The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-31

dnu "hlCneu tHe DedutIluI, eloQueu
face until the old roof fell on top o
them.
Extraordinary story! Most ole
houses like this have a skeleton hid
den about them somewhere; but this
is peculiarly gruesome one. Strange
that such a crime. such a treble
crime, should have remained undis
covered"
Yes, isn't it?" said Evelyn.
He saw her shudder, and he at
once jumped up, saying;
Shall We continue our explora.
tion?"
Yes" she said quickly. throwing
of the effect her story had produced
on her There's door here that
leads through another room into the
tower. Here it is. behind the hang
ing"
Tapestry. by George" he murmur.
ed.
She inserted the key in the lock,
but she could not turn it, Vane went
to her assistance. and his hand got
Wlred mp with hers; he felt himself
thrill all through, and he ayerted his
eyes. If he had looked mp at her, he
would have seen that her face had
h,t
We're doWncast. \ turn of his strong
hand opened the door, and they pass
ed into room similar in character
snG condition to that which they had
left, but a small bed of carved wood
stood in the corner; there were sew
eral other articles of bedroom furni-
ture, and an antique writing table.
The room looked as if it had scarcely
been disturbed since II had been last
slept in years ago
S"Sir Mortimer used to sleep here
sometimes, believe" said Evelyn, in
"A rather hushed voice.
Not particularly comfortable" OBJ
served Nane, looking round. There
must have been so many better rooms
in the other, the used parts of the
Hall"
"Oh, yes!" she said but he had
= strange fancy for living in ,Se old
wing"
1t Was not here that the murder
was committed?" asked Vane. He put
the question unthinkngly, and was
sorry that he had put it, for Evelyn
had started and turned pale
ii don't know" she said in a
hushed voice. at may have been. Per-
haps that is why my father will not
have the place disturbed. Oh, think OF
it," She shuddered and looked round
The shostly room. Perhaps the muir
derer came in. escaped, b hal W..
dow"
1T may not be the ROOM he said
quickly, abruptly Let us get out of
this, and go into the tower"
With some difficulty he unlocked
and opened the heavy, iron-lined door,
and unconsciously Evelyn crept clos
er to him; and she drew sigh of re-
lief as the door creaked open and a
breath of freshor air met them. Vane
closed the bedroom door after him,
remarking quietly:
I'VE can get out by another way.
/ dare say" He did not want her to |
return through that crime-haunted
room. He was conscious of a curious
longing TO protect her from anything
that would sadden or frighten her.
They now stood in an octagonal
apartment, the base of the tower.
There was no furniture in it; it was
empty save for a few old packing
cases, some straw a broken lantern,
and one or two tools-a mattock, a
broken spade-which might have been
put there by one of the gardeners.
The floor was paved with slabs of
stone, the walls had been left in the
rough, but a very finely carved mould
ing line OF masonry ran round them
about half way up, and Vane's quick
eye fell on it admiringly.
by GEORGE" he exclaimed; that's
splendid, A bit of pure Norman, and
IL very fine condition! l should like
to have a tracing of that"
why, of course!" said Evelyn at
once. She was delighted at his inter
est.
rAnd of the carving round this
door" he added eagerly. If there
were more light you would be able
to see it more plainly. I think l can
get that little shutter open; a part
of it is already broken DO you mind
waiting minute or two?"
Not at all, she replied 81 am so
glad you have found something to in
+aroct vpu Won ra uuita an autiuta-