The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-09-12

CalI MN DhCk ana make sure. ana
this yerandah, still and empty as It
was softly lighted by lanterns depend.
ent from its roof. was to him a small
oasis In q world OF darkness. With.
out advice he was lost, could find hts
way no other where. He would have
simply TO walt until the house.
hold came to life. or until by his own
efforts he succeeded In quickening It.
He tried to do this latter TO the
best OF his ability by tapping a sum
mons on the door lamb. Through the
wire insectscreens broad hallway
and staircase rising to the upper
hoor were visible. Limp, cool.looking
rugs conceived In pleasing color.
schemes protected tho hardwood floor.
Ing To the right door stood a jar
and permitted a broad shaft OF light
to escape from the room beyond. On
the other hand a similar door, like
wise open, showed n DINNER glow.
TWO other doors wore closed !;
oRourke assumed that they led TO
'he hllCuen OUlCeH.
Having waited few moments with
out event. the Irishman knocked a sec.
ond time, and would have knocked n
third when he thought better OF It
ana glanced at his watch. II was only
matter Of ten minutes after eight;
strictly interpreting the intent Of
Sypher's Invitation, no was trille
early Presumably the servants we're
all out of earshot, preoccupled with
preparations for the meal; while
sypher and his niece were most prob
ably still dressing.
With an impatient air ORourke
turned back to the veranda. A ham
mock In one corner was swinging Idly
In the breeze. A number OF wicker
armchairs stood about, invitlngly fur
nished with cushions. ORourkc Sc
lected one and disposed himself TO
walt.
After five minutes he frowned
thoughtfully and lit cigarette.
Faith. It's fine surprise he's Civ.
on me-" he said, irresoIute. But It
cant be premeditated insult. Why
should It be? And they can't all be
out. TITS sorry am | let that driver
go; more than likely this will be the
wrong house entirely. That must be
the trouble, ri just go. quietly fold
up me tent and decamp before the in
habitants, II any there be, discover
me and run me off the premises"
But at the head OF the steps, with
foot poised to descend, something re-
strained him; Il would be difficult to
say what, unless II were the unbroken,
steadfast, uncanny quiet "I'll have q
look" he determined suddenly; per
maps -
lie turned to the right and stopped
before a long, open window looking
into what seemed to be n music room
and library combined Brilliantly II.
Eliminated by hanging lamps of I'M
usual brilllancy. the interior was clear.
ly revealed. And with an abrupt ex-
clamation the adventurer entered, feel
ing for the revolver, to carry which
had of late become habltual with him.
The room was simply furnished, II
tastefully. There was a grand plano
near the veranda windows with a mu-
sic rack and cabinet near by. Dis
persed about the floor we're n few COM
Portable chairs. rug OF rare Orien-
tai texture, two consoles adorned with
porcelains. In the middle of
the room stood draped comfortable
Uttered with books and magazines; to-
ward the buck long. fat-topped desk.
And against the rear wall, ordinarily
hidden by a folding screen of Japan.
csc manufacture, now swept aside,
was small steel safe. Upon this
)Rourke's attention was conferred.
He remarked that II looked new and
'ery strong; 1t was open, disclosing
| variety of plgeonholes more or less
by docketed documents, and
smaller Interior stronghold.
Between the desk and the safe a man
ny prone and quite motionless. He
vas dressed for ceremonious dinner.
md apparently had been struck down |
n the act of stepping from his desk
o the safe. For beyond all doub. he
lad been murdered. The haft OF a
,nife protruded from his back, buried
o Its hilt just beneath his left shout
er.blade.
ORourke moved over 20 the body
nd lifted It by the shoulders, turn
ng the face to the light. Then. with
low oath, he dropped It.
A small sound, SO slight as to be all
ut indistingulshable. penetrated
'Rourke's stupefaction. He stood
rect, looking about, telling himself
nat the noise resembled as much as
nything the hushed cry of a child
obbing in sleep. soft and infinitely
athletic. Unable to assign its source
Isewhere. he attributed it to the
lricken man at his feet; and in des-
crate hope that the pulse OF life
light still linger IN sypher's body, he
melt. withdrew the knife, turned the
orpse upon Its back, and laid his ear