The Washington times., 1912-08-15
CHAPTER III.
Footsteps On the Threshold.

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about the brass-bound box.
Now and then. when he was not other
wise engaged, he bent his gaze on the
article In question and tried to imagine
some reason as to the sailorman's
anxiety about 1t.
The pawnbroker was man enough of
the world to know that Lindsay's de-
sire to gain possession of the box was
not likely ito spring from mere senti-
mental affection for 1t. There must be
some reason for the concern which had
made itself evident in the mans eager
face and trembling hands. He said to
himself that there was no doubt that
the sailor was right; that the box had
been his, and he was within his rights
in demanding its restoration to him.
But that troubled Mr.. Josephs very
little. II 1t troubled him at all. He knew
that possession Is sometimes more than
nine points of the law and he had no
more intention OF surrendering the
brass bound box to Lindsay than of
What concerned him was the box it.
self What made the man so eager to
he wanted the box for? Mr.. Josephs
asked himself these questions over and
over again, and as he asked them he
glanced at the Ss box as II he were trying
the secret at a single look.
Once or twice Mr.. Josephs took the
box up from the shelf where he had
man withdrew and handled it with fin
gers no les sinquisitive than his glances.
He tapped the sides, looked curiously
at the bottom as If he expected to find
some secret spring there.
Then he remembered that when he
became possessed of the box there had
been key on the lock, and that he had
put It away somewhere. lie began
searching among the contents of a
drawer under the counter, and present.
ly found the key, with a paper label
attached to 1t. ..
opened the box and looked carefully
about the interior. 1t was quite empty,
and Mr.. Josephs could not perceive any
sign of its ever having concealed any
thing valuable. 1t was lined with some
Eastern wood, the fragrance Of which
made itself apparent even above the
coarse odors Of the oilskins hanging in
the shop. But there was nothing to be
learned from staring into the box, and
MIR. Josephs presently locked 1t again
and put the key carefully away in his
walstcoat pocket.
Then, thinking it was to secure an
article around which 80 much mystery
hung, he put the box itself into the
safe. 1t amused him to think that Lind
say would have some difficulty in get
ting 1t out of that.
Mr.. Josephs closed his shop somewhat
earlier than usual that evening. He
lived in a stuffy room at the back of
his business premises, and to this he
presently repaired and began to make
ready his evening meal. While he was
thus engaged his thoughts still ran on
the events of the day.
He See and drank slowly, pondering
over the mystery of the box and the
sailor, and when he came to the last
mouthful' he resolved to have another
inspection of the thing which Lindsay
He had had to deal with such mysteries
more than once, and was not going to
be baffledby this. He cleared away the
things from his supper table, turned up
the gas jet above 1t to brighter glow,
and fetched the brass-bound box from
the safe.
Everything was very still in the house
when Mr.. Josephs put down the box on
barred and bolted the shop door and
closed the door of the room; the noises
of the street outside scarcely penetrated
to his ears. 1t suddenly struck him
with a new sense-that extraordinary
quiet.
He glanced at the door which led into
the inclosed yard at the back Of the
house; that. Of course; was fast, for it
was a man of simple tastes and habits,
and contented himself with very meager
surroundings.
He lived in the small room in which
he now sat. and he slept In a little
chamber overhead. All the rest of the
house was given UP to the storing OF
such odds and ends as had overfiowed
from the shop There was no other liv-
ing soul In it than himself; he was free
to continue his Investigations undis-
turbed by anyone, now that the shop
was closed for the night. All this he
thought of as he sat down before the
brass band box.
TN settle the matter once for all,
before go to bed" he said to himself.
There must be something about the
box that I know nothing of. or why
should the sailorman he so anxious to
get 1t? 1t may have papers hidden in
1t that are of value, or bank notes, or
something that one would like to get
hold of.
Perhaps there's a secret receptacle
in It, There must be something. The
man wouldn't be such fool as to make
such fuss over the thing II he hadn't
some very particular reason for secur-
ing 1t. And, of course that reason must
have been pecuniary one What Is 1t
but money that makes men keen about
3f{'@es Il seemed wa to Mr. raeSe Josephs that
Ehostly whisper from the shadow in the
rear of the parlor re-echoed the last
words. He could have sworn that he
whisper. He started up. looked about
him and sat down again, cursing his
own fears. He had been slightly put
out by the events of the day.
The advent of the sailor had disturbed
him, and the mystery surrounding the
brass-bound box had perplexed and an
noyed him. and he .trembled little al
he handled the box once more.
Bah" he muttered. I'm gettine
nervous. It's so confoundedly still In
this old house. That won't do. Nerves
are no good in my business where q
mans got to avoid being cheated and
robbed every day of his life. Now, then
for this box"
Mr.. Josephs produced a small foo
rule from his inner pocket and begaI
to take measurements of the box Will
a careful air. He measured its length
and breadth and depth marking tht
figures down on a piece OF paper at hi'
elbow. As he proceeded his face grew
more and more troubled, and at las
he threw down the rule and pencil will
an exclamation of disappointment.
There can't be secret drawer ~ h
said. ITS impossible: the measure
ments are all against IL. Measurement
must be right: they can't deceive. Ant
there's no room for-what's that"
Josephs started from his chair, listen
ing with the sharpness OF an anima
that scents danger. 1t seemed to hin
that he had caught the sound of foot
step on the threshold without-a hgh
footstep on the threshold of the yarC
door He waited in a listening attitude
Scarcely drawing his breath. Presently
the sound was repeated, and then, witt
0ndnAnnaEl that made Mr.. JOSeDhi