Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-05-20

The marquis looked round with a
smile.
Il hope not, Miss Werner. Will
you honor me by stepping in?"
He opened the door wide for them
to enter as he spoke, and Lucille, af-
ter moments hesitation, crossed
the threshold. The wall above the
carved wainscoating was lined with
pictures, some of them dead and gone
Merles, and Lucille looked at these
first, but Marie Werner went straight
up to the sideboard.
What beautiful plate! / never
saw anything like it,"
mot at the Court?" put in the mar
quis, humbly.
mo, not at the Court" replied
Marie. rs it-of course, it's very
rude to ask, l know-but is it all
real, solid silver? That enormous
tankard with the statue of st. George
on the top for, instance?"
Yes, it is all real, solid silver
He went to a panel in the wains-
coting as he spoke, and taking a Pc
culiar looking key from his pocket,
inserted it III portion of the cary
ing representing a rose.
The ladies looked on with intense
interest, and were amazed to see the
apparently fast and solid panel
slowly slide back, as If pushed by an
unseen hand.
There are some more,' he said,
and, drawing near, they saw a recess
fitted up with shelves covered with
velvet pile and crowded with plate
silver plaques and salvers, punch
bowls and candelabra, cheek by
jowl in glistening array.
Good graciousI" cried Marie,
while even Lucille could not repress
an exclamation of surprise and ad-
miratiCn. why, it is like a story
in the Arabian Nights, What sight!
ard What a clever Face to keep it
I'M"
The marquis regarded the plate
with pensive smile. He did not
think it worth while to tell them that
every ounce of it was pledged to Mr.
Stake, and that he was permitted to
keep it only by special arrangement,
and subject to frequent inspection by
that gentleman.
Some of it is rare and interest
ing he said; Eyes, the hiding place
is not without ingenuity. 1t was plan
ned by my father, the late marquis.
He was proud of the collection-a
great deal more proud than l am
Il have only one regret in connec-
ton with it," said Marie.
"Yesi" he said. What is that?"
THAT l do not belong to the burg
larious profession" she replied.
q am sorry to dispel your pleasant
fancy, Miss Werner, but even though
you were the most accomplished burg
lar, you could not break open that
panel without alarming the whole
house, and the slightest tampering
with the lock by those who do not
understand it only serves to fix the
bolts in more tightly"
AT any rate she persisted, Il
could steal the KEY"
Again you would be foiled III your
amiable intention. Look at it," and he
handed it to her.
1t was the most singular key Ma
RE Werner had ever seen. The wards
or teeth seemed movable, and on
each were stamped or cut letters and
numbers.
Show it TO Miss Darracourt," he
said.
Lucille took it in her hand, and
turned it over.
"a funny kind of key, isn't it?
Even if Miss Werner were to find it,
it would be Of no use to her unless
she possessed the knowledge of the
secre, which renders it serviceable
You see, it is all loose and in pieces
so to speak, and yet you have only to
arrange the letters so that they spell
a word, when the whole becomes fast
and rigid, and a child can open the
panel quite easily"
To be continued.