The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-03-09
CHAPTER Xxx

III,
His mind was too busy digesting what
he had just heard. Putting two and two
together. bearing In mind the fact that
the senors description of his beautiful
customer tailed exactly with that given
OF the so-called Pauline Mailing by Jack
Oornton. and that the photograph taken
by CASTELAR, was afterward found in that
ladys possession, his belief in the i'm
posture was naturally strengthened, and
MS lmpatlence to visit the grave and
sec for himself the evidence of his niece
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 a word.
But, once safely outside, the senior,
who was trimming over with pleasant
self-importance, rapidly unfolded the
plans which the servant and he had con-
cocted for Mr.. Mallett's admittance to
the convent burying ground.
monsieur will 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 a view of the tomb. But monsieur
will envelop himself in my accomplice's
cloak, and if 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.. Mallett paid the closest atten-
ton; and, as the old Spaniard conclud-
ed, they came within sight of the Con-
vent of the Holy Assumption. A SUBJ
stantial stone wall eight feet high in
closed it 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 a very
small wicket. almost hidden under the
masses of ivy that hung halfway to the
ground. This door was the one used
rands, and a 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 lurk-
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 q long, narrow passage
He stopped and lifted a snuff colored
garment that lay at his feet. 1t was a
huge cloak, like a sisters. He wrap
ped himself in the capacious garment,
carefully drawing the hood well over his
head. Having taken of his boots, he
went stealthily along the passage, across
. large stone tagged entrance hall, and
passed out Of what he had been told was
the main entrance into the Enclosure be-
yond. He paused here a moment and
tOVA0O oOVut AAAA aIICAIANSlys III q lAuo
with him stood the chapel on the extreme
right. the door Of which was open; and
he saw the backs Of the sisters as they
knslt at their devotiens. He caught q
gleam Of gorgeous color as the clear
evening light fell through the east win.
dow upon the vestments of the priests
at the high altar, and a faint odor of
Incense crept out upon the air. He drew
the hood still closer over his beard and
crossed the open space to the other side
Of the chapel. Here he had to pass q
whole line Of windows, and the profles
Of the nuns were turned toward him. he
now shortened his stride and dropped his
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 again
He was at the edge of the buryini
ground, and over in the extreme corne
under the walls he saw the stone b,
had come in search of. He recognize,
1t by the semi-circular top-there wa
not another like it in the inclosure-
and his heart Quickened a little as b.
picked his way across the graves.
The sunset sky had changed from Grim
son to saffron, from saffron to a clea
pearly gray, and still the brown cloal
stood motionless before the headstone il
the far corner of the convent grave
yard.
Mr. Mallett had received shock tina
entirely banished his preconceived ideas
and the new beliefs that crowded upo
him were so conflicting and confusin
that for time he was overwhelmed wit
perplexity.
Pauline Polling Died May %, 1S-.
He read the simple inscription owe
and over again; the more he pondere
It the less he understood how it wa
that he had been decoyed by fate int
this fruitless journey.
Why should his niece, Pauline Mall
Ing. have a picture Of the grave Of Pau
line Polling in her possession for h
no longer doubted that the lady reign
ing at Mallingford Park was his niece
and concluded that this was the gray
OF some other person-presumably tn
wife of his friend. Captain Polling. II
remembered the captains impressive lii
tie story of his unhappy marriage and II
premature denouement; and Mr. Mallet
had no doubt whatever that he was no,