The Washington times., 1912-11-26

your aunt0 cousin, th0u8ns no oOuDt, u
10 Q most interesting story. Send Susan
to me at once
"very good. my lord"
Susan had, however, no further In.
forma tion to impart She was positive
that she had busted the desk the day
befora and equally positive that the
marks must have been made some time
during the night.
BY A .i.s.om my Sss! issy Ss y.dSs xns
as for going into that room again. In.
deed Just couldn't.-not for nobody.
meaning no disrespect to your lordship:
And ~ for the other 'ousemaids. they'll
Ssy.nF S, e ..n ss. .nes s' .nD enss %srasr
10 do 20. Those rooms shall be kept
closed till this mystery is cleared up; I
Will H. 60 now w., and d. i1ck sHso them op myself
stridinE rapidly across tho hail. cyril
opened the door Of the library. THIS
part Of the castle had been equippeI
with electric light and steam heat. and .
heavy. scented air almost made him reel.
HAVING found the switch he noticed at
once that the room had indennaniy
changed since he had been ~ Il las!.
Notwish'tsn6ins the heat, 'sns WHICH
permeated even the farthest corners. y
had already. assumed the chill. gloomy
aspect of an abandoned apartment,
stoopins over the ds: he hS s:ss.ay g .ssrs a.
ed the housemaid. Yes. they were SUI!
quite visible, although . delicate film OF
dust had already begun to softcn the
precision Of the!. ortiinesWyef % NV 'transe; ineiS;
II Th:y y.'s,tn ss,sn'n'y ayr.s. S,d look S' ''' p
0' He i isid his % own hand on the desk.
1 His fingers left q mark at least twice
as wide a. those Of the mysterious
: For a long time he stood with bent
head. pondering deeply; then. throw
ine back his shoulders. as II he had ar.
rived at some decision. he proceeded te
| explore the entire suite. Having saus:
ned ,hs sns' he ne ,uGmed Gme on the
! shut the door-but he did not turn the
Some hours later Cyril. in his sreaa!
four-posted bed. lay Watching tw. VII
snrown H'rsEp1Sn Sy the he dancing hreiiSht on ,ht
| paneied walls. To WOO sleep was evi.
IDENTIFY not his intention. for from time
! to time ne lighted wax vesta ana CON
suited the watch nc nsd he,d ~ ms ~ nsa satsa,,
hasty toilet. Having accomplished thi'
a. best he could In the semi-obscurity
he slipped a pistol into his pocket ane
uropins his way through tho dark
meas. he descended the stairs and eau.
tiously traversed the hall. Not SOUND
/ aid ne make. His stockinged Fee
moved noiselessiy over the heavy car
Al the door OF the library he paused q
moment and listened intently. Then
pistol In hand. he threw open the door
Darkness and silence alone confronted
him. Closing the door behind him. N
lighted vesta and. carefully inspected
Having assured himself that no fresl
marks had appeared on its polished
surface. he blew out the match ant
ensconced himself as comfortably a.
the limited space permitted behind tn
curtains Of one Of the windows. Their
he waited patiently for what seemet
He had Just began to fear that hi
vigil would prove fruitiess. when hi
ear was gladdened by slight sound
4 moment later the light wa. switches
ed through the curtains vsidrisue.
tion. Had he not guessed that thos
marks could only have been made b.
Clad ike a nun in a loose. black gar
ment, which fell in straight auster
folds to her feet: q black shawl throw
over her head. casting strange shadow
on her pale. haggard face. she nd
vanced slowly. almost majcstically, In
Cyril had to acknowledge that sh
looked more like a medieval saint tina
| q midnight marauder.
| Evidently the woman had no fear Q
detect on, for she never even cast on
suspicious glance around her; nor di
she appear to feel that there was an
nece ssity for haste, for she fingered "a
sometime near the writing table. gain
at II as II II had q fascination for hel
hopeless sigh and directed her after