The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-10-05

OF the banker as be twirled the wheel.
How could they be doing this with
that bloodstained patch on the cliff
edge. with that unknown horror
sinking through the snow--how could
they be doing this II they were not
acting partl An odd figure must
have looked. II there had been any
one to notice me. But they were too
eager In the game TO hear the opening
or the door, or 10 see who went and
came. / walked over TO the fireplace,
III cigarette, and watched them. my
nerves growing steadier in the merry
clatter OF tongues. They were all
there. the men and women of tina.
careless house-party. all there-save
one who lay silent wherever they had
laid him.
Half an hour had slipped by. until,
at last. with an effort, walked TO the
table and threw down two sovereigns
on the red.
IL won. and l laughed al the mel
ancholy omen: not, perhaps, without
an odd note in my voice. for the man
over whose shoulder leaned to gath
er my winnings glanced up with a
startled expression, IL was young
Terry. the secretary: the very person
wanted to see.
Anything the matter, Mr. Phil
lips?" he asked. You're not looking
very we'll"
Don't worry about me-" told him.
But want word with you in pri-
yate."
"Certainly-just one moment"
He had been winning heavily, and
II took him some time TO crowd the
bank notes into his pockets. A sover-
elgn slipped from his fingers and roll
ed under the table as he rose; but he
paid no attention 10 Il.
II have something TO tell you. Can
you come up to my room?" l asked
him.
He hesitated, looking regretfully at
the table, where Fortune had been so
kind to him.
1T happens to be rather important"
| said.
He followed me without another
word. / did not attempt TO explain
until We had passed up the stairs and
through the corridors TO my room.
He seated himself on the great bed
with a shiver OF cold, drawing the
heavy curtains about his shoulders.
And there | told him the story fran
the beginning 10 the end. hiding moth.
ing, not even my belief in the super
natural nature OF the thing which
had seen.
He never moved. but HIS face grew
SO pale and drawn that towards the
end II seemed as II IL were a pow.
dered mask that stared at me from
the shadows OF the curtains.
MY Godl" he cried. and fell back
upon the bed in passion of hyster.
zeal tears
tried to help him, but he thrust me
fiercely away. so | thought II best TO
let him get over IL himself He was
still lying on the thick quilt, sobbing
and shivering, when the door opened
and Peace stepped into the room.
explained the situation in a hurried
whisper: but when l turned again
Terry had got TO HIS feet and was
watching us. clinging TO the bedpost
"This is Inspector Addlngton
Peace" told him. perhaps you
can give him some information?"
Not tonight" he cried, don't ask
me tonight, gentlemen. You cannot
tell what this means to me; tomor
row. perhaps"
He dropped down upon the bed
covering his face with his hands. He
seemed a helpless sort OF creature
and my heart went out to him In his
calamity.
"a nights rest is what you want,
! said, patting him on the shoulder
Come. let me give you an arm"
He took IL at once. with grateful
glance. and I led him down the cor
ridor. with Peace in sympathetic at
tendance. Fortunately. his room was
in the same wing. SO we had not fan
TO go When we reached Il, he thank
ed us for our care OF him And so we
left him, returning to my bedroom In
silence. for, indeed, the scene had
been a painful one.
Peace" / said, when the door had
closed behind us, what was the thinl
saw in the yew Walk
He had seated himself In an easy
chair. and was polishing the bowl Of
well-stained meerschaum pipe with
n silk pocket handkerchief.