Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-06

They contain most extraordinary confess
sion; confession that was manifestly in
tended as a warning. but which unfortu-
pately has had very different results 1t
may explain the death of the man from
Denver. even If it cast no light upon the
other inexplicable features Of the remark
able case we are considering"
AS spoke laid open on the table before
me the transcription Of which spoke. In
stantly the two men bent over it, When
they looked up again their countenances
showed not excitement only, but apprecia-
ton; and in the one minute of triumph
which 1 then enjoyed all that had wounded
or disturbed me in the past was forgotten.
You are man In a thousand" was the
majors first enthusiastic comment; at
which I was conscious Of regretting with
very pardonable inconsistency, that Durbin
had not returned in time to hear these
words.
The major now proposed that we should
go at once to the old house. "a family
secret like this does not crop up every day
even in a city so full of surprises as wash
fngton. We will hunt for the spring under
the closet drawers and see what happens
eh? And on our way there''-here he turned
to met should like to hear the particu-
lars concerning the little clue just men,
toned. By the way, Mr.. Jeffreys interest
in this old drawing is now explained. He
knew its dtabolical secret"
This was self-evfdent, and my heart was
heavy for Miss futile, who seemed to be 30
deep In her brother-in-law's confidence.
1t grew still heavier when Durbin. ioin-
Ing us, added his incredulity to the air Of
suspicion assumed by the others Through
ALI the explanations now entered into 7
found myself inwardly repeating with
somewhat forced iteration, Il will not be-
ueve her guilty under any circumstances.
She carries the look Of innocence, and in
nooent she must be proved. whatever the
result may be to Francis Jeffrey" =
10 such an extent had been Influenced
by the lofty expression which I had once
surprised on her face.
eyed behind his vines that incoming he
would have been much surprised to see 80
many OF his natural enemies fntrude on
his property at 30 early an hour But.
happily, he had not yet risen, and we were
able to enter upon our Investigations with
out being watched or interrupted by him
Our first move was to 30 In body to
the southwest chamber, take down the pic
ture, examine 1t with magnifying glass.
and satisfy ourselves that the words / had
picked out OF its may lines were really to
he found there. This done and my veracity
established. we next proceeded to the closet
where. according to the instructions en-
bodied in this picture. the secret spring
was to be found by which some unknown
and devi1ish machinery would be released
in the library below.
To my great satisfaction the active part
in this experiment was delegated to me.
Durbin continued to be a mere looker-on
Drawing out the two large drawers from
their place at the end OF this closet, 1
set them aside. Then I hunted for and
found the small loophole which we had
been told afforded glimpse Of the library
hearthstone: but seeing nothing through It,
called for light to be placed in the
room below. <
head Durbin 60 down. then. the major,
and finally. the district Attorney NothinG