Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

we are three TO ones you see, remarked my
uncle.
Far be It from me-" said Angelo, ito differ
from Miss Leslie, but / certainly have no rec
objection OF ever saying any such thing. I was
guilty of falsehood if did. How could have
sad SO, when Sir Hugh was the only one who
offered to purchaser"
We had now reached the middle of the hall,
when sudden exclamation broke from Sir Hugh,
ana on looking up | saw that worthy Baronet
staring at certain extent of oak paneling in
the wall that faced the windows. There was
nothing remarkable about this extent of PAN
cling; it held no pictures, that was all; but tho
Baronets words soon showed us what was wrong.
! why, how's this?" he cried in voice that
was almost a shout. "The pictures gonel"
The picture? What picture?" cried Angelo,
dropping Florrie's arm in his excitement, AMI
hurrying to the side of the Baronet.
why, yours! The Fall of Caesar"
Are you sure?" cried Angelo breathlessly
Quite. And it was hanging here last night,
will swear''
There was deep and painful silence. followed
by the usual commonpaces evoked by surprise
| Where can it have gomez" cried Angelo his
voice expressing the deepest concern. "Sir Hugh,
l trust nothing has happened to that picture.
Though yours IN point of law, still regard 1T to
some extent mine. | would never have parted
with IT, if had thought it would be destroyed.
My picture! my pictured Some one must have
stolen it."
He sank down seat, and lifted his hand 10
his brow with bewildered air, as if scarcely
realizing the situation.
Let all the servants be sent for" cried the
Raronet. What does all this mean? First it
is a book that vanishes, then picture"
"And next-a lady," murmured voice.
| 1t was the doctor who spoke, but his tones
I started at him, wondering what he meant.
| "a book? What book?" cried Florrie.
The Baronet described the missing volume, re-
lating the circumstances under which he came
to lose it.
All the servants, young and old male and fe.
male, now trooping into the hall, with won.
der depicted their faces at being thus strange
ly summoned.
''Now, Frun" said the Baronet, addressing the
butler, whose duty it was to that the gallery
was locked at night, "let ask you if the fast
enngs of these windows" and he pointed to the
long line of easements, "were all as secure when
you examined them this morning as they were
when you left them last nght?"
The butler murmured an affirmative reply.
"You locked the doors at both ends of the
gallery"
u did Sir Hugh
The Baronet turned to his housekeeper
'There was nothing, I suppose, Mrs. Goldwin,
in any part of the house this morning to lead you
to suspect that the Abbey had been entered dur.
ing the night?"
| The good dame asserted that there had been
nothing to lead her to that suspicion
every well, then, continued the Baronet
scanning the faces of the assembled servants with
keen eye; "let me ask if any of you can
count for the disappearance of a picture-a very
valuable picture It was hanging on this part
of the wall last night. It is not here now, you
see."
The servants began to interchange significant
glances and knew that in their own minds they
were connecting the disappearance of the picture
with the ghostly figure supposed to haunt the
gallery.
0GrL - @h;no couldn't on without hands Won
know" resumed Sir Hugh; "snd you are eel
tain that no burglars entered the place last night,
it follows that the picture must have been re-
moved by some one in the Abbey. Can any u
YOU tell me what has become of it?'
''It always was an uncanny picture, remarked
a little housemaid. "When was dusting it the
other day the figure stared at me with its dead
eyes am sure they moved once,
'Uncanny! How dare you? exclaimed Angelo
so fercely that the poor little maid shrank be
hind the others in dismay. Your dislike of 1t
exposes you to suspicion. You, or some CT your
fellow servants here, from an absurd fear, have
DESTROYED it, Produce the picture, you gaping
pack A menials! My picture! my pictureE
And he sank down again on the seat, the very
image Of despair.
There was silence for time, and then Frtiin,
stepping forward and clearing his throat, said;
"Sir Hugh, ought to have spoken before, per
haps, but knowing how much you hate ghost
stories, 1 didn't like to speak
| ''Well, speak now, sdIu VIC LaiVh0p
Iy-"that is" he added, "f your story is fresh
one. and not mere repetition of last nights
nonsense.
"NTy bedroom as you know, Sir Hugh, is over
one end of the gallery. This morning about
three o'clock fancied heard a noise as if some
one were walking up and down here; got ur
and looked out of the window, and could see
a light shining through the easements below on
to the lawn This light kept appearing and dis
appearing as If the person in the gallery were
walking to and fro with lamp. | put on my
things and came downstairs and stood outsioo
that door I had the keys in my hand, but
don't mind confessing | afraid to enter
man. a burglar, anything in human shape III
face but this on the other side of the door was
different matter | listened and heard steps
moving softly to and fro---
'Was there more than person, do you
think?"
II am coming to it, Sir Hugh, As was say
ing. I listened and could hear footsteps. After
time they ceased and there came sounds as u
two persons were whispering together, but ~
NAV only have been person talking to hin-
self Then there was long silence and at last
there came a cry--such cry! My blood ran
cold to hear it, l dropped on one knee, and
peered through the keyhole, thing which,
strangely enough, | hadn't thought of doing be-
fore, and there and there
Here the butler paused as if conscious that his
next item was a little too extravagant for belief
"Wel 10 on. You saw--p
'NIr. Vasari's picture was hanging in its usual
place there" pointing to the black panel, "but,
and the speaker dropped his voice to an awed
whisper, "lying on the floor was fgure-tbe
moonlight was shining clear upon it--a figure IN
= 1onr cloalr n orev cloak / jumped to nv feet