The Springfield herald., 1912-07-12

had expected We heard the bolts shoot
back. The door was flung open. cleo
tric lights sprang into glare. and my
eyes fell on Mrs. Seattle.
Rather an odd hour for n social
CALL DR.. Halifax" she said. coolly
May inquire why am so hon
ored?"
Frost strobe forward and laid his
hand on her arm with an imperative
gesture.
81 am n police officer madam" he
said grimly. "and demand to know
where Mr.. Oscar Digby Is. He enter
ed here ut quarter past ten tonight.
From that moment the house has been
surrounded and closely watched. He
must therefore be here"
Mr.. Digby is not In the house." re-
sponded Mrs. Seattle deflantly.
An adjoining door opened, and
Senior Merello made his appearance.
She looked up at him and smiled. then
said carelessly:
Gentlemen. this is my brother,
Senor Merello"
The senor bowed but did not speak.
Frost, what have you done with Mr..
Digby?"
He is not here" she said. angrily.
You can look for yourselves"
Very well," said Frost, calmly.
Then you. madam. this gentleman.
and all your servants are under ar
rest until We find him."
Nre SraIHa ayo5 tho utp
dictively. but made no reply. The op-
erations which followed were conduct
ed rapidly. The establishment. con-
sisting OF Mrs. Seattle, her brother.
two Spanish men-servants, two maids,
one of Spanish extraction. and the
negro who had opened the door to us,
were summoned and placed in the
charge of one Of Erost's detectives.
Muriel Seattle was nowhere to be
seen. Then we began to search the
Louise In the basement the large
cellar which had attracted Mrs.
Scaiffe's pleased surprise. had now
been fitted up as a laboratory. l ex-
amined 1t closely. 1t was evidently
used for the manufacture OF chemi-
calls on a large scale. All the latest
chemical and electrical apparatus
were to be found there. as well as
several large machines. the purposes
Of which were not evident. One in
particular l specially noticed. 1t was
big tank with complicated equip
ment for the manufacture of liquid air
in large quantities. fingered here
quite awhile. and suddenly a hideous
~ for {tcal To nd
Just then. however, l remembered Mu-
riel. and turned to Join Frost In his
search, wondering II any harm had
come to the girl. Our search In the
upper regions was equally unsuccess-
full. We We're Just going downstairs
again when Frost drew my attention
to door which we had not yet open
ed. 1t was locked. but we burst 1t
open. Within. we found girl
crouching beside the bed. She turned.
saw my face, and suddenly clung to
me- It was Muriel
Have you found him; is he safe?"
she asked.
81 do not know my DEAR" replied.
trying to soothe her. I'VE are look
ing for him"
Did he come to the house? l have
been locked in here all day and heav-
lily drugged."
He came in. We are searching for
him, and hope to find him."
THAT you will never do" she cried.
and fell fainting on the floor.
We placed her on the bed. Frost
produced brandy and gave her few
drops. She came to In couple of
minutes, ind began to moan feebly.
After little while she became calm
and finally fell into deep slumber.
Then left her and hastened back to
the laboratory, intent on trying an ex-
pertinent which had occurred to me on
my last visit there.
Meanwhile Frost and his men had
not been idle. Convinced that Digby
or Digby's dead body was concealed
somewhere around the premises. they
began systematic search OF the en-
tire house from roof to basement.
Pick and crowbar were ruthlessly ap
piled. noorings were torn up and raft
ers cut through. Walls were pierced
and bored through. closets and cup
boards ransacked. The very backs of
the old-fashioned fireplaces were torn
out, and the chimneys explored. At
last Frost called me upstairs. He was
leaning against the wall, looking be-
wildered.
This is beyond me altogether, doc
tor" he said There is absolutely no
trace of Digby, alive or dead
Look here. Frost" | said. this
thing has to be worked out logically.
If Digby left this house he went up.
down, Or horizontally. Up is out of
the question. II he disappeared in
balloon or was shot off the roof he
must have been seen by us. for the
house was surrounded. He certainly
did not pass through the Gordon of
men. He did not go down. for every
cubic foot of basement and cellar has
been accounted for. as wei! as every
cubic foot OF space in the house. So
We come to the chemical change of
matter. Dissipation into gas by heat.
There are no furnaces. no ashes. no
gas cylinders, nor dynamos. nor car
bon points. The time when we lost
sight of him to the time OF entrance
was exactly two hours and three-quar-
ters. If you come with me, think
can throw some light on the problem"