Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-06

Cur1OuS TW10Kle. buC W0aL QO you mean about finding something in the wall behind that old picture? I've never heard"
 But, though he spoke quickly and shouted the last words after me at the top of his voice, was by this time too far away to respond save by du- bious smile and a mipatronizing wave of the hand Not until was nearly out of earshot did venture to shout back the following words:
 .sI'll be back in an hour. If anything happens, if the boys annoy you or any one attempts to enter the old house, telephone to the station or summon the officer at the corner. I don't be lieve any harm will come from leav- ing the place to itself for awhile" Then walked around the block.
 When arrived in front again 1t was quite dark. So was the house, but there was light in the library. I felt assured that I should find Uncle Da-, vid there, and did. When after noiseless entrance and a careful ad- vance through the hall threw open the door beyond the gilded pillars 1t was to see the tall figure of this old man mounted upon the chair had left there peering up at the nail from which I had so lately lifted the pic ture. He started as presented myself and almost fell from the chair But the careless laugh I uttered assured him of the little importance I placed upon this evidence of his daring and unappeasable curiosity, and he con fronted me with an enviable air of dignity, whereupon managed to say:
 Really, MT. Moore, I'm glad to see you here It is quite natural for you to wish to learn by any means in your power what that picture concealed. I came back because suddenly remem- bered that had forgotten to rehang it."
 Involuntarily he glanced ecsi,. .s 3 at the wall OYerhead, WL. s.~-s DslAG iAS his hand save for the nail he had al- ready examined.
 Ut has concealed nothing" he re- torted. You can see yourself that the wall is bare and that 1t rings as sound as any chimney piece ever made'' Here he struck it heavily with his fist. '.What did you imagine that you had found? ?"
 I smiled. shrugged my shoulders in tantalizing repetition of my former action upon like occasion and then, answered brusquely:
 'I did not come back to betray police secrets, but to restore this picture to its place. Or perhaps you prefer to have it down rather than up? It isn't much of an ornament.''
 He scrutinized me darkly from over his shoulder wary gleam showing itself in his shrewd old eyes. and the idea crossed me that the moment might possess more. significance than appeared. But I did not step back ward nor give evidence in any way that had even thought of danger. simply laid my hand on the picture and looked up at him for orders.
 He promptly signifed that he wished 1t hung, adding as I hesitated these words: '"The pictures in this house are supposed to stay on the walls where they belong. There is traditional su- perstition against removing them.'
 immediately lifted the print from the floor. No doubt he had me at a disadvantage, if evil was in his heart and my position oh the hearth was aN dangerous as previous events had proved 1t to be. But it would not do to show the white feather at a moment when his fate, if not my own, hung in the balance; so, motioning him to step down, put foot on the chair and raised the picture aloft to hang it. As did 80 he moved over to the huge settle of his ancestors and, crossing his arms over it's back, surveyed me with a smile rather imagined than saw.
 Suddenly, as I strained to put the cord over the nail, he called out:
 Look out! You'll fallr'
 If he had intended to give me a start in payment for my previous rebuff he did not succeed, for my nerves had grown steady and my arm firm at the glimpse had caught of the shelf be- low me. The fine brown powder had scattered there had been displaced in