Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-10-13
CHAPTER III.

with a 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 tho side of an old sofa placed
against the wall of q 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 feversh haste, yet
with certain method moving the lamp
onward as his examination of the section
lit by its immediate rays was completed.
1t 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.
II can find no trace of it," said he,
smoothing back his hair with sigh.
1T is excessively annoying"
"Of what, may / ask, sir?" l quered.
"Of my signet ring, Mr.. Harland.
"A valued possession which l would not
lose for fifty pounds"
pray let me assist you" said |, step
ping forward and raising the lamp,
which the professor had replaced on the
table.
mo, no, Mr.. Harland Enough has
been done; in the presence of death we
Rust forget such trivialities. Besides,
although 1t was on my finger when l
entered the house, it may have been
dropped In the hall or on the stairs. |
do not doubt that Hans will find it."
The professor spoke in so resolute a
fashion that politeness did not demand
that l 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 l.,
though at a slower pace, followed them.
To be honest, the events of the evening
had disturbed me not little. l had
grown suspicious, uneasy; and this an
hoyed me in that l was without reason
able cause for such frame of mind.
Granted that the professor had dis
played oddities of demeanor, yet he was
nOtoriously 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. l say"
1t was Graden's voice, stern and de-
cfsive. | sprang to the corner Of the
screen and peered into the darkened
Aicove beyond.
Upon his death-b bed pillows the calm
aud 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, a grim and
xesolute figure, stood holding a common
wooden matchbox in his huge hands. He
lad opened 1t carelessly, for cheap sui
phur matches were scattered on the sheet
before him Marnac's face I could not
sse, but in the pose of his back and
shoulders there was something feline
something suggestive Of an animal about
e spring.
heood In silence. 4ly cousin was the frst
- break 1t.
"Pray do not let us detain you, Pro
lessor Marnac," said he. SHOULD we
chance upon your ring, believe me. it will
b. safe"
The professor Strengthened himself
with little gesture of submission and
stepped back into the lamplight. Hi
hand was on the latch, when he turned
upon ns-for we had followed him
with a face deformed with the most ma
lignant fury.
EAU revoir, my friends" he cried. "a
wish you a pleasant evening"
And then fit Of laughter took him
smothered, diaDolical merriment tina
broke out in oily chuckles like wate
Gurgling from 4 bottle. The door CLOSED
upon it. We stood listening as it grew
fainter, fainter, until it died away II
silence on the lower stairs.
'sTurn the key, Cousin Robert Blu
no; after him, lad, and bolt him out o
the house He'll be burning it down
else"
Graden was inexplicable; but ran t
obey. AS reached the hall, heard tn
clang of the street door and the squeak
ing of the bolts as Hans shot them be
hind the departing visitor.
When l re-entered the room l foun
the screen pushed back against the wal
and my cousin, In his shirt-sleeves, lean
Ing over the bed. He barked at me owe
his shoulder to sit down and keep quie
and humbly obeyed him. Once or twic
he turned to the lamp which he had q
his elbow, and caught a glimpse of
magnifying glass. Presently he ros'
and, carrying the lamp In his hant
commenced circuit of the room, lii
ssring now and again to examine som
object At the dressing-table he pause
for several minutes, using the magnif,
ing glass repeatedly. But shortly afte
wards he threw himself into chair b
side me with the air Of 4 man whol
work is done.
ITS no u.srespect to our little He