The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-03-09
CHAPTER Xxx.

MT. Mhuett ulo not ger mucn sleep
while awaiting Senior Castellan's return.
His mind was too busy digesting what
he had just heard. Putting two and two
together, bearing in mind the fact that
the senor's description of his beautiful
customer Tailed exactly with that given
of the so-called Pauline Mailing by Jack
Dornton, and that the photograph taken
by Castelar, was afterward found in that
lady's possession, his belief in the i'm
posture was naturally strengthened, and
his impotence to visit the grave and
see for himself the evidence Of his niece's
death increased every moment. At last
he heard the convent bell strike six,
and. with a feeling Of relief, he rose
and went downstairs.
He found the senior waiting below,
looking triumphant, but cautious. There
were several loungers about, and Mr..
Mallett and CASTELAR, passed through
the room and out Of the house without
exchanging word.
But, once safely outside, the senior,
who was brimming over with pleasant
self-importance, rapidly unfolded the
plans which the servant and he had con-
cocted for Mr.. Mallett's admittance to
iho SOuFSuL uuIyluB BEOuuu.
II shall point out the gate by which
monsieur win enter; after that, the rest
must depend on monsieur's sagacity and
on the exactness with which he carries
out my directions. The servant would
have nothing to do with you directly; but
she will arrange matters SO that you can
enter the cemetery by yourself and OBJ
tain view Of the tomb. But monsieur
will envelop himself in my accomplice's
cloak, and IL he is seen from the chapel
windows, they will conclude it Is but one
Of the sisters crossing the graveyard
to gather herbs from the garden which
lies beyond"
Then followed list of directions, to
which Mr.. Maliett paid the closest atten-
ton; and, as the old Spaniard conclud-
cd, they came within sight of the Con-
vent Of the Holy Assumption. A sub
stantial stone wall eight feet high in
closed 1t on all sides, and on the east
front were massive iron gates boarded
high above the line Of sight to shield the
sacred precincts from the vulgar gaze.
Further on, on the west side, was very
small wicket, almost hidden under the
masses Of ivy that hung half way to the
kiVuuOs HIS uOUT WAS the one ubeu
BY the lay sisters when doing their err
rands, and covered way led from it into
the main entrance hall. The main gate
was never opened except for funerals
Of the village.
The bells were still ringing for yes
pers az Mr.. Mallett reached this half
hidden little gate, and, according to di-
rections from Castellan-who was Turk.
Ing among the brushwood-he gave a
low, quick, triple knock three times over
and then waited with his eyes on his
watch until FIVE minutes had passed.
The bells ceased ringing. This was
the moment agreed on. and he pushed
the door gently; it yielded, and the next
moment he found himself in the dim light
Of long, narrow passage.
He stopped and lifted a snuff colored
garment that lay at his feet 1t was 9
huge cloak, like a sisters. He wrap
ped himself In the capacious garment
carefully drawing the hood well over his
head. Having taken off his boots, hs
went stealthily along the passage, across
. large stone tagged entrance hall, and
passed out of what he had been told wal
the main entrance into the Enclosure be
looked about him attentively. In a lin,
with him stood the chapel on the extrem,
right. the door of which was open; ant
be saw the backs of the sisters as they
knelt at their devotions. He caught 1
CLEAN Of gorgeous color as the cleal
evening light fell through the east win
dow upon the vestments of the priests
at the high altar, and faint odor o
incense crept out upon the air. He drew
the hood still closer over his beard an,
crossed the open space to the other sid
Of the chapel. Here he had to pass
whole line Of windows, and the profile
Of the nuns were turned toward him. Ia
now shortened his stride and dropped hi
shoulders the better to perform the par
he was assuming, and passed on with
out q glance to the right or to the left
As soon as the windows were passed b
raised his head and looked, round agar
He was at the edge of the buryin
ground, and over In the extreme corne
under the walls he saw the stone
had come In search of. He recognize
Il by the semi-circular top-there wa
not another like 1t In the inclosure-
and his heart Quickened little as b
picked his way across the graves.
The sunset sky had changed from erin
son to saffron, from saffron to a cles
pearly gray, and still the brown cloa
stood motionless before the headstone
the far corner of the convent gray
yard.
Mr.. Mallett had received shock tn,
entirely banished his preconceived idea
and the new beliefs that crowded upC
him were so conflicting and confusil
that for time he was overwhelmed wi
perplexity.
pauline Polling. Died May 20, 1S-
He read the simple inscription ov
and over again; the more he ponder
Il the less he understood how it W
that he had been decoyed by fate in
this fruitless journey.
Why should his niece, Pauline Ma
ing, have a picture Of the grave of Pr
line Polling in her possession for
no longer doubted that the lady reii
ing at Mallingford Park was his ME
and concluded that this was the grs
of some other person-presumably
wife Of his friend, Captain Pelling
remembered the captains impressive
tie story Of his unhappy marriage and
...,n.tura danouemant. and MT. NAL