Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-10-13
CHAPTER III.

standing at the door of the room. He
{, held up his hand with q warning ges-
ture l stepped up to him softly and
u peeped over his shoulder.
BY the side Of an old sofa placed
against the wall of a room, half bed
ID chamber, half study, Professor Marnac
L crouched on his hands and knees. A
lamp stood on the floor at his elbow. He
was working with feverish haste, yet
II with a certain method, moving the lamp
O onward as his examination of the section
lit by its immediate rays was completed.
G 1t was an odd sight, this silver-haired
", figure that crept about, peeping and
peering, like some species of elderly ape.
n So absorbed was he that it was nigh on
A a minute before, with swift sideways
J turn of the head, he caught sight of eur
u faces in the doorway and rose to his
IT feet.
Il can find no trace of it," said he,
smoothing back his hair with q sigh.
IL ut is excessively annoying"
"Of what, may l ask, sir ?" l queried
"Of my signet ring, Mr.. Harland.
valued possession which / weuls not
o. lose for fifty pounds"
Pray let nue. assist yeu," said l, step
q ping forward and raising tho lamp,
which the professor had replaced on the
table.
6 mo, no. Mr.. Harland Enough has
u been done; in the presence of death we
must forget such trivalities. Besides, |
although it was on my finger when |
i, entered the house, it may have been |
dropped in the hall or on the stairs. l
do not doubt that Hans will find it."
N The professor spoke in so resolute a
fashion that politeness did not demand
THAT | should press the matter. My
t,cousin lad already passed behind a great
screen of stamped leather that cut off
the bed from the rest of the apartment.
eMarnac had stepped after him, and l,
though at n slower pace, followed them.
TO be hsnest. the events of the evening
Shad disturbed me not a little. l had
grown suspicious, uneasy; and this an
enoyed me in that was without reason
liable cause for such a frame of mind.
iGranted that the professor had dis
played oddities of demsanor, yet he was
hotoriously an eccentric. And IL my
cousin hau become taciturn, IL his po-
9liteness rang insincerely, the death Of his
flold friend
ar Stand back, Herr professorl stand
back. l sayr'
i 1t was Gradens voice, stern and de-
cisive- | sprang to the corner Of the
screen aAd peered into the darkened
9Slcovs seysAd.
I UpsH his death-hea pillows the calm
and staple face Of peer Yea Stockmar
sleamea like q mask carved In white
arnarble. But neither Of the tive men whs
Nsonfrezted each ether acrsss the ksdy
looked upsR it. Grader, a grim and
eyesclute figure. stood holding a common
JEoeden matchbox in ais huge hands. He
lad opened II carelessiy, for cheap sui
lbhur matches were scattered on the sheet
before him. MarAac's face could Hot
ee but in the pose Of his back aad
lnhoulders there was something feline
something suggestive of an animal about
spring
IL For a second or two the three of us
| food in silence. y cousin was the first
Mo break 1t.
vi Pray do not let US detain you Pro
sssor Marnac," said he. Should we
O nance upon your ring, believe me, 1t will |
safe"
st The professor Strengthened himself
NTH a little gesture Of submission and
topped back int the lampliEht. His |
dand was on the latch, when he turned |
lapon us-for We had followed him
18th face deformed with the most ma
d9gnant fury.
"Au revoir, my friends" he cried az
ish you pleasant evening"
And then a At of laughter took him
lCnothered, diaDolcal merrIment that
roke out in oily chuckles like water
lrglinE from a bottle. Tho door closed |
lepoA it. We stood listening as it grew
Vinter, fainter, until 1t died away in
lence on the lower stairs.
o'"rurn the key, Cousin Robert. But
n ); after him, lad. and bolt him out of
e house He'll be burning 1t down,
ntse."
ne Graden was inexplcabe: but / ran to
,ey. As reached the hall, heard the
Rang of the street door and the squeak
sig of the bolts as Hans shot them be-
nd the departing visitor
When l re-entered the room l found
de screen pushed back against the wall.
lad my cousin, In his shirt-sleeves. lean
~ over the bed He barked at me over
'es shoulder to sit down and keep quiet
I'd humbly obeyed him. Once or twice
turned to the lamp which he had at
ms elbow, and l caught a glimpse of a
aEaifyinK glass. Presently he rose.
ID. carrying the lamp in his hand
commenced a circuit Of the room, lin.
ring now and again to examine some
eject. At the dressing table he paused
sr several minutes, using the magnify
glass repeatedly. But shortly after
birds he threw himself into a chair be
lie me with the air Of a man who's,
ork Is done.
Oats ne u.srespect to our little Her
am that l mean," said he, pullin
Vt a big briar, but smoke l must"
+eHe sat there pulling for minute O
20, his head sunk forward. his eye
II the floor. watched him expectantl,
tits great gift, is observation" b
fgan. at makes just the differenC
tween mediocrity and success In gam
rtnters and novel-writers, In painters
lures and explorers of the unknov
ads, where a man has never a ma
help him. And this same trick of o
walton has given me some very