Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-13
"I have found the secret of the wing, 1

II have found the secret of the wing
suppose"
( rs tia room?''
Il dare say 1t is. though as yet I've not
got inside and / briefly related my ex-
periences of the afternoon.
Milbrath listened with widening eyes.
by George." he cried when had fin
ished. What a blind ass ! am. Why,
might have known there was a secret
way out of the library, but ii never
seemed reasonable to me until this mo-
ment-even when you suggested the pos
sibility the other day. Now 1 remember
that uncle used to have a habit Of ap-
pearing i'm and disappearing from that
stance in particular. 1t was during the
last summer of his life. and we were dis
cussing, quite amicably. for wonder.
some subject that required reference TO
book that lay on a parlor table
stepped out to get 1t, and when l re-
turned an instant later uncle had disap-
peared. l looked about in amazement.
for, far as l knew. the only way that
he could have left the room was through
the windows. which were closed. or
through the door on the entry portco. !
stepped back TO that door, only to find 1t
locked and bolted. and at that moment
Uncle Peters tantalizing laugh rang out
in the library. and found him there in
his chair by the fireplace almost doubled
with laughter.
"Oh, you're a keen-eyed, sharp-witted
youth" he cried. catching his breath. a
credit to your family and your varsity,
to be sure Your wit will never save your
neck
Il remember his very words. you see"
well. he had his laugh in those days;
we shall have ours now-perhaps; but the
first thing that We want to learn is the
purpose of the place to which il leads.
Do you feel equal to going ahead to-
night?"
"Tm for that before anything else.
There's Gaspard yonder now. and Gas
pard has light burning for you.
We hurried the horses on, and at the
door of the house left them painting and
glad to rest, as We proceeded TO the II
brary.
Gaspard had lighted the three lamps in
the chandelier and the reading lamp with
the green shade SO that the room was
brilliant The fdismantled shelves with
volumes heaped upon the floor gave the
apartment an appearance or dlsoruer very
different from the neatness that mad pre-
vailed in il upon my first entrance.
How blind we are to the simpiest
facts" I remarked. Those brusheu-
away footprints, for instance, leading 10
this bookcase. And | supposed that tne
intruder had come this way for vol
ume"
Gaspard had provided a sledge and an
ak, and without further ado we pesali
relentIessly to break down the beautlfui
bookshelves 1t was a longer and
warmer task than we had counted upon.
but il was done at last. and standing III
the chips that bestrewed the MOOR we
saw that the bolt which had heid the case
to the wall was followed by announcer
which fastened from the SIDE away irul.i
us the door now Clearly oulhheu ~ 'e
plastered wall. .,l
II was but a wooden door. only as high
as the bookcase had been, and single
blow from the sledge sent mliion
shiyers from it into the air. announcer
vel, aimed blow from the strong arm OF
Milhrath unloosened the eaten, ana IKE
a fash. and noiselessly. what was ieIs
Of the little door rolled back anu ois-
closed the place beyond aoroa
I seized the reading lamp ana donea
IFS shade. Its glow, spreading aneau'
lighted up the recess anu sno nosa, four
snace scarcely larger than cioset-iour
feet wide and only ten feet long.
Across the east end, which was TO tfle
,oft af the entrance stood roll-top desk
sin,,lar 10 the one in the library. itS cover
but halfway down. ,.,,, Sunk
J., Tho MIA ster. stretched above leather
nonch on the south wall. and at the TOO.
IF the couch was marbie-Sel po"i win
faucets for running water. t,.
ON the west wall was a door, 10 uo ,
.ho one leading into the subterraneah
..assaee and on the other side OF mat
In the corner, stood table pearIns
ing dish A cupboard above CoHta
cd cocoa, crackers ana sugar. a.. e.,,,
4 curious collection for this slient loull;
..Shall l break in this door aiso; naS,
,,;ihrath. indicating the one on the VS.
ali ..you see il is locked and from lne
outside apparently, as the Key - fis
ing" rswered LET us first
Geo whether the desk yields cue No. a.
l suppose. is the door 'na' 'e"' "
fro he continued tomorrow)'