost in silence.
Il was up early this morning. Amber
observed at last. Il was at Kew at 8
o'clock"
"why?'
I'm the night an idea struck me. and
when such ideas occur I always seek "a
put them promptly into action"
What was the idea?" asked.
Il thought about the safe in the old
mans bedroom" he replied. laying down
his knife and fork and looking at me.
what about Il? There's surely nothing
extraordinary in a mao having a safe in
his room? 20
No. But there's something extraordi-
nary in the key OF the safe being missing"
ne said. Thorpe has apparently over
looked the point; therefore this morning
went down to Kew, and finding only a con-
stable In charge, I made a thorough search
through the place. In the dead mans room
l naturally expected to find It, and after
nearly a couple of hours searching in every
nook and every crack l succeeded. It was
hidden in the mould Of a small pot fern.
standing in the corridor outside the room"
You examines the safe, then"
mo, l didn't. There might be money
and valuables within, and / had no right
to open II without the presence Of a wit
ness. I've waited for you to
me. Wen go there after luncheon and
examine its contents"
"But the executors might have something
to say regarding such an action" l re-
marked.
Executors be hanged: saw them this
morning, a couple Of dry-as-dust old fossils
city men, l think, who only think OF
'~RNAN Az OuI uuIY
is to solve this mystery. The executors
can have their turn, old chap, when we've
finished. At present they haven't the key,
or any notion where It is. One Of them
1t, and said he supposed It was
in the widows possession"
WELL" l remarked, II must say that l
don't half like the idea OF turning out q
safe without the presence OF the execu-
tors"
Police inquiries come before executors
Inventories" he replied. They'll get their
innings all in good time. The house is,
at present. in the occupation of the police,
and nobody, therefore. can disturb u.s."
Have you told Thorpe?"
"No. He's gone UP to Scotland Yard
to make his report. He'll probably be
again this afternoon. Let's finish and
take the ferry across"
Thus persuaded / drained my ale, and to-
gether we went down to the ferry, landing
at Kew Gardens and crossing them until
we emerged by the Unicorn gate, almost
the house Of mystery.
There were still loiterers outside, men,
women and children, who lounged in the
staring blankly UP at the drawn
blinds. A constable in uniform admitted
US. He had his lunch, a pot Of beer and
oOAAV INV NAANh us wa
had probably brought him. on the dining
table, and we had disturbed him with his
mouth full.
He was the sam man whom Amber
Jevons had seen in the morning, and as
we entered he saluted, saying:
inspector Thorpe has left a message for
you, sir. He'll be back from the Yard
about half-past 3, and would very much
ike to see you"
do you know why he wants to see me?'
ut appears, sir, that one OF the wit
lesses who gave evidence this morning is
missing"
Missing" he cried. pricking up his ears.
Who's missing?"
''The man servant, sir. My sergeant told
an hour ago that as soon as the man
had given evidence he went out, and was
,een hurrying toward Gunnersbury station.
They believe he's absconded."
l exchanged significant glances with my
companion, but neither Of us uttered a
Amber gave vent to his habitual
yrunt OF dissatisfaction, and then led the
way upstairs.
TIL body had been removed from the
DOM in which 1t had been found, and the
,ed was dismantled. When inside the
.partment he turned to me calmly, saying;
There seems something in Thorpe's
heory regarding that fellow Short, after
H."
'Tf he has really absconded. 1t is an ad-
mission Of guilt" ! remarked.
Most certainly" he replied. ITS o
uspicious circumstance. in any case, that
10 did not remain until the conclusion OF
he inquiry"
We pulled the chest Of drawers, a beau
iful piece of old Sheraton, away from the
DOR OF the safe, and before placing the
ey in the lock my companion examined
he exterior infinitely. The key was partly
listed, and appeared as though II had not
cen used for many months.
Could It be that the assassin was in
earch Of that key, and had been unsuc-
essfulT
He showed me the artful manner In
hitch II had been concealed. Tn small,
ardy fern had been rooted up and stuck
ack heedlessly into its pot again. Ger
alnIy no one would ever have thought to
for a safe key there. The dampness
I the mould had caused the rust, hence
etore we could open the iron door we were
to oil the key with some brillian-
ne which was discovered on the dead
ANS dressing table.
The interior, we found, was a KIND OF
nall strong room-built OF hrebrick and
ned with steel. 1t was hlled with papers
all kinds. neatly arranged.