Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-10
BY

action filled disgust Yet the jewels
were a princes ransom,
At length he put them back into the box and the
secretplace behind the tile. with another glance
at the portrait he unlocked the door picked up the lamp
and hobbed away. The room was pitch dark agan. II
some moments before remembered my instructions
and left the aperture to creep downstairs to my waiting
employer When opened the door he seized my arm and
suppressed eagerness shook his voice
Z" What is it? What did you seer he gasped.
But had recovered more than my composure now.
"I old man playing solitaire for an hour before
he to bed" | replied, in tone OF disgust
He cursed bitterly. The old dewitt Where does he
hide them7' l heard him mutter. Then aloud "wat
at the I'll be with you in minute
He went upstairs to replace the painted face in the
picture when he overlook he had recovered his calm
Tell me everything that passed" he commanded.
told him what pleased But word Of the gems
the hidden box.
Report tomorrow night T." he commanded and left
abruptly
And did 1 lie awake the night before facing the
solved problem much had tonight for wake
fulness There doubt Us my employers inten-
| understood him fully Did continue
play spy however he might person
attempt Il himself. and learn the truth
about the gems Then did refuse TO act for him, would
lose the ten dollars he for each session BY
tnung the work. and lying little might thwart crime
and benefit my pocket reported at as instructed
the evening This time after painting my face AZ
carefully as before Ellis led me to the old house. to the
side of which he rad key. He did not to the
landing with me was to take all the risk of discovery
myself.
Again knelt on the landing removed the painted face
prepared TO thrust my through the aperture IN
the portrait Ellis had lent his lantern and first
examined the bit carefully II indeed start
ngy like my OWL could that Ellis second
for employing plant So interested In It
that scarcely in position when the old man
into the library with The lamp greatly moved, and
had he looked instantly the picture instead of sitting
for his nightly solitaire he must surely have
discovered the imposition composed again he
to bring out his Again him gloating
the gems-the worship of a pagan before his godi
And viewed the Jewels and their settings with great
There small of peculiar design which
had not observed the night before, and bracelet OF
ancient workmanship which fixed my attention until the
fairly started from my and burned
the strain
Suddenly thrust back paper and all into the box
recovered it, stumbled down the the
hiding place. He seemed glance In fear
mumbled himself as, with shaking
hands, thrust behind the tile closed
aperture. again and locked up the por
trait and that his face worked strangely while his
mutterings became audible.
mo peace peace!" heard him say. They should
be mine-they are Observation-Disclosures
His voice to half suppressed shrek, and he
wrung his though agony still staring up
" You know they are mine!" he cried. You are dead
long ago Who knows John Burton now?"
life with shrek the old fell upon the floor
groveled there.
Don't look sol Don't burn with your eyes!
My God My God!"
knew that the pouring down my face; but
from the mutilaed octure with another screech that
-