Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-05

space in the middle. In this space lay a
large and heavy fagstone, with a rusted
iron ring in the center, to which a thick
shepherds check muller was attached.
by Joveg cried my client That's
Brunton's mufier. I have seen it on him
and could swear to it. What has the VIII
lain been doing here?
"At my suggestion a couple OF the county
police were summoned to be present, and
1 then endeavored TO false the stone by
pulling on the cravat. I could only move IL
slightly, and 1t was with the aid Of one
of the constables that I succeeded at last
in carrying 1t to one side. black hole
yawned beneath. into which we all peered,
while Musgrave. kneeling at the side,
pushed down the lantern.
"a small chamber about seven feet deep
and four feet squtare lay open to u.s. At
one side of this was a squat, brass-bound
wooden box, the lid of which was hinged
upwards, with this curious old-fashioned
key projecting from the lock. 1t was furred
outside by thick layer of dust. and damp
and worms had eaten through the wood, so
that a crop of livid fungi was growing on
the inside of It. Several discs of metal,
old coins apparently, such as I hold here,
were scattered over the bottom Of the box,
AT the moment however, we had no
thought for the old chest, for our eyes
were riveted upon that which crouched be-
side it. 1t was the figure Of a man. clad
in a suit OF black, who squatted down upon
his hams with his forehead sunk upon the
edge OF the box and his two arms thrown
out on each side Of 1t. The attitude had
drawn all the stagnant blood to the face.
and no man could have recognized that
distorted. liver-colored countenance; but his
height, his dress and his hair were all sufi-
Client to show my client, when we had
drawn the body up, that It was indeed his
missing butler. He had been dead some
days, but there was no wound or .bruise
upon his person to show how he had met
his dreadful end. When his body had been
carried from the cellar we found ourselves
stin confronted with a problem which was
almost as formidable as that with which
we had started.
II confess that so far, Watson, l had
been disappointed in my investigation. 1
had reckoned upon solving the matter
when once had found the place referred
TO in the Ritual, but now was there, and
was apparently as far as ever from know
ing what It was which the family had
concealed with such elaborate precautions.
1t is true that had thrown light upon
the fate of Brunton, but now had to as
certain how that fate had come upon
him, and what part had ben played in
the matter by the woman who had disap-
peared. 1 sat down upon a key in the cor
ner and thought the whole matter care
fully over
You know my methods in such cases,
Watson. put myself in the mans place
and, having first gagged his intelligence, ]
try TO imagine how I should myself have
proceeded under the same circumstances
In this case the matter was simplihed by
Brunton's intelligence being quite first
rate. so that IL was unnecessary 10 make
any allowance for the personal equation
as the astronomers have dubbed IT, He
knew that something valuable was con
eealed. He had spotted the place. He
found that the stone which covered Il wal
JUST too heavy for man 70 move un
aided. What would he do next7 He covlt
not get help from the outside, even IL h
had some one whom he could trust with