Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17

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each led into an empty room. dusty and
cherries, with two windows in the one and
one In the other, 20 thick with dirt that the
evening light glimmered dfnly through
them. The center door was closed and
across the outside OF II had been fastened
one of the broad bars Of an Iron bed pad
locked at one end to ring IN the wall and
fastened at the other with stout cord The
deor itself was locked AS well. and the key
was not there. This barriceded door CORE
sponded clearly with the shattered window
outside. and yet could see by the glimmer
from beneath IL that the room was not In
darkness. Evidently there was a skylight
which let in light from soove. As stood i'm
the passage gazing n the sinister door and
wondering what secret II might veil sud-
denly heard the sound OF steps within tie
room and saw n shadow pass backward and
forward against the little slit of dim light
which shone out from under the door. A
mad unreasoning terror rose up in me at
the sight. Mr., Holmes. My overstrung
nerves failed me suddenly. and I turned and
ran-ran as though some dreadful hand
were behind me clutch.ng at the skirt of
My dress. l rushed down the passage.
through the door and straight into the arms
of Mr. Rucastle. who was waiting outside.
So. said he, smiling. 1T was you then.
i thought that 1t must be when | saw the
door open
. oh. am so frightened" painted.
My dear young lady. my dear young
lady.-you eapaot think how caressing and
soothing his manner was-'and what has
frightened you. my dear young lady?
But his voice was just a little too coax
ing. He overdid it. 1 was keenly ON my
guard against him.
Il foolish enough 10 go into the
empty wing I answered. But it is so
lonely and eerie in this dim light that l
was frightened and ran out again. Oh. 1t
is so dreadfully still in there!'
Only that? said he, looking at me
keenly.
why. what did you Think? asked.
why do you think that 1 lock this
/" I am sure that do not know
" 1t is to keep out people who have no
business there. Do you see? He was still
smiling in the most amiable manner.
:" I am sure IL had known
Well, then, you know now. And IL you
ever put your foot over that threshold
agafn-here in an instant the smile hard
ened into a grin of rage and he glared
down at with the face OF demon
I'll throw you to the mastfn.'
Il was SO terrified that / do not know
what l did. ] suppose that I must have
rushed past him into my room. / remem-
Der nothing until / found myself lying on
my bed trembling all over. Then thought
of you'll Mr.. Holmes. / could not live
there longer without some advice 1 was
frightened Of the house, of the man, of the
woman, of the servants, even of the child.
They were all horrible to me. II I could
only bring you down all would be well. or
course, j might have fled from the house;
but my curiosity was almost as strong as
my fears. My mind was soon made up. I
would send you wire / put on my hat
and cloak. went down to the Office, which Is
about half a mile from the house, and then
returned, feeling very much easier. A hor-
rible doubt came into my mind as I ap-
preached the door lest the dog might be
loose. but l remembered that Toller had
drunk himself into a state of insenSibility
that evening. and / knew that he was the
only one in the household who had any in
fluence with the savage creature. or who
would venture to set him free. / slipped
In In safety and Law awake half tha night
in my joy at the thought of seeing you.
had no difficulty in getting leave to come
into Winchester this morning, but / must
be back before o'clock for Mr.. and rs.
Rucastle going on a visit and will be
away all evening, SO that 1 must look after
the child. Now l have told you all my adj
ventures. Mr. Holmes, and should be very
glad If you could tell me what 1t all means,
and. above all. what 1 should do"
Holmes and 1 had listened spellbound to
this extraordinary story. Mr.. Friend rose
now and paced up and down the room, his
hands in his pockets and an expression of
the most profound gravity upon his face.
rs Toller still drunk he asked.
yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle
That is well. And the Rucastles go out
tonight?'
Yes
rs there cellar with q good strong
lock?''
Eyes. the wine cellar"
You seem to have acted all through this
matter like a very brave and sensible girl.
Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could
perform one more feat? I should not ask
1t of you If I did not think you an ex-
ceptional woman"
IT will try. What Is it?''
We shall be at the Copper Beeches by
o'clock. my friend and I. The Rucasties
will be gone by that time. and Toller will.
we hope. be incapable. There only remains
Mrs. Toller. who might give the alarm. II
you could send her into the cellar some
errand, and then turn the key upon her.
you would facilitate matters immensely"
II will do it,
ly into the affair. OF course. there is only
one feasible explanation. You have been
brought there 10 personate some one, and
the real person is imprisoned in this cham
Der. That Is obvious. AS to who this pris-
oner u.s. have no doubt that It Is the
daughter, Miss Alice Rucastle. II I remem-
Der right, who was said to have gone to
America. You were chosen. doubtless. as
resembling her in height. figure and the
color of your hair, Hers had been cut off,
very possibly in some illness through which
she had passed and so, of course yours had
to be sacrificed also. By curious chance
you came upon her tresses. The man in the
road was. undoubtedly. some friend Of hers
possibly her fiance-and no doubt, as you
wore the girls dress and was so like her. he
was convinced from your laughter, when
ever he saw you and afterward from your
gesture, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly
happy and that she no longer desired his
attentions. The dog is let loose at night to
prevent him from endeavorfng to commune
cate with her So much is fairly clear. The
most serious point in the case is the DISPOSE
ton of the child"
What on earth has that to do with it?"
calculated.
MY dear Watson. you as a medical man
are continually gaining light as to the tend
encies of child by the study of the pa
rents. Don't you see that the converse Is
equally valid. I have frequently gained my
first real insight into the character of pa