Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-12-11

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twice with the key, which was In 1t,
then he turned to me.
what time do you leave In the
morning" he asked.
about 7:30."
"Seven-thirty. Very well. Now
must be going. Look for me in the
morning."
"Wait," said, for l, too, had sud-
den idea. "You have photograph of
Thompson, suppose? Bring it up in
the morning with you. should like to
look at It,"
"All right" he said, and after l had
made sure that the coast was clear he
stole away upon tiptoe.
-
Scarcely was out Of bed next morn
Ing when there came light tap on my
door and Godfrey slipped In the instant
I opened it.
II had few properties to arrange"
he explained. smiling, "and so thought
I'd best come early
He went OH into the bedroom and
opened the closet door. Then he took
from his pocket stout bolt, with
screws and screw driver. and pro-
ceeded to affiX 1t to the inside Of the
door.
"Now, my dear Lester" he said, ris-
ing when the task was finished, "Ill
have to ask you to run up this noon
and let me out"
"Let you out Of where"
"Out of the closet. You see, unfor.
tunately, this lock works only from the
outside, so you'll have to lock me In
before you 20. I've put on the bolt US
an extra precautlOn.'
"You mean you're going to spend the
whole morning in that closet!'
That's precisely what | mean"
"But you'll suffocate."
"No-yOu see I've cut hole through.
That will let In the air; besides,
through 1t one can get IN admirable
view Of the outer rOOm."
"Ahw l said, beginning to under
stand. "It's trap"
"Yes, trap. Maybe we'll catch
something and maybe we won't. What
time do you usually 90 to lunch"
about / o'clock"
"That ought to bring you here by
1:3O. Very well: lock me In and take
the key with you."
| | did as he bade me, though not With
out some reluctance, and confess that
/ thought of little else during the morn
ing.
|
One o'clock came at last and / hur-
ried out and took the elevated uptown
as the quickest way Of getting there.
1t was Just LOO when I opened my
door. With little shiver of apprehen-
sion inserted the key in the lock Of
the closet and threw back the bolt.
Godfrey walked out on the instant.
He was smiling but pale with fatigue.
"If you've got such thing as nip
of brandy anywhere about. Lester" he
said, sinking into the nearest chair,
"Id be infinitely obliged for 1t. feel
rather shaky in the knees"
brimmed a glass for him. and he
set it down empty, with sigh of sat
isfactiou.
"That's better. Do you know, !
thought for time toward the last that
l was tsoing to collapse. One little
crack Is scarcely ventilation enough
for all active pair Of lungs. However
was repaid"
you were?'
YES" and he smiled ut my impa'
tlence. IN tell you the story and see
what you make of 1t. First came the
chambcrmald, who performed her du-
ties with neatness and dispatch. Then
a dreary half hour passed. l had about
come to the conclusion that l might
have spared my pains when l caught
the sound Of u key in the lock OF the
outer door. heard the door open and
close, and an instant later our friend
Tremaine appeared within my range
Of vision"
"Tremainew I exclaimed. "Then he
had Thompson's key"
"Yes," agreed Godfrey. But my
storys only begun. Tremaine took a
look through the rooms to assure him
self that there was no one here. dc
tried the closet door, but didn't seem
surprised or suspicious when he found
It locked. Then he went back to the
outer room, dropped Oh his hands ano
knees and began to search"
"For the diamondT
$50 thought at first. l couldn't see
him for q little while, but presently
perceiyed that he wasn't searching
over the body Of the carpet, but around
its edges. He seemed to be looking Tor
a place where it was loose. for he went
very slowly from tack to tack. Once
thought he had found 1t, for he came
TO a place where a tack was wanting
and ran his hand under eagerly. Bu'
in a moment he brought 1t out again
empty"
$50 It couldn't have been the dia'
mond." remarked In perplexity.
mo, It couldn't have been the dia
mond." assented Godfrey. his eyes shin
Ing. "But Tremaine wasn't done yet
Really, he'd make an admirable detec
tive. I admired his methods, thougf
they also gave me clew to what n
| was looking for. he placed chail
just here, before this desk, just oppo
site the bedroom door. You'll remem
ber that Thompson also had taol'
and chair similarly placed"
eyes, I remember"
] "Then he sat down In the chair anf