Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-13

stood before a secret door, in all proba-
bility the one that / sought.
BY every art that I knew l endeavored
to coax the spring TO answer to my ma
nipulations of the bit Of steel. but without
success. and Gaspard who had followed
me with the ladder, spent not only his
patience, but a fine assortment of French
impressions upon it-and all in vain.
There was yet one more hope left for
getting at the secret room.
"Gaspard." l said. I'm going to wire
Mr.. Milbrath To join me Immediately.
and I want you to take the telegram over
to Winton: but first We'll have one more
try at this puzzle. Do you suppose that
IL We unloaded the bookcases at the sides
OF the fireplace in the library We could
move Them"
Gaspard shook his head doubtfully.
We'll, SO / supposed, but let us prove
It,"
"Certainement, m ieu."
We returned to the library, and Gas
pard began to remove the volumes from
the shelves to the west of the fireplace.
while / unloaded the shelves at the east.
Very quickly we came upon differ
ence. The shelves on which ! was at
work were backed by walnut boards like
themselves, instead of by the plastered
wall, as elsewhere I'm the ROOM 1t re-
quired but a moments thought to explain
the reason for the difference. The wooden
back hid the secret door. These shelves,
book out they would not bulge. We ex-
amined their surface inch by inch for a
fastening, but not a sign Of one could We
find. II was plain that these cases
swung into the room upon strong hinges
and that the lock was on the other side.
The only way 10 get beyond. therefore.
was to tear down the woodwork nearest
us. This l disliked to do unless Milbrath
were present. l therefore abandoned the
investigation for the time, and Gaspard
49, 49, x.,ftf h.. toll I'M
I had wired Milbrath TO come, IL pos
sible on the Gas from Boston; and long
before that train was due In Beverly
was driving stationward. Inactivity at
that time was out of the question for me.
and / felt that / could not sleep until
knew the secret of the hidden room.
During the afternoon had tried to pass
the time in a call at Red Gables, but
found that Dolly had gone to Providence
to shop with Mrs. Foster for q few days,
and that Mr.. Mcclure was out for a
drive in the canopy-covered phaeton.
For a time therefore, / rowed on the
bay, but even that exercise failed to
steady my pulse. and from then until l
made a start for Beverly vfbrated IKE
a restless schoolgirl between the disman-
tied shelves in the library and the secret
door in the grotto, which. as the evening
came on. was flooded with the uncertain
light from waning moon.
/ was conscious of relief when Mllbrath
stepped from the train. He handed to
me a letter as he greeted me, and i saw
that it was from Mr.. Summerheld l
tore 1t open under the light from the sta
ton lamp and read aloudi
MIR Bliss, Parker House.
Dear Young Man: Your recent letter is
entertaining-to say the least. You APP
near to have forgotten that you are under
contract 10 work for me, within specifica-
tions, for one year. and signed con-
tract Is not a thing to be set aside Tor
within. -. -,
II can explain my connection with the
late Peter Somhers to your entlre satiS-
faction-when / choose. and very nkey
shall do so-some time. In the meantiine
go ahead with your twopenny-h'penny In
designations and forget that you are
sometimes a fool.
"PHILANDER SUMMERFIELD
.WelI for coolness' and insoience tnat
..La. Tho nrize,' exclaimed Milbrath.
Not a word. either about his visit down
hara THE old fellow must be daffy. But
N he won't meet you, we'll contrive 10
meet him. The cabby who got MIN a"ay
from me the other day called upon US To-
day." - %, old
Summerfield DOWN. c..rs
street at a furnished-room house. he
could not recall the number, but ne SAID
that he could take me to the place"
"Yes?'
"That was just as your message came;
had no time to go with him. But l
80 his number ana told him that
would look him up at his stand In q Gay
or two. What has happened down mere.
we were in the carriage by tnls Time
and had turned into the high road