The Washington times., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER x (continued).

tHeIe was uOOT tldL we udu HOI
y seen. But I guess there isn't.
There is the back door, here IS
the front door into the buffers pantry,
here is the door into the room where
we-where we found gran-servants'
room and-and that is all. suppose 1
was silly to even think that a dream
could help u.s. Come on: it is cold as a
tomb here; let us go home"
AS they turned to leave the kitchen,
Barber stopped suddenly and went back.
A small white object under the table
had caught his eye. Regarding no trifle
as too significant to help them in their
search, he picked 1t up. Annabel hur-
ried to his side.
What is it?" she asked eagerly
Nothing much" said Barber, extend
ing his hand; only little piece Of
is that this place has been locked up for
ten days, yet this piece of bread is COM
I paratively soft and fresh.'
The. girl pressed the bread between
her fingers, then stared at him with
TT is fresh" she said almost in
whisper. What does 1t mean? Where
could it have come from? How did it
get here?' ......
Barber smiled.
IF could answer those questions" he
replied. I'VE would soon have the mys-
Itery solved. 1 think 1 will Just run up
stairs and take a look around. viii
me here?"
"I'll come with you," replied, Annabel
hastily, and together they mounted the
stairs.
They passed down the long. echoing
corridor and entered the first dark
room. She drew closer TO him, and they
went from one dark silent room to an
other until they reached a large back
chamber on the east side. Barber utter
ed an exclamation, and, leaving the
girls, side, crossed the room at a
bound.
The bed, which stood in the southeast
corner, was an old-fashioned four-pos-
ter, with balance of faded chintz
lance was now awry at one side, and
the corner of small trunk protruded
from under the bed.
That valance was straight the last
time / was here whispered Barber.
THE officers and I made a thorough
search of all the rooms before we locked
up the house; Remember noticing this
twisted like thatf Who put that trunk
there?"
The girl stood staring from the bed to
his face with dilated eyes; Barber bent
hands he tried the fastening; 1t was not
locked. Eagerly he swung back the lid
the .e,JEur trunk was was empty. .oxw =, -,.,
stamping his foot. "These people have
been back in this house, and I know
now why they have risked detection to
do 1t! That trunk undoubtedly con-
tanned something-some valuable evil
dence-invaluable evidence-and it has
been here-right under our noses--all the
ttime-perhaps hidden away under this
very bed. Think of having let such a
-clue as this escape!
Whatever was in this trunk must
have been important to cause them to
come back here and risk being caught
But how they got into the house puzzles
me. They must have another key, and
they must have brought food along.
What's this?'
!. AS he pushed aside the trunk a hand
kerchtef that lay on the floor behind 1t
was brought to view. Barber leaped
upon it and carried it to the light 1t
was mans handkerchief, with a Pc
culiarly woven border, and had in one
corner the initials -. H."
That's an English handkerchief"
said Barber, scrutininzing it closely.
I've seen thousands of them in the
cheap shops in London; But this is
strange. I don't know what to make Of
this! 1t don't correspond with our the
'ory at all. j. H don't stand for Paul
Jennings, does it?'
NO" said Annabel, with puzzled
brows and bated breath. "'J. H.. does
not stand for Paul Jennings What does
It mean? Who has been here? Who is
j. H.?