The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-10-12
CHAPTER III.


with surprising activity. Indeed, when
! gained the landing he was already
standing at the door Of the room. He
held up his hand with 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 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 a certain method, moving the lamp
onward as his examination Of the section
lit 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.
So absorbed was he that 1t was nigh on
minute before, with a swift sideways
turn of the head, he caught sight of our
faces In the doorway and rose to his
feet.
can find no trace Of 1t" said he,
smoothing back his hair with a sigh.
sit is excessively annoying"
"Of what. may / ask, sirT' queried.
"Of my signet ring, Mr.. Harland.
a valued possession which 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.
s'No, 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.
do not doubt that Hans will find It."
The professor spoke in SO resolute a
fashion chat politeness did not demand
that 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 l,
though at a slower pace, followed Them.
\ To be honest. the events Of the evening
had disturbed me not a little. had
L grown suspicious, uneasy; and this am
X noyed me in that / was without reason
able cause for such frame Of mind.
4 Granted that the professor had dis
played oddities Of demeanor, yet he was
fsnotoriously an eccentric. And If my
cousin hau become taciturn, IL his po-
likeness rang insincerely, the death Of his
old friend
.stand back. Herr professorl stand
back, ! sayr
II 1t was Graden's voice, stern and de-
cisive. sprang to the corner Of the
/ screen and peered into the darkened
alcove beyond.
Upon his death-bed pillows the calm
and simple face Of poor Won Stockmar
a cleaned like a mask carved In white
marble. But neither Of the two men who
confronted each other across the body
cooked upon ii. Graden, a grim and
esolute figure. stood holding common
wooden matchbox In his huge hands. He
lad opened It carelessly, for cheap sub
shur matches were scattered on the sheet
before him. Marnac's face could not
ZEE, but In the pose Of his back and
houlders there was something feline
omething suggestive Of an animal about
) spring
For second or two the three Of us
TODD In silence. {. y cousin was the first
break IL
"Pray do not let Us detain you, Pro-
essor Marnac," said he SHOULD we
nance upon your ring. believe me, 1t will
safe"
The professor Strengthened himself
ith little gesture Of submission and
epped back into the lamplight His
and was on the latch, when he turned
pom us--for we had followed him
18th face deformed with the most ma.
ynant fury.
EAU reyoir. my friends he cried. 81
lsh you pleasant evening"
And then it Of laughter took him
bothered, diaDolical merriment that
oke out in oily chuckles like water
rgling from a bottle. The door closed
ION 1t. We stood listening as It grew
inter, fainter, until 1t died away In
ence on the lower stairs.
Turn the key, Cousin Robert. But
/; after him, lad, and bolt him out oil
house. He'll be burning It down
e."
Graden was inexplicable; but I ran K
~. As reached the hall, heard tbs
ng of the street door and the squeak
of the bolts as Hans shot them be
ID the departing Visitor.
When re-entered the room I found
screen pushed back against the wall
my cousin, In his shirt-seeves, lean
over the bed. He barked at me ovel
shoulder to sit down and keep quiet
/ 1 humhly obeyed him. Once or twic,
turned to the lamp which he had a
elbow, and caught glimpse Of
znifying glass. Presently he rose
. carrying the lamp in his hand
lmenced q circuit Of the room, lin
lng now and again to examine som,
set. At the dressing-tabie he paused
several minutes, using the magnify
glass repeatedly. But shortly after
ds he threw himself into chair be
me with the air of man who's
IL done.
it's no ulsrespect to our little Her
IN that I mean" said he, pullin
d big briar. ''but smoke must"
e sat there pufing for a minute o
his head sunk forward. his eye
he floor. / watched him expectantly
rs great gift, IS observation" h
in sit makes just the differenc
feen mediocrity and success in game
ers and novel-writers, In painters Q
Tres and explorers of the unknow
), where a man has never ma
elp him. And this same trick of oil
alton has given me some very r,