Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-01-22
CHAPTER NJ.

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-callrd Pauline Mailing by Jack
Dorntoa. and that the photograph taken
10y Castellin was aftcrwnrd found in that
lady's possession. his belief in the inn
posture was naturally strengthened. and
his lmpatience to visit the grave and
see for himself the evidence of his niece's
death increased every moment. At last
he heard the convent hell strike six.
AMI, with a feeling of relief he rose
and went downstairs.
lie found the senior waiting below,
10 king triumphant, bat cautious. There
were several loungers about. and Mr..
Mailett and CASTELAR, passed through
the room and out of the house without
exchanging word.
But, once safely outside the senior.
WHO was trimming over with pleasant
sclf-importance. rapidly unfolded the
plans which the servant and he had con-
cocted for Mr.. Mal!ett's admttance to
the convent burying ground.
II Shall point out the gate by which
monsieur will enter; after that. the rest
must depend on monsieur's sagacity and
OF the cXactness with which he carries
out my directions The servant would
have nothing to do with you directly; but
size 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 accomplces
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-
ti"n: and, as the old Spaniard conclud-
ed. they came within sight of the Con
vent of the Holy Assumption. A sub
stantial stone wall eight feet high in
closed ii 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
ground. This door was the one used
By the lay sisters when doing their en-
rands and Il 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 as Mr.. Mallett reached this half
hid len little gate. and. according to di-
rertions from Castellan-who was Turk
Ing among the brushwood 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 a
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. he
went stealthly along the passage. across
a large stone tagged entrance hall, and
passed out of what he had been told was
the main entrance into the inclosure be-
yonh. He paused ehere a moment and
looked about him nttentively. In line
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
knelt at their devotions. He caught
CLEAN of gorgeous color rs the clear
evening light fell through the east Win
dow upon the vestments of the priests
at the high altar, and 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 In alb Iy.ra Ia hnI
whole line of windows. and the profles
Of the nuns We're turned toward him. IIe
now shortened his stride and dropped his
shoulders the better to perform the part
he was assuming. and passed on with
out glance to the right or to the left
AS soon as the windows were passed he
raised his head and looked round again
lie was at the edge of the burying
ground, and over in the extreme corner
under tho walls he saw the stone he
had come in search of. He recognized
1t by the sem-circular top-there was
not another Ike it in the inrlosure-
and his heart quickcned Il little as he
picked his way across the graves.
The sunset sky had changed from Grim
SON to saffron, from saffron to clear
pearly gray, and still the brown cloak
stood motionleSs before the headstone in
the far corner of the convent grave
yard.
Mr.. Malett had received shock that
entirely banished his preconceived ideas
md the new beliefs that crowded upon
him were 50 conflicting and confusing
that for a time he was overw he,med with
perplexity.
Pauline Polling, Died May 90, is
He read the simple inscription over
and over again; the more he pondered
II the less he understood how it was
that he had been decoyed By fate into
this fruitleSs journey.
Why should his niece, Pauline Mall.
iug. have Il picture of the grave of Pau
line Polling in her possession for he
no longer doubted that the lady reign
ins at Mallingford Park was his niece
and concluded that this was the grave
of some other person--presumaby the
wife of his friend. Captain Polling. He
remembered the captains impressive lit
tie story of his unhappy marriage and Its
premature denouemeut: and MIR. Mallett
had no doubt whatever that he was now
standing by the grave of that gentleman: