The San Francisco call., 1906-08-19

20 q Is ii ii as iass 20 iss5
ssssssius snis
"Turn key left eyes eighth cherubl"
repeated Parsons in puzzled toner. II
have no doubt that you have soived the
problem correctly, but do not know
what the sentence means"
WELL" said Hagar. rather sharply,
lit means, l should think. that the left
eye OF some cherub's head Is a key
hole. into which is to be thrust the
engraved. Doubtless by turning the
key the wall will open and the picture
will be discovered"
What a clever girl you are!'' cried
Parsons. In admiration.
i use my brains. that IL ALL" said
Hagar, coolly. I'm afraid you don't.
However. are there a number OF sculp-
Yes; there is a room called The
Cherubs' ROOM from a number of
carved heads. How did you guess that
there was more than oneT"
Because the letter H corresponds
with the figure eight; so no doubt there
are more than eight heads. All you
have to do is to take this copper key.
put IL into the left eye OF the eighth
chsrub. and find the picture. Then
you can marry Miss Danstree. and the
pair Of you can live on 10000. II she
is as clever as you, you'll need Ii all.n
Quite inpervious to HagaF's irony,
Frank Parsons took his leave with
many admiring words aud pFotesta-
tions OF gratitude. When he found the
aad to invite her to panetree hail 10
see II. Then he departed. and II was
only when she was >ieft alone that
Hagar reflected she had not got back
the pound lent on the key. But she
consoled herself with the reflection that
she could demand IL when the hidden
picture was discovered. Principal ana
interest was that she required. for
Hagar was nothing II not business
like.
That same evening Frank was seated
in the prim little parior with his
dour father, He had been up to the
hall and had proved the truth OF Ha-
gar's reading by discovering the pic.
ture; also he had sean Marion Dane
which was coming. She would be able
to buy back the lost acres OF the fam
lily. TO restore and refurnish the old
house, to take up her position again
in the county, and reign once more
as the lady OF panetree hall. All this
Frank told his father, and the old mans
brow grew black as night.
L0Q idNV tlGRS A6k A4GA&f t1O 4nAI-
tered. that proud girl who looks upon
you as dirt beneath her feet"
Frank smiled. He had not told his
father the termination Of the interview
with Marion, nor did he intend to do so
at present.
Wen talk of Marion and her pride
tomorrow" he said, rising. IT am go
ing to bed just now. but you know how
I discovered the picture. and how 1t
has been restored to the Danetrees as
grandfather wished"
When his son left the room. Luke
Parsons sat with folded hands and a
dull pain In his heart. It was gall and
wormwood to him that the woman who
rejected Frank should acquire wealth
and regain her position through the
aid of the man she despised. Oh. IL he
could only hide the picture. or even
destroy IL! Anything rather than that
proud Marion Danetree should be
placed on an eminence TO look down
on his bright boy. TO rob her Of this
newly found weaith-to take away the
picture-Parsons felt that he would
commit even a crime.
And why should he not? Frank had
left the key on the table-the copper
key which was to be placed In the left
eye Of the cherub. Parsons knew well
son-how the key was 10 be used; how
his father had designed the hiding
place OF the Castagno picture. The
lock and key which had belonged to
the First Charles had been given TO
the old man by his master. He had
placed the first behind the cherub, with
the keyhole in the left eye, so as to
keep the panel or portion OF the wall
in its place; and on the second he had
craven the numbers indicating tho To-
cality, Parsons rose to his feet and
stretched out his hand for the copper
key. When he touched II all his scru-
pies vanished. He made up his mind
then and there TO so up that night to
the hall and destroy the picture. Then
Marion Danetree would no longer be
rich or benefit by the secret which
Frank had discovered. It will be seen
that Mr.. Parsons never thought Of
Hasar's share In the reading Of the
cipher.
As steward. he had keys OF all the
doors In the hall and was able easily
to gain admission at whatever hour ne
chose. He chose to enter now, and
with lantern in his hand and clasp
knife hidden In his pocket he went on
his erFand OF destruction. Unlocking
small side door under the greater ter
race. he passed along the dark under
ground passages, ascending to the up
per floor and In q short space OF time