Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-29

SN&LNNsA ."Why, Maurice Mllcent eH-
SSANg claimed. What IS the matter; You
crying! What has happened?
Nothing" he said abruptly. Is Norah here
or isn't she:
she is here. OF course" said Millicent 4
considered it right for her to be here. She went
out INTO the gardens for walk. was just coming
to JOIN her.
We'll don't" Maurice replied shortly.
And he rushed from the landing where they had
been talking into the gardens. AS he searched for
NoTah, he happened to see man standing by the
Norah and astounded to meet CarfaX the
detective. His first suspicion was that after all the
police had outwitted him in the matter of Cramp-
iron. But he soon discovered that this not
so. Carfax, though all London was thrilling at
that moment to the news OF Cramplron sensa-
tional escape, had not heard of it He
vas at the Hundreds at the instance of Berger,
who disquleted by strange and lneXphcabe vista
tons to the statue, had invoked Scotland Yard
found, was anticipating an immediate and dra-
matte triumph. He had, after interminable
searches hit upon moving agstone in the platform
Of the interior of the boat house, and further he
had conclusivey established that the unlawful
vistant to the statue was Beakbane.
He took from his pocket common household
steel for sharpening knives, which he had ham,
1nered and filed at the thinner end. He then knelt
down on the platform, and invited Maurice to do
likewise. He struck match, and pointed out that
the stone of a porous variety with number
Of small ndentations its surface How natural he
said TO Maurice would be the assumption that the
stone had been specially chosen on account Of the
coming ashore Impossible to wet ones feet it!
Then, with little difficulty, he inserted his steel
into a most innocent indentatiOn, gave it a twist,
and, 10! the entire flag, hinged side, sank
away and disclosed a cavity.
. How far have you been down theres" Maurice
asked amazed and exCeeding Y disturbed
- have not been there at all.
why mott
Beakbane is somewhere down there in the
statue. The tunnel must be very long. Only this
evening have l understood that stone and made
that instrument | am waiting for Beakbane to
come out. He must out. When he does,
there will be a surprise for HIM.
Why haven you gone after him.!
1t is safer to wait for him here, sir. Much
safer He knows more OF what's down there than
] do He might do something desperate if he caught
he at a disadvantage I'm not a soldier nor
prize fighter; m a detective
81 will GO said Maurice suddenly.
Il will go!" Maurice repeated
Then sir, | will go with you, said the detective.
No" said Maurice coldly; Il prefer to go
alone" There was finality in his voice.
CarfaX had a clear notion of the boundaries of
Maurice, and it not his business to do more.
You this stone is very thin, said the detec-
tive. " Knock on 1t when you return. i shall close
it. because If anyone else happens to along
don want the opening to be seen. And he handed
d small lantern to Maurice, and shut the stone.
Maurice at once penetrated into the tunnel which,
about half hour later to be traVersed by
Crampiron and Norah. He carefully examined it.
and that 1t under the lake and that the roof
of glass. He also examined his revolver, and
kept the ray OF his lantern pointing straight ahead
To HIM the tunnel appeared to be of fantastic
length. Presently It began to rise, and he inferred
that he under the avenue OF elms. At last he
TO the end and to the spiral flight OF steps He
unsuspectnglV passed the aperture leading to the
great chamber while Beakbane undergoing his