The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-02-17

Those shrieks had been prolonged and
reiterated
! And here it was that l had my first
surprise. Under the stress of the pain
| full emotions of that time l had for
gotten the leaf of paper which / had
taken from the dead fingers. But
while l was revolving the circum-
stances of the mystery the recollection
of it flashed suddenly upon me, and
feeling in my pockets l discovered it
where it had remained since the en-
trance Of the hOusekeeper. 1t was
broad daylight, and the doctor from
Llanellan had just gone from the
house laid the paper upon my bed
room table and studied it carefully.
1t was of stiff parchment and stained
yellow with the dust and dirt of years,
much worn in parts and it's margin
gnawed as if by mice or rats. The
characters We're faded and well nigh
illegible, but l made out, with some
difficulty, the faint and ancient letters.
| This was how the document ran:
Turning this corner, it is necessary
to proceed upon the passage for the
space Of some thirty footsteps and at
the close thereof to pause and survey
| the walls. If We will then duly deter
mine a height of five feet from the
| footway thereupon will be disclosed a
small knobbe the which revolving will
| give access to large cupboard within
ye wall. Observe carefully upon the
back Of the cupboard and where the
oaken PANELS adjoin the stone. Here
sc will perceive a spring, the which
pushing a doorway shall open behind,
giving entry to an interior chamber
a flight of stairway leadeth thence
| Here the parchment had suffered so
grossly at the hands of time or from
the assaults of its natural enemies that
| the characters became unreadable and
| finally ceased.
1t was plain that this sheet bad some
connection with the disclosure Mr. Kes-
teven had intended to make to me, but
| beyond this conclusion | could not go.
And so after desultory study of the
ancient characters | put it aside. lock
ing it more by habit than of intentional
prudence in my private letter case.
| / now stood honorably charged with
the last offices to my dead friend. An
inquest was inevitable in the circum-
stances, but it was no more than for
mality, and my evidence, with that of
the hOusekeeper, Mrs. Main, and the
doctor from I-lanellan, was sufficient tc
close the investigation. 1t was not I'M
hot I
experienced my second surprise, sur
prise which, although l had become
somewhat acquainted with the eccen-
tricities of the man, fell upon me like
thunderbOlt. Upon the morning after
the funeral l rode into Raymond to pay
visit to the lawyer, Greenstreet by
name. who, | understood, acted on Mr..
Kesteven's behalf. | regarded this as
the last of my melancholy duties, which
discharged, was free once more to re-
| sumo the tour which had been SC
| strangely interrupted. Mr.. Greenstreet,
the little fat, bowling solicitor whom |
had already seen, received me with po-
| lite ceremony. His face wore a min
gled expression of solicitude and salts
| faction as he fused in a nervous man.
her with his papers.
a most melancholy end, Mr.. Create
rex said he, shaking his head; $50
| sudden, and a sterling, honorable man,
sir. Well, we must all go some day"
| | put the question for which l had
come and in response was saluted with
a stare of establishment
ANY assistance, Mr.. Greatorex?" he
echoed, surveying me, with his mouth
| open. ANY assistance? Well, l sup.
pose you can be of some assistance"
And he chuckled heartily, as if invit-
ing me to join in his joke.
l told him that was leaving the dis.
trict that same day and would like to
know in what way l might aid him.
seeing that it was improbable that
should revisit the neighborhood.
Then you do not intend to reside at
the castle?" he asked.
There was a certain tone of cOndem-
at d loss to account for, l could not
but recognize.
why, certainly notw said /. "Why
in the name of fortune should /? MY
only idea was, for Mr. KeSteven'S sake
to smooth his affairs for his success.
sors."
The little man started to his feet and
his mouth widened in broader smile
than ever Then is it possible that
you are ignorant, Mr.. Greatorex?" said
he. And looking at my interrogatin9
face he positively beamed why, yes,
it must be So" he said eXcitedly. Mr.
Kesteven, sir, by will under date of
Aug. Is, has made you his sole heir"
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