The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-17

noticed in him on a previous occasion.
you have the air of "A man bringing
news Has anything fresh happened
IN the old house?"
assumed "a fraakness which seemed
to impose on him.
do you know" ! sententously in.
formed him. II have wonderful i'm.
terest i'm 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 had
stirred up a hornets nest This was
Just what I had calculated to do
Behind it, he repeated There is
nothing behind It."
l laughed, shrugged my shoulders
and backed slowly toward the door.
"Of course you should know" | re-
torted. with some condesceusion. Then
as if struck by a sudden remembrance:
"Oh. by the way. have You been told
that there is a window on that floor
which does not stay fastened? / speak
OF it that YOU may have it repaired as
soon as the police vacate It's 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 viii see 10 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 picture2 I've
never beard
But, though he spoke quickly and
shouted the last words after me at the
top of his voice, ! was by this time
too far away TO respond save 10y du-
hlous smile and a Semipatronizlng wave
of The hand Not until was nearly
out of earshot did / venture TO shout
back the following words:
"I'll be uack I'm 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
lieve any harm viii come from leav-
ing the place to itself for awhile"
Then | walked around the block
When I arrived in front again It was
quite dark SO was The house but
there was light I'm the library felt
assured that ] should find Uncle Da-
vid there. ana ] did When after a
noiseless entrance ANA a careful ad.
vance through the han I threw open
the door beyond the gilded pillars it
was 10 see the tam figure of this old
man mounted upon the chair had left
there peering mp at the nail from
which / had so lately lifted the pie
ture Tie started as presented myself
ANA almost fen from the chair But
the careless laugh I uttered assured
him of the little Importance / placed
upon this evidence OF his daring and
indispensable curiosity. and be con-
fronted me with an enviable air OF
dignity, whereupon / managed TO say:
"Really, Mr. Moore, I'm glad TO see
You hese. II is quite natural for you 70
wish to learn hy any means I'm your
power what that picture concealed.
came back because ! suddenly remem-
bered that / had forgotten to rehang
IT,"
Involuntarily he glanced again at the
wall overhead, which was as bare as
his hand save for the nail he had al
ready examined.
1T has concealed nothing" he re-
torted You can see yourself that the
wall l. horp and that ff rings as sound
as any chimney piece ever made"
Here he struck IL heavily with his fist.
what did YOU imagine that you had
foundf"
smiled. shrugged my shoulders in
tanalizing repetition Of my former
action upon "a Ike occasion and then
answered hrusquely:
II did not come back 10 betray police
secrets. but TO restore this picture 10