Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-09-28
CHAPTER III.

OF his age and size he mounted them
with a surprising activity. Indeed, when
gained the landing he was already
standing at the door of the room. He
held up his hand with a warning ges-
ture. stepped up to him softly and
peeped over his shoulder
BY the side of an old sofa placed
against the wall of a room, half bed
chamber, half study, Professor Marnac
crouched on his hands and knees. A
lamp stood on the floor at his elbow. He
was working with feverish haste, yet
with certain method, moving the lamp
onward as his examination of the section
Ht by its immediate rays was completed.
1t was an odd sight, this silver-haired
figure that crept about, peeping and
peering, like some species of elderly ape
80 absorbed was he that it was nigh on
a minute before, with swift sideways
turn of the head, he caught sight of our
faces in the doorway and rose to his
feet.
Il can find no trace of It," said he
smoothing back his hair with sigh.
1t is excessively annoying"
of what, may I ask, sir?" l oueried
of my signet ring, Mr.. Harland
A valued possession which l would not
lose for fifty pounds"
Pray let me assist you," said l, step
ping forward and raising the lamp,
which the professor had replaced on the
table.
mo, no, Mr.. Harland. Enough has
been done; in the presence of death we
must forget such trivialities. Besides,
although it was on my finger when
entered the house, it may have been
dropped in the hall or on the stairs. l
do not doubt that Hans will find it"
The professor spoke in so resolute
fashion that politeness did not demand
that l should press the matter. Ny
cousin had already passed behind a great
screen of stamped leather that cut off
the bed from the rest of the apartment.
Marnac had stepped after him, and |,
though at slower pace, followed them.
To be honest the events of the evening
had disturbed me not a little. l had
grown suspicious, uneasy; and this an
noyed me in that l was without reason
able cause for such a frame of mind.
Granted that the professor had dis
played oddities of demeanor, yet he was
IL
cousin hau become taciturn, if his po-
liteness rang insincerely, the death of his
old friend
Stand back, Herr professor! stand
back, sayw
1t was Graden's voice, stern and de-
cisive. l sprang to the corner of the
screen and peered into the darkened
alcove beyond.
Upon his death-bed pillows the calm
aud simple face of poor Won Stockmar
CLEANED like mask carved in white
marble. But neither of the two men who
confronted each other across the body
looked upon it. Graden, grim and
resolute figure, stood holding a common
wooden matchbox In his huge hands. He
had opened 1t carelessly, for cheap sui
phur matches were scattered on the sheet
before him. Marnac's face l could not
see, but in the pose of his back and
shoulders there was something feline
something suggestive of an animal about
to spring.
For second or two the three of us
stood in silence. 4ly cousin was the first
to break it.
Pray do not let us detain you, Pro-
fessor Marnac," said he. SHOULD we
chance upon your ring, believe me, it will
be safe"
The professor Strengthened himself
with little gesture of submission and
stepped back into the lamplight. His
hand was on the latch, when he turned
upon us-for We had followed him
with face deformed with the most ma
lignant fury.
"Au revoir, my friends" he cried. 81
wish you a pleasant evening"
And then a fit of laughter took him
smothered, diaDolcal merriment that
broke out in oily chuckles like water
gurgling from a bottle. The door closed |
upon it. We stood listening as it grew
fainter, fainter, until 1t died away in |
silence on the lower stairs.
''Turn the key, Cousin Robert. But |
no; after him, lad, and bolt him out of
the house. He'll be burning it down,
else"
Graden was inexplicable; but ran to
obey. AS reached the hall, heard the
clang of the street door and the squeak
ing of the bolts as Hans shot them be-
hind the departing visitor.
When l re-entered the room found
the screen pushed back against the wall,
and my cousin, in his shrt-sleeves, lean
ing over the bed. He barked at me over
his shoulder to sit down and keep quiet,
and l humbly obeyed him. Once or twice
he turned to the lamp which he had at
his elbow, and l caught a glimpse of a
magnifying glass. Presently he rose,
and, carrying the lamp in his hand,
commenced a circuit of the room, lin
gering now and again to examine some
object. At the dressing-table he paused
for several minutes, using the magnify
ing glass repeatedly. But shortly after
wards he threw himself into a chair be-
side me with the air Of a man whose
work is done.
Its no uIsrespect to our little Her
mann that mean," said he, pulling
out big briar, "but smoke I must"
He sat there puf,ps for Q minute or