Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-07-29

Ia
Thrive days later the yigilant was car
ried into chair In the sitting room OF
Middlewell hole. Sir James having the
keys, considered himself entitled to
take the liberty; the big motor which
had brought them, and In which they
had visited the scene Of the murder and
part Of the Lamas track, was painting
and throbbing outside.
As Sir James had said, nothing had
been touched since the eventful night
a half-tilled decanter of port and the
remains Of a meal were still left on one
end of the table; in the center was q
big lamp with a deep shade; at the
other end, close to the armchair, pile
OF books.
The vigilant, resting in the chair,
looked around keenly, his pale, color
less eyes noting every detail, even to
the dust prints. and frowned.
Sir James, I wish to see Thompson"
he said presently.
The man was sent fora fresh look
ing, well set-up fellow of ive-and-twen-
ty.
Marshall Third shot one quick glance
at him.
"Do you fill this lamp when you light
it-eyery evening, mean7"
81 used to. sir; Mr.. Cunningham was
always very particular"
did you on the evening Of the muir
der7'
eyes, SIR"
you are pos1tive?"
"Quite. sir. had to wipe 1t, I re-
member, because 1t overlooked little.
was In a hurry when did 1t, and
spilled some.'
"How late were you7 When did you;
light IT." se:s7 Se ss:., -
'lay be ten minutes, Sir. The lamp
was lit andsthe table laid Just on the
quarter after 6.
"You haven't touched 1t SINGER
mo, sir. Sir James, here, has the
keys. haven't been in the rooms. The
morning after the murder had no
time to see to Mr.. Cunningham. We
were all out on the moors looking for
tracks"
"Giye 1t to me-the lamp, man; don't
cape; Now that silver cup there"
The yigilant very carefully detached
the oil receiver, unscrewed the cap and
poured every drain Of oil into the cup.
Now fill 1t again-full. minds
The man did as he was told. The
glass oil receiver was full to the brim
when he brought 1t back.
What time do you make It, Sir
James?'
Sir James Alwyn pulled out his
watch. a
Exactly 11:10.'
"Humph! make 1t fourteen past
four minutes difference Light the
lamp, Thompson. Sir james, you will
have tedious watch, but you will save
your mans neck. You, Thompson, ant
my servant had better wait in this
room. Let neither the cup nor the
lamp be touched, and the window and
door kept as they are-shut. With you
Z. permission will drive around little
shall be back at 5:15."
i At exactly twelve minutes past tn,
hour the watchers Of the lamp heard
| the cur come up with rush and {
whir.
The vigilant was helped to his chair
and sat down as the clock in the hal
chimed the quarter.
'.rurn out the lamp" he said sharp
4 ly. And Thompson obeyed like ma
4 chine.
Third reached for the silver cup
leveled 1t carefully on the table, ant
with knife made small horizontal
scratch just leyel with the surface Of
the liquid.
"You see that, Sir James, and you
Thompson. That mark is exactly thu
height of the oil left in the lamp. Yor
swear to it on oath.'
They assented.
Throw the oil away, and drain the
cup thoroughly. Good. Now pour ou
the remaining oil in the lamp, which
as you have timed for yourself, hal
been burning six hours"
i They did SO, and the liquid rose three
full inches above the shimmering
roughened scratch.
4 Third shrugged his shoulders.
"You see." he said tersely. "Sir James
4 your man is safe. This oil is the resi-
due after the lamp has been burnin,
six hours. Mr.. Cunningham has stated
4 that he turned out his lamp at IL, Ii