The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-05
THE ALTENBURG CASE
By GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE
COPYRIGHT 1909, BY GEORGE DYRE ELpRrpGE
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 Because I had promised him not to tell. and before I got here. after the death. Mir. Tratford had taken posses sion of that part of the house. and I was afraid if told him that it would bring us all into more trouble than we were already in"
 "Yes. but" urged Horace. "you did tell me that there was money. and in my first interview with Trafford I told him. couldn't tell him. though. where it had been kept and naturally. when he found the place he must have thought my ignorance queer. and it could not rouse his suspicions."
 If that was the only thing you did at that interview to arouse his suspi- cions," interposed Beckwith. you might rest a good deal easier than I think you have occasion to. Besides. it's a new tack for you to take. to be anxious because you have aroused TraTord's suspicious. It has occurred to me at times that yoH were some thing of an expert in doing just that thing" Then he turned 10 Mrs Cal den and went on:
 ''who did the work on the vault?
 
 "So far as know he must have done it. and done 1t before came here. He always was a great hand ever since I can remember to potter around with carpentering. bricklaying and such things. I think he had the door and frame. which are of iron. set into the brickwork. shipped here. for I re- member when I first came seeing a crate in the barn that was just about right to hold them"
 T wonder what Trafford shas done about it since he took possession of that part of the house." Becizwith unused. as to himself rather than to the others.
 sT don't know haven't seep the keys. and nobody has asked about them or the room. Those two rooms have been closed up. you kfow. ex- cept when MT. Trarord or his men were there at work or looking around Perhaps 1t would have been better if had spoken of this before"
 .'Oh. you needn't be alarmed" said Horace. bitterly. They've had brick layers there. and. I'll bet. torn the room all to pieces. I'll warrant you
  and the papersg"
 I'm inclined to think with you. Mrs Calden." said Beckwith. that it would have been far better if you had spoken of this at once: at least. if you had taken my advice as your counsel; but that is Of the past and can't be rem edied now. though I'd have liked to have had the advantage of showing our confidence by giving him q thing of this kind Undoubtedly he has discovered the vault long since. and I'm free to say that I don't like the look of 1t that he has kept the matter quiet I'll have to find some way to take it up with him. for we've got to know just what he has found there. Of course there's room in one of those old chimney stacks almost for a stable. let alone vault six by eight feet, and. of course. he had the chim- ney front cu. into as soon as he saw that there, was only a make-beiieve 
 ''on whose authority?'' demanded Horace.
 } "A search warrant Issued by a judge on a certificate from Trafford that it was necessary to the peoples proof. I could have opposed 1t. of course. but 'twouId have put us in rather a queer position. thought. on the whole. 1t was better to let 1t go by default. and I still think was right"
 But If they got their hands on fifty thousand in money" Horace began. only to be interrupted by Beckwith:
 'sThey haven't. If they'd found the money I'd have been notified at once. It's. the fact that they haven't found it that they are counting on as sig nifeant. and that is making them keep the whole matter from me. Still. there's a chance here to be imnroved. I've been wondering how I'd open up on Trafford. This gives me the chance!"
 "On TrafordI" exclaimed Horace. How do you mean open up on him?"
 q mean just this. Trafford's work Ing to find the murderer of John Alten- burg. So are we. He can't want him half so badly as we do- I purpose get ting to work with him at the earliest moment possible. It's hurt him that we weren't working with him before. but it's hurt us a laundering sight more"
 Mrs. Calden grew pale as she listen- ed to Beckwith. and he saw her press her hand over her heart. as if to stop It's fiuttering. The lawyer took pity on her.
 , 'It isn't knowledge. it's ignorance we've go to be afraid of. madam" he