The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-11-16

stroll. TX VIII be Interesting 70 discov'
er what clothes he wore"
The inspector walked up 10 the wall.
moving parallel 70 the tracks ia the
snow With sudden spring he
climbed e the top and seated himself
while he stared about him. Then on
his hands and knees he began 20 crawl
forward along the coping. II was
quaint spectacle. but the extraordinary
care and vigilance OF the little man
took the farce out OF II.
Presently he stopped and looked
down at us.
please stay where you are" he
said. and disappeared on the further
side.
Harbord offered me cigarette. and
we waited with due obedience till the
inspectors bullet head again broke the
horizon as he struggled back TO his pc
sition on the coping OF the wall.
He seemed In a very pleasant tenn.
per when he joined us; but he said
nothing OF his discoveries, and | had
grown too wise TO inquire. When we
reached the entrance hall he asked for
Jackson. the valet, and in a couple of
minutes the man appeared. lie WAS a
tell, hatchet-faced fellow, very neatly
dressed In black He made little
bow. and then stood watching us In a
most respectful attitude.
"A queer business this. Jackson, :
said Arlington Peace.
Yes. sir"
And what is your opinion on it,"
''To be frank, sir. | thought at first
that Mr.. Ford had run away: but now
| don't know what TO make OF g.
And why should he run away"
II have no idea. sir; but he seemed
to me rather strange In his manner
yesterday"
Have you been with him long,"
NO. sir | was valet TO the Hon.
John Dorm Lord Beyerley's second
son. Mr. Ford took me from Mr..
Dorm az the time he rented the hall"
Il see And now, will you show me
your masters room shall see you
again later Mr. Harbord,a he con.
tinued; lin The meanwhile / will leave
my assistant with YOU"
We sat and smoked In the secre.
tary's room. lie was not much OF u
talker, consuming cigarette after Gig
arctic Ia silence. The winter dusk had
already fallen when the inspector
Joined us. and we retired 10 our rooms
10 prepare for dinner. / tried word
with Peace upon the staircase, but he
shook his head and walked on
The meal dragged itself 10 an end
somehow, and we left Ransom with a
second decanter OF port before him.
Peace slipped away again, and | con
soled myself with a book In the II.
brary until halfpast ten. when walked
on 10 bed A servant was switching
OF the light IN the hall when / mount.
ed the great staircase.
My room was In the old wing at the
further side OF the picture gallery. and
| had some difficulty in steering my
way through the dark corridors The
mystery that hung over the house had
shaken my nerves, and | remember
that started at every creak OF a
board and peered into the shadows as
passed along with heaven knows
what ghostly expectations. ! was glad
enough 10 close my door upon them
and see the wood fire blazing cheerful
ly IN the open hearth
| woke With start that left me sit.
ting up In bed, with my heart thump.
ing in my ribs like a piston-rod / am
not generally light sleeper, but that
night, even while | snored my nerves
were active Some one had tapped al
my door-that was my impression.
listened with the uncertain fear
that comes to the newly walked. Then
| heard IL again-on the wall near my
head this time. A board creaked.
Some one was cropping his way down
the dark corridor without. Presently
he stopped, and faint line or illu-
mination sprang out under my door. II
winked. aud then grew still. He had
liz candle
Assurance came with the streak OF
light What was he doing, cropping I'm
the dark, II he had a candle with him2
crept over to the door opened IL, and
stared cautiously out
About score feet away man was
standing "A striking figure against the
light he carried His back was 10.
wards me. but | could see that his
hand Was shading the candle from his
eyes while he stared into the lshad.
ows that chung about the further end
of the corridor
Presently he began TO move forward
~