Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-08-19
Inspecting the
library fireplace


marks left by the removal Of its base
from the blackened boards.
Disguised with myself If not with
this object Of my present disappoint-
ment, I left that, portion Of the room
In which 1t stood and crossed to where
I had found the little table on the night
Of Mrs. JeGrey's death. 1t was no
longer there. 1t had been set back
against the wall, where it properly be-
longed. and the candelabrum removed.
Nor was the kitchen chair any longer
to be seen near the bookshelves. This
fact, small as it was. caused me an In
slant Of chagrin. I had intended to
look again Mt the book which had ex-
amined with such unsatisfactory re-
suits the time before. A glance showed
me that this book had been pushed
back level with the others. But re-
membered its title, and had the means
Of reaching 1t been at hand I should
certainly have stolen another peep at
It.
Upstairs found the same signs Of
police interference. The shutter had
been fastened in the southwest room
and the bouquet and wrap taken away
from the bed. The handkerchief also
was missing from the mantel where
had left It. and when I opened the clos
ct door it was to find the floor bare and
the second candelabrum and candle re-
moved.
"All gone" thought leach and ev-
cry clew."
But was mistaken. In another mo-
ment I came upon the minute filings I
had before observed scattered over a
small stand. Concluding from this
that they had been passed over by Dur
bin and his associates az valueless.
swept them. together with the dust In
which they lay, into an old envelope I
happily found in my pocket. Then I
crossed to the mantel and made q close
inspection Of its now empty shelf. The
scratches which had made there were
visible enough. but the impressions for
which they stood had vanished In the
handling which everything In the house
had undergone. Regarding with great
thankfulness the result of my own
foresight, made haste to leave the
room. l then proceeded to take my
first steps in the ticklish experiment
by which hoped to determine wheth-
err Uncle David had had any share in
the fatal business which had rendered
the two rooms I had Just visited SO
memorable.
First satisfying myself by peep
through the front drawing room win
dow that he was positively at watch
behind the vines. I went directly to the
kitchen, procured a chair and carried 1t
into the library, where put it to use
that to an onlOoker's eye would have
appeared very peculiar. Planting It
squarely on the hearthstone-not with
out some secret perturbation as to
what the results might be to myself
I mounted 1t and took down the en-
craving which I have already described
rs hanging over this mantelpiece.
Setting 1t on end against one Of the
lambs Of the fireplace, l mounted the
chair once more and carefully sifted
over the high shelf the contents Of a
little package which had brought with
me for this purpose.
Then, leaving the chair where 1t was,
I betook myself out Of the front door,
ostentatiously stopping-to lock it and
to put the key In my pocket.
Crossing Immediately to Mr.. Moore's
side Of the street. / encountered him.
as I had expected to CO, at his own
gateway.
well, what nowT he. inquired, with
the same exaggerated courtesysI had
The picture nail
exeites curiosity