Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-13

'Do you know" l sententlously III
formed him, Il have wonderful in
terest in that old hearthstone, or, rath-
er, in the seemingly innocent engrav-
ing hanging over it of benjamin
Franklin at the court of France.
tell you frankly that had no idea of
what would be found behind the pic
ture."
saw by his quick look that 1 had
stirred up a hornets nest This was
just what l had calculated to do.
Behind itv' he repeated. There is
nothing behind it."
laughed, shrugged my shoulders
and backed slowly toward the door.
"Of course you should know" l re-
torted, with some condcsccnsion. Then
as If struck by a sudden remembrance:
"Oh, by the way, have you been told
that there is window on that floor
which does not stay fastened? / speak
SIllllA.-Eehave it repalrseeaa rs Is,
s0o.ss is N ,jCiice vacate. IFS the last
one in the hall leading to the negro
quarters. If you shake it hard enough,
the catch falls back, and any one can
raise it even from the outside"
II will see to it," he replied. drop
ping his eyes, possibly to hide their
curious twinkle. But what do 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, l was by this time
too far away to respond save by dt,-
bious smile and semipatronizing wave
of the hand. Not until / was nearly
out Of earshot did venture to shout
back the following words:
"I'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. don't be
lieye any harm will come from lcav-
ing the place to itself for awhile"
Then walked around the block.
When arrived in front again it was
quite dark. So was the house, but
there was light in the library. l felt
assured that l should find Uncle Da-
vid there, and l did. When after a
noiscless entrance and careful add
vance through the hall l threw open
the door beyond the gilded pillars it
was to see the tall figure of this old
man mounted upon the chair had left
there peering up at the nail from
which 1 had so lately lifted the pic
ture. lie started as presented myself
and almost fell from the chair But
the careless laugh l uttered assured
him of the little Importance l placed
upon this evidence of his daring and
indispensable curiosity, and he con-
fronted me with an enviabe air of
dignity, whercupon l managed to say:
"Rcally, Nh. Moore, Pm glad to see
yOn here. 1t is quite natural for you to
wish to learn by any means in your
power what that picture concealed |
came back because / suddenly remem-
bered that l had forgotten to rehang
it."
Involuntarily he glanced again at tho
wall overhead, which was as bare as
his hand save for the nail lie had al
ready examined.
ut has concealed nothing" he re-
torted. You can see yourself that the
wall is bare and that il rings as sound
rs any chimney piece ever made"
Here he struck it heavily with his fist
What did you imagine that you had
found?"
l smiled, shrugged my shoulders in
tantalizing repetition Of my former
action upon Il like occasion and then
answered brusqucly:
II did not come back to betrny police
secrets, but to restore this picture to
its place. Or perhaps you prefer to
have it down rather than up? 1t isn't
much of an ornament"
He scrutinized me darlsly from over
his shoulder, wary glenn showing
itself in his shrewd old eyes. and the
idea crossed me that the moment
might possess more significance than
appeared. But l did not step back
ward nor give evidence in any way
that l had even thought of danger.
simply laid my hand on the picture
and looked up at him for orders.
He promptly slgnified that he wished
it hung, adding rs l hesitated these
words: "The pictures in this house are
supposed to stay OH the walls where
they belong. There is traditional SUI
perstition against removing them"
l Immediately lifted the print from
the floor. No doubt he had me ut a
disadvantage, If evil was in his heart,
and my position on the hearth was MS
dangerous rs previous events had
proved it to be. But it would not do
to show the white feather at moment
when his fate, If not my own, hung in