The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-05-22

| lleHCe.
"Can we arrive at the number over
| the door with patlence?"
Exactly what / was coming to. /
noticed an old pair of steps in the back
| sitting room. Would you mind placing
them against the fanlight for me?"
David complied readily enough. He
was growing credulOus and interested
| in spite of himself. At Bells instigation
he placed the steps before the fanlight
and mounted them. over his head
were the figures 2ls in elongated shape
and formed in white porcelain.
Now, then" Bell said slowly. Take
this pocketknlfe, apply the blade TO the
right-hand lower half of the bottom OF
the figure 8--to half the small o, in
| fact-and shall be extremely surprised
IL the quarter section doesn't come
away from the glass OF the fanlight,
leaving the rest of the figure intact
Very gently, please. l want to con-
vince you that the piece comes away
because 1t is broken, and not because
the pressure has cracked IL. Now,
then"
The point of the knife was hardly un-
der the edge OF the porcelais. before the
segment of the lower circle dropped into
of the cement sticking to his fingers.
AS yet the full force of the discovery
was not apparent to him.
"Go out into the road and look at the
fanlight," Bell directed.
David complied eagerly. A sharp
cry of surprise escaped him as he
looked up. The change was apparent.
Instead of the figures 21S he could read
now the change to 219-a family in
different 9, but one that would have
passed muster without criticism by
ninety-nine people out of hundred
With a strong light behind the figures
the clumsy would never have been
noticed at all The very simplicity and
righteousness of the scheme was its
safeguard.
II should like to have the address OF
the man who thought that out" David
said dryly.
Eyes, / fancy that you are dealing
with quite clever people," Bell replied.
And now have shown you how utter
ly you have been deceived over the
number we will go a little further. For
the present, the way in which the fur
nlture trick was worked must remain
a mystery. But there has been furni-
ture here. or this room and the hall
would not have been so carefully swept
and garnished whilst the rest of the
house remains In so dirty a condition.
If my eyes don't deceive me, / can see
two fresh nails driven into the arch
way leading to the back hail. On those
nails hung the curtain which prevented
you from seeing more than was neces-
sary. Are you still incredulous as TO
the house where you had your remark
able adventure?"
81 confess that my faith has been Sc
riously shaken" David admitted. but
about the furniture? And about my
telephone call from Mr. Gates town
house? And about my adventure taxi
ing place in the very next house to the
one taken by him at Brighton? And
about Miss Gates agitation when Re
learnt my identity? Do you call them
coincidences2"
mo, I don't" Bell said promptly.
They are merely evidences of clever
folks taking advantage Of an excellent
strategic position. I said just now that
it was an important point that Mr..
Gates had merely taken the next door
furnished. But we shall come to that
side of the theory In due course. Have
"One more, and 1 have finished for
the present. When I came here the
other night-provided, of course, that
/ did come here-immedlately upon my
entering the dining room the place was
| brilliantly illuminated. low, directly
| the place was void the supply OF cleo
| trio current would be cut off at the
meter. So far as / can Judge, some
L..
sumed during my visit. There could
not be many less than ten lights burn
| ing for an hour. Now, those units
| must show on the meter. Can you read
| an electric meter?"
J my dear fellow, there is nothing
| easier"
1 "Then let US go down into the base
ment and settle the matter. There is
| pretty sure to be a card on the meter
! made UP to the day awhen the last ten
ant went out See, the supply is cut
i off now"
| AS Steel spoke ne snapped down the
| hall switch and no result came. Down
in the basement by the area door stood
| the meter. Both switches were turned
| off, but on Bell pressing them down
! Steel was enabled TO light the passage.
| Made up TO 25th June, 1895, since when
the house has been void. Just a minute
| whilst 1 read the meter. Yes, that's
| right. According to this card in your
| hand. provided that the light has not
| been used since the index was taken,
should read at 1921. What do you make
| OF the card?"
"1532," David cried. (which means
eleven units since the meter was last
taken. Or, If you like to put It from
| your own point OF view. eleven units
used the night that came here. You
are quite right. Bell. You have practi-
cally convinced me that / have been i'm
side the real 219 for the first time to-
day. Aud yet the more one probes the
mystery the more astounding does IL
become. What do you propose
to do next?"
Find out the name OF the last ten
ant or owner" Bell suggested. Discov-
err what the two houses were used for
when they were occupied by one per-
son. Also ascertain why on earth the
owners are willing to let house this
size and in this situation for a sum like
$50 per annum. Let us go and take
the keys back 10 the agents"
Steel was nothing 10th to find himself
In the fresh air again. Some progress
had been made like the opening OF 4
chess match between masters, and We
the more Steel thought of 1t the NOR,