The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-29

ton that no person has the right to lock up books.
1t has frequently been my fortune to make my own
protest against the practice In my own way
In the House of Mystery.
However / promised myself n fine session among
bis editions and carefully refrained from alarm
ing him in the slightest II you the impression
that his bird farm Long Island was merely part
OF the plant TO get YOU Into his net YOU mlsunder-
stood me. He has the farm, and bad 1t then, and /
found that each Friday he went straight from his
Office to the little remodellcd farmhouse his
feathcred ranch, where he remained until Saturday
morning. This suited me, and on the Friday after
had run him down | marched into the apartment
house while the elevator was overhead Oh mission
of patience.
'Whcu it finally sank to It's accustomed place of
rest | climbed the stairs 10 the fourth floor The
lock presented no difficulties though It conspcu
lously reinforced and of modern and approved put
tern. ! knew that the lawyer lived alone and felt no
timidty | groped about his entrance hall. The
front room conventional reception parlor and
Interested me not Mt all. The Others all opening of
the ball, Inspected as walked toward the by
the light of my fash lamp. They plain ordinary
and cheapy furnished. Very evidently it not on
this floor tbat my unconscious host spent his time
while at home.
IF had not subjected myself to a thorough drill
ing In the elements of architecture doubt whether
should ever have discovered the Interior staircase.
The depth of clothes closet which backed against
another in adjoining bedroom gave me the secret
But my lawyer had not gone In for hidden springs
sliding panels such lolufoolery. He had based his
protection In straightforward manner upon clever
construction 1t II he tacltly admitted that
any wise enough to 6nd the staircase had right
10 ascend 1t The back OF one closet was merely
door fastened by simple catch and It swung easily
Inward with Its hooks and dangling garments,
veallng the narrow space through which small spiral
Iron staircase wound.
From the upper step passed into IN apartment
that fully met my expectations The three front
OF the suite had been thrown Into wide spacious
and luxurious The floor wns OF CLASSY perfection
sprnkled with marvellous rugs; the walls banked
with books, cabinets OF curos. trophies and imple
ments OF the chase, and rare tapestries. l ran
through the rooms the rear matter of perfume
tory precauton then returned to inspect the two
shelves Of ancient volumes that had caught my eye
81 turned up the gns boldly as any rent payer,
selected wonderful little black letter printed In Nu-
rcmberg in 1910 ON Artfu Disguises and settled my
self for a delicious hour But while read began To
be conscious of a strange culver of uneasIness. j
found myself against all volton running the plan
many n,eros,,n no details Of It's nppontmcn1s tried
to shake of this annoyance and to concentrate my
self upon treatise TO avail You yourself Lax
ton must have learned never TO disregard these mys-
tcrlous warnings Of the nerves that TO Il man
who ventures where he Is unbIddcn 1t occurred 10