Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-12-16

fellows: neither do we waste as much
time aS you seem to think" And. draw
inc out my hand with the little filigree
ball in it. l whirled the latter limo
Gently round and round on my finger.
As it flashed under his eye cast a
penetrating. look.
He tried to carry the moment off sue
c.;,sfully; will give him so much
credit Eut it was asking too much or
his curiosity. and there was no mis-
taking the eager glitter which lighted
his glance as he saw within his reach
this article which moment before he
had probably regarded as lost forever.
For instance" l went on, watching
him furtively. though quite sure from
his very first look that he knew no
more now of the secret Of this little
ball than he knew when he jotted
down the memorandum ] had just
peck cted before his eyes. "a little thing,
such little thing rs this" l repeated.
giving the bauble another twist, may
lead to discoveries such as no common
search would yield in years. l do not
say that it has; but such a thing is
possible, you know-whO betterT
My nonchalance was too much for
him. He surveyed me with covert dis
like and dryly observed:
"Your opportunities have exceeded
mine, even with my own effects. That
petty trinket which you have presum-
cd to flaunt in my facc-nnd Of whose
value l am the worst judge In the
world, since I have never had it in my
hand-descended to me with the rest
Of Mrs. Jcffrey's property. Your con-
duct, therefore, strikes ME in the light
OF an impertinence, especially as no
one could be supposed to have more In
terest than myself in what has been
for many years recognized as family
taliSman."
"Ah," remarked, "you own to tho
memorandum, then. 1t was made on
the spot, but without the benefit Of the
taliSman."
II own to nothingw he snapped.
Then, realizing that denial in this re-
gard was fatal. he added more genial
ly: what do you mean by memoran-
dunn? If you mean that recapltulation
Of old time mysteries and their accom-
panying features with which l once
whiled away an idle hour, I own to
1t, Of course. Why shouldn't 1? 1t is
only a proof Of my curiosity In regard
to this old mystery which every men,
Der Of my family must feel. That Gu
riOsity has not been appeased. If 1t
would not be indiscreet on your part.
may I now ask if you have found out
what that little golden ball Of mine
which you sport so freely before my
eyes Is to be used in connection with?'
Read the papers," said; read to-
morrow's papers, Mr.. Moore, or, bet
ter still, tonight's. Perhaps they will
inform you"
He was as angry as l had expected
him to be; but, as this ire proved con-
clusively that his strongest emotion
had been curiosity rather than fear.
felt assured Of my ground and turned
to re-enter the house. Mr.. Moore did
not accompany me.
The major was standing in the hall.
The others had evidently retreated to
the parlor.
1.-THE man opposite knows what he
knows" said l, "but this does not in
clude the facts concerning the picture
in the southwest chamber or the devil
ish mechanism"
you are sureT
GAS positive as one Of my inexperi-
ence can be. But, major, am equally
positive that he knows more than he
should Of Mrs. Jeffrey's death. am
even ready to state that in my belief
he was in the house when 1t occur
red.''
HAS he acknowledged this?'
mot at all"
"Then what are your reasons for this
beliefY
''They are many"
"Will you state themT
"Gladly. II you will pardon the pre-
sumption. Some of my conclusions
cannot be new to you. The truth ia
that have possibly seen more Of this
old man than my duty warranted. and
I feel quite ready to declare that he
knows more Of what has taken place
in this house than he is ready to avow.
I am sure that he has often visited II
in secret and knows about q certain
broken window ais well as we do.
am also sure that he was here on the
night Of Mrs. Jeffrey's suicide. He
was too little surprised when I in.
formed him Of what had happened not
to have had some secret inkling Of II
beforehand, even IL we had not the
testimony Of the lighted candle and the
book he so hurriedly replaced. Besides.
he is not the man to drag himself out
at night for SO simple a cause as the
one with which he endeavored to i'm.
pose upon US. He knew what we
should fId in this house."