The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-12

10 my great Satisfaction me active
part in this experiment was delegated
to me. Durbin continued to be a mere
locker on. Drawing out the two large
| drawers from their place at the end OF
this closet / set them aside. Then
hunted for and found the small loop
| hole which we had been told afforded
a glimpse of the library hearthstone
but seeing nothing through it. / called
| for light to be placed in the room be-
low.
/ / heard Durbin go down. then the
| major and, finally. the district attor-
ney. Nothing could stay their curios-
! ity now, not even the possibility OF
danger. which as yet was a lurking
| and mysterious one But when light
/ shot up from below and the irregular
| opening before me became loophole
| through which / could catch very
| vide glimpse of the library beneath,
found that it was not necessary for me
to warn them to keep away from the
hearth, rs they were all clustered very
near the door-a precaution not alto
gether uncalled for at so hazardous
moment.
Are you ready:" | called down.
Ready rose in simultaneous re-
Spouse from below.
Then look out.''
Reaching for the spring cleverly con-
cealed in the wall at my right / vigor-
ously pressed IT.
The result was instantaneous. Silent
~, bit with unerring certainty. some
thing small, round and deadly fell
plumb from the library ceiling to
where the settle had formerly stood
against the hearthstone. Finding moth
ing there but vacancy to expcnd itself
upon, it swung about for q moment
on what looked like Il wire or a whip
cord, then slowly came to rest within
q foot or SO from the door.
A cry from the Mortified officials be-
low was what first brought me to my
SELF Withdrawing from my narrow
quarters. fastened down to them and
added one more white face to the three
/ found congregated in the doorway.
In the diabolical ingenuity we had seen
displayed crime had reached its acme.
and the cup of human depravity seem
ed full.
When We had regained in some meas
ure our self possession we all adj
vanced for a closer look at the MUIR
derous object dangling before us. We
found it to be a heavy ieaden weight
painted on it's lower end to match the
bosses Of stucco work which appeared
at regular intervals in the ornamental
ton of the ceiling. When drawn up
into place-that is. when occupying the
hole from which it now hung suspend I
ed-the portion left to protrude would |
evidently bear so small a proportion 1
to its real bulk as to justify any eye |
In believing 1t to be the mate, and the |
harmless mate, of all the others.
lit hangs just where the settle |
STOOD" observed Dnrbin significantly. |
and just at the point where the /
cushions invite rest. as the colonel so |
suggestively puts it in his strange puz-
Zle of n confession added the dis
trict attorney.
Replace the old seat ordered the
major, land let us make sure of this"
Ready hands ut once grasped it ard,
with some effort. | own, drew it care
fully back into position.
You see," quoth Durbin.
We did.
"Deyiisb" came from the maicr's
lips. Then with q glance ut the ball.
which. pushed aside by the seat. now
hung over its edge foot or so from
the floor. he added briskly: The ball
has fallen to the full length of the
,ord. II it We're drawn III a little
Wait l eagerly interposed. Let
ne sec what | can do with it,
And / dashed back upstairs and into
he closet Of THE Coloners own
, With n single peep down TO see if
hey We're still on the watch. seized
he handle. whose position ! had made
sure of when searching for the spring,
IND began 70 turn, when Instantly. SO
quick was the response. the long cord
and I saw the bail rise into
light above the settle top.
stop" called out the ma jor. LET
% and press the spring again
I FASTENED to obey. and though the
Jack OF the settle hid the result from
ne. / judged from the look and atti
ude of those below that the old colo
el's calculations had been made with
reat eyactness and that the one com
ortable seat on the rude and cumber-
ONE bench had been so placed that
his leaden weight in descending would
t the chosen moment strike the head
t him who sat there. infiicting death.
hat the weight should be made just
eayy enough TO produce fatal con-
ussion without damaging the skull
ras proof Of the extreme care with :
-hich this subtle apparatus had been
ontrived. An open wound would have
reused questions. but a mere bruise
hight readily pass as a result of the
ictimS Violent contact with the fur '
ishings OF the hearth toward which Y
lie shocked body would naturally top a
le- The fact that modern jury had /.