The Washington herald., 1908-04-09
CHAPTER XIV.
The Impenaing BIow

Next morning kOlIe went aS usual ~
Plrk lane. and spent some hours attend
isg 20 the old mans correspondence. The
eleuss Charlie made for his absence
vas that he had been away in an en-
davor to find his sister. whereat the mill
lbnaire merely grunted In dissatisfae-
ton. Both Charlie and Max were fun OF
srow and anxiety on Marion's behalf.
What had befallen her they dreaded to
guess She had left Oxford street. and
kern that moment had been swallowed
II the bustling vortex Of our great cruel
london, the city where money alone is
power and where gold can purchase
Everything, even TO the death Of ones
enemy. Perhaps the poor girl had met
with some charitable woman who had
taken her in and given her shelter: but
more probable, alas! she was wandering
hungry and homeless. afraid TO face the
shame of the dastardly charge against
her-the charge that to neither her
brother nor her lover none would name.
That morning Charlie wrote on, me-
chanically. speaking little, with the old
man seated near him sucking the stump
of a cheap cigar. His mind was too fun
OF the action he was about TO execute
an action which in other circumstances
would have indeed been cuipable
Both he and his friend had carefully
considered all ways and means by which
they might enter those premises. To get
IN would be difficult. Old Levi bolted
the heavy front door each night at II.
and then retired to his room IN the base
ment, where he slept with one ear and
his door open to catch the slightest sound
And even though they obtained access
TO the hall and study, there was the
locked iron door at the head OF the stair
case-the door through which they must
pass If their Investigation OF the house
was to be made.
That morning he made an excuse to
leave the old man seated in his study,
saying that he wanted TO speak to Levi
and give him a message for one of the
clerks from Old Broad street Outside
in the hail he sprang noiselessly up the
stairs. and. pulling open the baize-covered
deer. swiftly examined the great iron
fireproof door so carefully concealed and
secured. His heart failed when he recog-
nized the impossibility Of passing be-
yond. The door was enameled white,
like the paneling UP the stairs. only
over the small keyhole was a flap of shin
ing brass bearing the name of a we'll
known safe maker. At imminent peril OF
discovery by Levi. who often shufied in
noiseless slippers Of felt. he lifted the
flap and peered eagerly beyond. He
could, however, see nothing. The hole did
not penetrate the door.
Then, fearing that he might be diseov-
cred, he slipped downstairs again, and
went to examine the front door The
bolts were long and heavy, and the chain
was evidently in use every night.
In the kitchen he found Levi, preparing
his masters frugal meal, which usually
consisted Of a small chop. piece OF stale
bread and one glass Of light claret. His
visit below gave him an opportunity Of
examining the fastenings of the win
dows They were all patent ones, and,
besides. the whole were protected from
burglars by iron bars.
Patent fastenings were also upon the
windows Of the study looking forth
upon Park lane, while often at night the
heavy Oaken shutters were closed and
barred. He had never before noticed how
every precaution had been taken TO ex-
clude unwelcome intruders.
Through the whole morning his brain
was actively at work to discover some
means by which an entry might be ef-
fected. but there seemed none.
The secret, whatever It might be, was
certainly we'll guarded
He went across to the club for lunch,
and returned again at o'clock. About
4 he rose, asking old Sam. who was seat
ed writing, for a document from the safe,
Il
guard The millionaire took out his watch
and chain and handed them TO his secre-
tary, as he so often did while the latter.
crossing the room, opened the safe and
fumbled about among some papers in one
of the drawers.
Then he relocked the safe, handed pack
the watch and chain, and reseated him
self at the table. Those few brief mo-
ments had been all-suficient, for upon
the bunch was the latch key OF the front
door, an impression of which he had
taken with the wax he had already pre-
pared. The duplicate key could. he knew.
be fled out Of the handle Of an old
spoon, and such was his intention.
He had hoped 10 find upon the bunch
the key to the iron door on the stairs,
but it was not among them. He knew
each key by sight. The old man evil
IDENTIFY kept It in a safer place-some
place where the hand OF none other might
be placed upon It.
Where did he keep It?
Its hiding place must be somewhere
handy, Charlie reflected, for at least half
q dozen times a day the old man passed
that iron barrier which shut of the up
per part OF the mansion. He wondered
where he could find that key, but remain
ed wondering
That evening he took the impression of
the lateb-key 70 Dover street, and with
Max's help tried to fashion key to that
pattern, but though they tried for hours
II was in vain. So they gave It up Next
day Max took a train to Birmingham
and handed the impression to a locksmith
he chanced to know. The latter having
looked at II, shook his head and said
This Impression is no use, sir. It's
what they call a paracentric lock, and
you must have impressions of both sides
as well as the exact width back and
front. before I can make you a dupll-
cate"
The man showed how the impressions
should be taken Max, of course, con
coeted a story as to why it was wanted
and then back TO London he travelled that
same night TO consult with his friend,
The outcome of this was that two days
4fAACA NttAtttANNS AtlAAt ESoAOttS AEAS tGhEA "a
the small latehkey. and within three days
came the duplicate by post
Max bought two electric torches. two
pairs Of felt slippers, piece of thin but
very strong rope. serewdriver, chisel
and other implements. until he had a full
burglars equipment The preparations
were exciting during the next few days.
yet when they came down TO bedrock
fact there was that locked door which
stood between them and the truth.
Charles object in obtaining a duplicate