Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-10-12
CHAPTER III.


of his age and size he mounted them
with surprising activity. Indeed, when
/ gained the landing he was already
standing at the door Of the room. He
held up his hand with a warning ges-
ture stepped up to him softly and
peeped over his shoulder.
BY the side Of an old sofa placed
against the wall Of room, half bed
chamber, half study, Professor Marnac
crouched on his hands and knees. A
lamp stood on the floor at his elbow. He
was working with feverish haste, yet
with a certain method, moving the lamp
onward as his examination Of the section
Lit by its immediate rays was completed.
It was an odd sight, this silver-haired
figure that crept about, peeping and
peering, like some species Of elderly ape.
So absorbed was he that it was nigh on
a minute before, with a swift sideways
turn Of the head, he caught sight of our
faces in the doorway and rose to his
feet.
Il can find no trace of it," said he,
smoothing back his hair with sigh.
1T is excessively annoying"
"Of what, may l ask, sir2" I queried.
"Of my signet ring, Mr.. Harland.
A valued possession which l would not
lose for fifty pounds"
Pray let me assist you" said l, step
ping forward and raising the lamp,
which the professor had replaced on the
table.
'No, no. Mr.. Harland Enough has
been done; in the presence Of death we
must forget such trivialities. Besides,
al nh
entered the house, it may have been
dropped in the hall or on the stairs. l
do not doubt that Hans will find it."
The professor spoke in so resolute
fashion that politeness did not demand
that / should press the matter. My
cousin had already passed behind a great
screen Of stamped leather that cut off
the bed from the rest Of the apartment
Marnac had stepped after him, and 1,
though at a slower pace, followed them.
To be honest, the events Of the evening
had disturbed me not a little. l had
grown suspicious, uneasy; and this an
noyed me In that / was without reason
able cause for such a frame of mind.
Granted that the professor had dis
played oddities of demeanor, yet he was
VIGOROUSLY an eccentric. And If my
cousin hau become taciturn, If his po-
likeness rang insincerely, the death Of his
old friend
"stand back, Herr professor stand
back, say!"
1t was Graden's voice, stern and de-
cisive. l sprang to the corner of the
screen and peered into the darkened
alcove beyond.
Upon his death-bed pillows the calm
and simple face of poor Won Stockmar
cleaned like mask carved in white
marble. But neither Of the two men who
confronted each other across the body
looked upon it, Graden, grim and
resolute figure, stood holding a common
wooden matchbox in his huge hands. He
had opened it carelessly, for cheap sui
phur matches were scattered on the sheet
before him. Marnac's face could not
see, but in the pose Of his back and
shoulders there was something feline
something suggestive Of an animal about
to spring.
For q second or two the three of gus
stood in silence. y cousin was the first
to break 1t.
PRAY do not let us detaln you, Pro-
fessor Marnac," said he. SHOULD we
chance upon your ring, believe me, 1t will
be safe"
The professor Strengthened himself
with a little gesture Of submission and
stepped back into the lamplight. His
hand was on the latch, when he turned
upon us-for we had followed him
with face deformed with the most ma
lignant fury.
''Au revoir, my friends" he cried. ~
wish you a pleasant evening"
And then a ft Of laughter took him
emothered, diaOohcal merriment that
broke out In oily chuckles like water
gurgling from a bottle. The door closed
upon It. We stood listening as it grew
fainter, fainter, until 1t died away in
silence on the lower stairs.
.Turn the key, Cousin Robert. But
no; after him, lad, and bolt him out of
the house He'll be burning 1t down,
else"
Graden was inexplicable; but I ran to
obey. As reached the hall, heard the
clang Of the street door and the squeak
ing Of the bolts as Hans shot them be-
hind the departing visitor.
When re-entered the room l found
the screen pushed back against the wall,
and my cousin, In his shirt-sleeves, lean
ing over the bed. He barked at me over
his shoulder to sit down and keep quiet,
and / humbly obeyed him. Once or twice
he turned 70 the lamp which he had at
his elbow, and l caught a glimpse of a
magnifying glass. Presently he rose,
and, carrying the lamp in his hand,
commenced a circuit of the room, lin
Rering now and again, to examine some
object At the dressing-table he paused
for several minutes, using the magnify
ing glass repeatedly. But shortly after.
wards he threw himself into chair be-
side me with the air Of a man whose
work il done.
sits no ulsrespect to our little Her
mann that / mean" said he, pulling
out big briar. 'but smoke must"
He sat there pulling for a minute OF
two, his head sunk forward, his eyes
on the floor. l watched him expectantly,
Its great gift, is observation" he
began. at makes just the difference
between mediocrity and success in game
hunters and novel-writers, In painters Of
pictures and explorers of the unknown
lands, where a man has never a mar
20 help him. And this same trick of OBJ
servation has given me some very re-
markable results this evening; and how
remarkable you will realize when I sci
=.