The Washington herald., 1908-04-15
CHAPTER LII.
Contains a CompIets Revelation.

NGntAEnS "a NOmpiete ttehSA"AADN'
A complete surprise awaited them.
The door Of the small room on the first
foor stood open. and within the light was
switched on.
Upon the threshold they both paused,
dumfounded BY the scene before them.
Just as they had LET, It, the coffin
stood upon its trestes. but lying on the
floor beside il was the body OF the man
whose name it bore upon its plate-the
man Jean Adam.
In his nerveless grasp was a big serv-
ice revolver. while the small round hole
in his white temple told its own tale-a
tale Of sudden denunciation ssd of sui-
eide
The dead man wore evening dress. On
his white shirt front was an ugly crimson
splash. while his fast-gIazing eyes, still
open, stared blankly into space. At the
opposite wall, leaning against it for sup
port, was old Sam Statham his coun-
tenance blanched. his jaw set, unable to
utter word.
The sudden unexpectedness Of the
tragedy had appalled, him. he stood
speechless. He could only point TO the in
animate form upon the floor
Max lifted the body ana sought eagerly
for signs Of life. There were. however,
none The bullet had penetrated HIS
brain. causing instant death.
Sam Stathams enemy-the man whom
they had presumed was already in his
coffin. was dead. Yet what was the
meaning Of it all? The whole affair was
a complete enigma. Why had Jean ADAM
the adventurer who had lived by his wits
for years and the hero of thousand
thrilling adventures, taken his own life
beside his own coffin?
Rolfe and Barclay turned away from
the grewsome scene, and In silence de
seended the stairs, where, standing back
in the shadow, trembling like an aspen.
stood old Levi.
As they passed down, the servant en-
tered the room TO join his master with
whispered words Of awe.
Then, at the millionaire's suggestion
when he descended TO them FIVE minutes
later. Charlie went forth into Park lane
nd. walking hastily toward the fountain,
obnd a constable, whom he informed Of
he tragedy.
AS he went back to the house with the
oliceman at his side, he wondered
Thether. after ALL he had not misjudged
Id sam. In any case there was a great
nd complete mystery which must now
elucidated.
Just outside the little old town Of Arun-
el in rural Sussex, at the top Of the
,eep hin which leads on to the high road
Chichester, & road rendered dusty in
INNER and muddy in winter by the con-
ant succession OF motor cars which tear
ong IL, stands Fordham Cottage. a
nall, unpretentious red brick house, sur
FUNDED by a pretty garden and divided
ON the road by a high old wall clothed
lmpletely by ivy.
II was o'clock in the afternoon.
Within the neat old-fashioned front par
T-for the owners of the house were
80 prim maiden ladies-stood Rolfe and
arclay, together with the gray-haired,
'ay-bearded man who, having rented the
ace furnished, was living there IN COM
etc seciusion-Dr. Michael Petrovitch
They were in earnest conversation, but
Charlie kept his eyes upon the window,
rs though In expectation Of the arrival
OF some one. The autumn day was fine
and dry, and Maud. returning from Lon
don by the first train. which mad arrived
at $50 that morning had, after luncheon,
gone out upon her cycle as was her daily
habit
Her lover, anxious and impatient,
scarcely needed what the doctor was eX-
planning 20 Max.
For the past hour both men had been
describing in brief what had occurred
since the ex-ministeTs disappearance
from Cromwell road, relating practically
what has already been chroncled In the
preceding chapters They had told him
OF Adams threats. of the warning given
TO Charlie by Lorena Lyle, OF Adams en-
deavor to entice Max TO C0nstantinople.
and OF Stathams evident terror Of
Adams vengeance To it all the grave,
gray-haired statesman had listened at
tentively.
Only when they described their secret
visit 10 the house in Park lane, and the
extraordinary discoveries they had made
there. did their hearer evinee surprise.
Then. knitting his brows, he nodded as
though he understood. And when they
told him of Adams suicide. he drew
deep breath OF apparent relief
THAT man." he said, in q low, dis
tinct voice. with scarce a trace Of accent
that man was my enemy, as we'll as
Statham's. II was ne who. in order to
further his speculative financial schemes.
paid an assassin to throw bomb at my
earriage-the bomb that killed the poor
little chilGl He was an adventurer who
had nlched money from widows and or
phans-a scoundrel and an assassin. The
assassin, when IN the fortress at Bel
grade. confessed to the identity OF his en-
ployer. But in the meantime he disap-
peared-tO South America, it is believed.
Prior to the attempt upon me. Lyle. the
mining engineer was his cat's-paw as
he has ever since been-a good fellow at
heart, but weak and at the same time ad-
venturous. Once or twice they made big
profits out OF concessions for copper min
ing obtained from my predecessor IN Of
fee. When Adam found that I refused
10 participate in business that was
fraud upon the public in Paris and Lon
don, he plotted 10 get rid OF me. Fortu-
nately he did not succeed; but when the
truth was exposed to the servian govern
ment that he was the real assassin, GER
tain valuable concessions were at once
withdrawn from, him. and he was thereby
ruined He vowed vengeance upon me, |
and also upon Statham-to whom the con-
cessions had been transferred-a terrible |
vengeance. But soon afterward he disap-
peared. and We heard. upon what seemed
10 be good authority that he was dead |
He had been shot in a drunken brawl in |
Caracas"
And then he suddenly turned Up again |
-eh?" Max remarked
Yes; and for that reason Mr.. Statham |
suggested that I and my daughter Maud |
should disappear 10 some place 10 which |
ne could not trace u.s. Statham defied /
his threats, but at the same time thought |
that II we disappeared in such manner !
tAat the police would not seek us. il |
would be wise step. For that reason |
arranged mat the furniture. as well as /
ourselves, should dlsappear In order to /