The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-05-11


one minute Of triumph which then
enjoyed all that had wounded or dis
turbcd me in the past was forgotten.
The major now proposed that we
should 90 at once to the old house. "A
family secret like this does not crop
up every day even in Il city SO full of
surprises as Washington. We will
hunt for the spring under the closet
drawers and see what happens, Ell?
And on our way there"-here he turned
to mel should like TO hear the par
ticulars concerning the little clew Just
mentioned, BY the way, Mr.. Jefrey's
interest in this old drawing is now
explained. lie knew its diabolical
secret"
This was self evident, and my heart
was heavy for Miss Tuttle, who SEEM
cd to be so deep in her brOtherin-law's
confidence.
1t grew still heavier when Durbin,
joining us. added his incredulity to the
air of suspicion assumed by the others.
Our first move was to 80 in a body
to the southwest chamber, take down
the picture. examine it with a magni-
flying glass and satisfy ourselves that
the words had picked out OF its Macy
lines We're really TO be found there.
This done and my veracity established,
we next proceeded to the closet where.
according to the instruction embodied
in this picture, the secret spring was
TO be found by which some unknown
and devilish machinery would be re-
leased in the library below.
TO my great satisfaction the active
part in this experiment was delegated
TO me. Durbin continued to be a mere
locker on. Drawing out the two large
drawers from their place at the end of
this closet | set them aside. Then |
hunted for and found the small loop
hole which we had been told afforded
glimpse of the library hearthstonc,
but seeing nothing through it, | called
for a light to be placed in the room be
low.
| heard Durbin 90 down, then the
major and, finally, the district attor-
ney. Nothing could stay their curios-
ity now, not even the possibility of
danger, which as yet was a lurking
and mysterious one. But when a light
shot up from below ana the irregular
opening before me became loophole
through ahich | could catch a very
wide glimpse of the library beneath,
found that ii was not necessary for me
to warn them to keep away from the
hearth, as they were all clustered very
near the door-a precaution not alto
gether uncalled for at so hazardous a
moment.
Are you ready?" called down.
"Ready" rose in simultaneous re-
Spouse from below.
"Then look outr'
Reaching for the spring cleyerly con
cealed in the wall at my right vigor
ously pressed IT,
The result was instantaneous Silent
~, but with uncrring certainty, some
thing small, round and deadly fell
plumb from the library ceiling 10
where the settle had formerly stood
against the hearthstone Finding moth
ing there but vacancy to cXpend Itself
upon, it swung about for Il moment
on what looked like a wire or whip
cord then slowly came TO rest within
a foot or so from the floor.
A cry from the Mortified officials be-
low was what first brought me to my
self. Withdrawing from my narrow
quarters, | FASTENED down to them and
added one more white face to the three
| found c0ngregateI in the doorway.
In the di0bolical ingenuity we had seen
displayed crime had reached it's acme,
and the cup Of human deprayity seem
ed full.
When we had rcgained in some meas
ure our self possession we all adj
vanccd for a closer look at the muir
derous object dangling before us. We
found it to be a heavy lcadcn weight
painted on It's lower end to match the
bosses Of stucco work which appeared
at regular intervals in the ornamental
ton of the ceiling. When drawn up
into place-that is, when occupying the
hole from which it now hung suspend
cd the portion left to protrudc would
evidently bear SO small Il proportion
to its real bulk as to justify any eye
In believing it to be the mate, and the
harmless mate, of all the others.
1T hangs Just where the settle
stood" observed Durbin significantly.
and just at the point where the
cushions invite rest, rs the colonel so
suggestively puts it in his strange puz
gle of confession added the dis
trict attorney.
Replace the old seat" ordered the
major. "and let us make sure Of this
Ready hands at once graspcd it and,
with some effort, own, drew it care
fully back into position.
"You sect quoth Durbin.
We did.
"DeviiShr came from the major
lips. Then with n glance at the ball,
which. pushed aside by the seat, now
hung over its edge foot or 50 from
the floor, he added briSkly: THE bail
has fallen TO the fun length of tie
cord. If it were drawn UP little
nMnltn | nannrlN lniD-mnsnL nL.ni