Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-01

l. sat silent, revolving in my mind the Whole
history of the strange picture. / remembered the
date assigned by the artist for the completion
of his work. II was Christmas Day-the day of
my brothers departure for the Continent. l re-
called the red stain on his vest. Was the officer
who had caused the fracas in the Vasari Gallery
at Paris none other than George, who, angry
with the artist for having painted picture that
might lead to the detection of the crime, had at
tempted to destroy it, Was the silver-haired old
man-an accessory to the deed? Touched with
remorse, had he confessed his part in the plot
only to meet with death day later at the hands
Of the man whose secret he had betrayedg
] turned to listen to the Baronet, who was
holding forth to my uncle.
"You see now, Leslie" said he, "why he exer-
cised such secrecy over the production OF this
picture, and why he kept his studio-door locked
while painting it. 1t was because the model
that he painted from, the model for his fallen
Caesar, was, in point of fact. dead man"
My uncle's reply was startling in its sugges-
tiveness:
"sir Hugh" said my uncle sternly, eff Angelo
be the fend you think him, he must be arrested
at once"
"That will require magistrates warrant" 1
said.
"Right; and we will procure it without delay"
observed the Baronet, rising. Colonel Monta-
que is the nearest magistrate. He lives at the
Manse-ive miles from here. The carriage can
take us there and back in an hour, and"
His further words were checked by the sud
den appearance of Fruin, who, without having
waited to knock, entered the room, and, brim-
full of excitement, cried:
GIVE found the picture, Sir Hugh!
"The devil you have! Where on earth was it?''
'Jn the Nuns Tower, to be sure!"
"The Nuns Towerl How did you manage to
get in there"
Fr1rin's manner changed at once from excite
ment to soberness.
"Well, Sir Hugh" he began with the air of a
penitent, "it was wrong l admit, to play the
spv on a gentleman, but--but-- It's this way,
you see. I have always been suspicious of Mr..
Vasari and his doings, $3.50 that's how it was,
YOU know. I haven't been doing exactly what's
right, but-but-you sec"
He hestated and stammered so much that the
impatient Baronet, with deprecatory wave OF
his hand, cried:
everything you've done in consideration of your
having found the picture"
Highly gratifed by this plenary indulgence the
butler began again in more confident tone:
'Wer, Sir Hugh, you remember that Mr.. Va
sari hadn't been here week before | said to
YOU, That Italian gentleman has come here for
no good?"
II remember it, Fruin; and I told you not to
pass remarks on my visitors.
ESQ you did, Sir Hugh, SO you did, replied the
butler, nodding, as if the reprimand were de-
cided compliment; "and I went off in huff, de
termned to keep mShown counsel for the future;
determined too, in spite of your rebuff, Sir Hugh
to keep watchful eye on the foreign gentleman
I've long had desire to have peep in at that
tower and so the other day I got the black
smith to examine the lock for the purpose of
making kew to fit it. Here it is," he continued,
holding it aloft GAS soon as / got it went to
the tower Brown and Tompkins were with me,
CARRYING dark lanterns. We tried the key, and
the door opened easily Brown and Iompkins
didn't like to enter-they were afraid-so they
stood at the head of the steps and turned the
LIGHT of their bulls-eye into the place. I looked
round and nv eye was caught by something peep
ing ont from under the fringe of tapestry.
lifted the curtain, and there was the picture be-
hind the tapestry, reared up against the wall.
He paused, out of breath, for he had been talk
ing very fast. M, o,,r
was the artists model that Angelo spoke of at
breal,fest this morning-the lay figure that he
1T saw nothing resembling lay figure. But
then 7 wasn't in the place above few seconds,
and it was in halfdarkness all the time"
"Is The Fall of Caesar damaged in any way?'
asked the Baronet.
''Not in the least, Sir Hugh"
"yVbat have YOU done with it|"
at told Brown and Tompzins to carry it to
the gallery" E.,
leryNanvwhere will do for the present. See that
it's done, Fruin, and then lock the place up and
bring the keys here. Give me the Key OF the
Nns' Tower. will examine that place tonight
myself"
narted on his errand.
"I'm off to the gallery" said I, preparing to
follow the butler; "I must see that picture"
"No. no. not now" said the Baronet authori
tatively, and laying restraining hand upon my
arm, "'Hme flies, and every moment is of value
Never mind the gallery for the present, unless
Won wish Angelo to escape us. l want you to
foLo I'm vour station at the entrance-hal of the
Abhev SO as to be ready to shadow Angelo the
moment he returns Detan him at the Abbey by
every means in your power till we return with
a constable and the warrant for his arrest"
"Stav a minute!" I cried, as both moved TO-
wards the door What VIII tne "aiianC charge
Angelo with?"
"With murder, of course"
"StonI How can warrant for murder be
issued against man unless you know the name
of the victim?"
"'But do know the name of the victim"
''What!" I cried in amazement. You do:
How have YOU found out? Who was it!
'"You yourself have told me-"
And with these words-a complete enigma to
me-the Baronet darted off, accompanied by my
uncle. who looked every whit as bewildered as
myself.
IN await Angelo, when Fruin came into the room
'IIas Sir Hugh gone out?" he asked.
Eyes. but only for little while" answered
''Do you want him particularly
"Only to give him these keys" The butler re-
Piled laying them table.
''Have you put the picture back in the gal
dyes. sir; stood it on a table in the middle Of