The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-15

The room above was no Goubt the best bedroom. and there Garshore slept, without doubt. Voices sound ed there.
 Cunliffe sprang across to the door and switched off the light silently, leaving us in total darkness. save for a faint gray glimmer through the blinds. The person above seemed to be stumbling about, while at the same time a very curious odor greeted our nostrils-a smell that I had never be- fore experienced.
 That's curious!" remarked Cunliffe, shifting quickly. "I hope the place isn't on fire!"
 I took a long breath. and it certain lyi did seem like something burning
 unp1easantly. Suddenly both <our hearts gave great bound. for we heard the faint sound of an electric bell ringing somewhere in an upper floor.
 He was giving the alarm!
 What shall we dor" asked my friend in quick alarm.
 "stay here." said, firmly. land face the music. What T pity we haven't a weapon with us.''
 But Cunliffe grasped his iron bolt and expressed his intention of felling without a word the first person who entered tke place. So, we waited. hnd presently heard the sound of slippered feet followed by the humble of voices above. Then there was a loud knock started.
 At last all became quiet again. the
 silence unbroken save for the ticking of our watches, until presently we ven- tured to move again.
 I had flashed on my hand-lamp, as
 we moved into the adjoining room, also a library. when of sudden the ray of light shone upon 8 small table in the corner. and I saw upon it a large silver frame. In it was a photo- graph.
 Involuntarily I uttered low cry, for the photograph standing there was that of Elfrida, Maynard--the pale faced girl who lived within that mans
 twalldoni!
 "You know her!" whispered the table and took up her picture to exa- |
 my lamp ''Who is she?''
 "A--a friend of mine' I stammered. 1T had no idea that I should see her picture in this house." It was beautiful portrait, showing her in evening bodice, with roses in her hair. and smile upon those sweet lips that so longei to kiss. And he, heartless. scheming scoun- dreI that he was. kept there enshrined the picture of the girl he had so shamefully deceived!
 I had replaced it upon the table with sigh. and was sweeping the room with my tiny lamp. which shed long streak of white brilliance. when there became suddenly revealed a Small key
 hole in the paneling of the archway had once existed there, no deubt. These had been removed. and oak paueling placed upon the dividing wall. which was about eighteen inches in thickness. A panel. one about eigh- teen inches square. had. it seemed,
 been cut out go as to form. a small cupboard which would escape the mo- tice of any one not in search of the keyhole Tke latter was. indeed, placed in such a position that had it not been for my bright little searchlight I should certainly never have noticed it.
 Crossing to it. I examined it more closely. Its unobtrusiveness attracted me- Moreover. I saw by the keyhole that it was securedsby a patent lock. Cunliffe took in the situation at glance and switched on the light
 Then came to my side. saying. as he tapped the panel:
 "Something may be inside here" The sound emitted was not very hol= low, and we came to the conclusion that the oak panel was lined with steel, so as to form tiny safe. So
 well, indeed. did the wooden door fit that it was quite apparent that it was
 used to secrete papers from prying visitors. In a few moments. therefore, we were at work upon it with the iron
 bar the fattened end of which, how ever, was too blunt to enter the crack until I had succeeded in cutting away a portion of the woodwork with my
 knife.
 At last. however, Cunliffe wedged it in near the lock. Then we held our breath To prize it open in that way must result in considerable noise. Still. there was no other means. So
 motioned to p1y companion to bear
 upon. it. He did so-but it would not budge. That tiny lock. it seemed. se- cured some complicated mechanism ouny,inpIv contrived to resist all illeg- al effort. assisted him. grasping the bolt
 with both hands, and. placing my feet against the wall, pulled with all my weight The leverage must have been tremendous. for there was a loud cracking of wood. and yet we only