The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-21

Paul 6. shuh & Sons, Special
Agents.
happens. If tie 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 he
lieye any harm will come from lGay
ing the place TO itself for awhile
Then walked around the block
When arrived in front again it was
quite dark. 50 Was the house hut
there was light in the library | felt
assured that | should find Uncle pa
vid there ana ala, When after a
noiseless entrance and a careful nd
vance through he hall threw open
the door beyond the eilded pillars it
was to see the tall figure Of this oil
man mounted upon the chair had left
there pcering up at the nail from
which | had so lately lifted the nic-
ture He started rs presented MYSELF
and almost fell from the chair But
the careless laugh | uttered assured
him of the little Importance | placed
upon this evidence of his daring and
indispensable curiosity and he CON
frontcd me With an cnyiable mir Of
dignity. Whercupou / managed to say
"Really, Mr. Moore I'm glad to seq
You here. 1t is quite natural for you To
wish to learn by any means i'm your
power what that picture concealed. !
came back because Suddenly remem-
bered that I had forgotten to rchang
it,
Involuntarily he glanced again az the
wan overhead which was as bare as
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 N bare and that it rings us sound
as any chimney piece ever made.
Here he struck it heavily with his fist.
"What did you imagine that you had
found:'
| smiled. shrugged my shoulders ~
tantali2lng repetition Of my former
action upon a like occasion and then
answered brusquely;
Il did not come back to hetrav police
secrets. hut TO restore this picture TO
its place OR perhaps You prefer TO
have il down rather than upE 1t isn't
much Of an ornament"
He scrutni2ed me darkly from over
his shoulder, a wary CLEAN showing
itself in his shrewd old eyes, and the
idea crossed me that the moment
might possess more significance than
appeared. But | did not step back
ward nor give evidence in any way
that had even thought Of danger
simply laid my hand on tho picture
aud looked up at him for orders.
lie promptly signfied that he wished
It hung, adding as ! hesltated these
words "rhc pictures in this house are
supposed to stay on the walls where
they belong. There is a traditional sn
perstltion against removing them
] Immediately lifted the print from
the floor No doubt he had me at a
disadvantage. if evil was in his heart
ana my position on the hearth was as
| dangerous as previous events had
proved it to he But it would not do
to show the white feather at moment
when his fate, if not my own, hung in
| the balance; so. motioning him 70 step
down. put foot on the cHairaud raised
/ the picture aloft to hang It, AS I did
SO be moved over 10 the huge settle Of
/ his ancestors and, crossing his arms
over it's back surveyed Inc with u
smile | rather imagined than saw
Suddenly. as I strained to put the
/ cord over the nail hp called ont
Look out Nou.n fall"
II he had intended 10 give me q start
in payment for my previous rebuff he
! dd not succeed for my nerves had
grown steady and my arm firm at The
glimpse ! had caught of the shelf bc-
low me. The nHc brown powder had
scattered there had been displaced in
4 five distinct spots and mot by my fin
gers. 7 had preferred to risk the loss
Of my balance rather than rest my
hand on thc shelf, but lie had taken no
such precautions. The clew / 50 any
iously desired and for which ] had SO
recklcssly workcd wHs obtained
But when half an hour later found
an opportunity OF measuring these
marks and comparing them with those
I upstairs | di1 not enjoy the full tri-
umph ! had promised myself for the
two impressions utterly failed to coin
eide. thus proving that whoever the
person lyas who had been In thS hoHsc
with Mrs Jeffrey on the evening she
died it WAS not her Uncle David
ITO lie cOntinuedD
81