The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-07-26

tho man VIC Wcro expeCttuB ouBnteQ
from Il. Frost stepped up and touch
ed him on the shoulder. Il am q DO
lice officer. Mr.. Digby." he said. as Os-
car wheeled around and faced him.
Your friend here, DR.. Halifax. has
warned you not to 60 into that house.
repeat his warning. There is danger
In wait for YOU"
For answer Digby thrust his hand
into his pocket. produced q note and
handed II to me.
Read that. Halifax" he said. "and
you will see why cannot refuse to
enter the house"
tore the letter from it's envelope
and read In the moonlight. Come to
me. I am suffering and in danger. Do
not fail me. Muriel."
You are mad. Digby," said. THAT
note Is q forgery.
"All the same. am going" he said,
crisply. "and alone. too. don't want
any outside interference In what prom
ises to be family AFFAIR"
Since you are determined. then"
said Frost. remember that in case OF
trouble we will be here to help you.
Furthermore, may as well tell you
that II you are not out OF the house by
one o'clock we shall enter II and make
sure that all Is right"
Digby merely nodded. and walked
quickly up the drive. We watched
him ring the bell. The door was open
ed by the negro servant, and he enter.
ed. Frost and I settled down to our
long wait with the best patience we
could summon for the occasion. The
minutes seemed to crawl, IL o'clock
sounded from the steeple of a distant
church, then half-past. The house
remained wrapped in silence. Once
Frost whispered to me, and We listen.
ed attentively. It certainly seemed to
me as though a dull muffied sound, as
Of pounding or hammering, was faint.
ly audible, but whether It came from
the house or not. Il was impossible to
tell. At a quarter OF twelve the one
remaining window with light in 1t be.
came suddenly dark. Still there was
no sign Of Digby. Midnight chimed
and the remaining moments went by
In intense anxiety. AS the deep boom
of one o'clock was heard the inspect
or laid his hand on my arm.
Come along. DOCTOR" he whispered
He whistled low as he spoke, and q
rustic iii the bushes around US told
that Frest's assistants were on the
L nlnrf NNo oSnnnAo6 hn OF onl
we could hear the whirr of the from,
door bell within, as the inspector press
ed the button. In less time than We
had expected We heard the bolts shoot
back. The door was flung open, cleo
trio lights sprang into glare, and my
eyes fell on Mrs. Seattle.
| Rather an odd hour for a social
call. DR.. Halifax" she said, coolly
May inquire why am SO hon
ored?"
Frost strobe forward and laid hi:
hand on her arm with an imperative
| gesture.
Il am a police officer, madam" he
said grimly, land demand to know
where Mr.. Oscar Digby is. He enter
ed here at quarter past ten tonight
From that moment the house has beer
surrounded and closely watched. HI
must therefore be here"
MIR. Digby is not In the house," re
sponded Mrs. Seattle defiantly.
An adjoining door opened, ant
Senior Merello made his appearance
She looked up at him and smiled. thel
said carelessly:
Gentlemen, this Is my brother
Senior Merello."
The senior bowed but did not speak
Once again. Mrs. Seattle" broke II
Frost, what have you done with Mr.
Digby?"
He is not here" she said. angr.iy
you can look for yourselves"
Very WE'LL" said Frost, calmly
Then you, madam, this gentleman
and all your servants are under ar
rest until We find him"
Mrs. Seattle eyed the inspector win
dictively. but made no reply. The OF
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 tn
negro who had opened the door to us
were summoned and placed In tn
charge of one Of Frost's detectives
Muriel Seattle was nowhsre to b.
seen. Then we began to search tn
house. In the basement the larg
cellar which had attracted Mrs
Scaiffe's pleased surprise. had nov
been fitted up as . laboratory. I ez
amined II closely. Il was evidenti
used for the manufacture of cheml
Gals on q large scale. All the lates
chemical and electrical apparatu
were to be found there. as well n
several large machines. the purpose
OF which were not evident. One Il
particular I specially noticed. II we.
a big tank with o complicated equt
ment for the manufacture Of liquid II
In large quantities. I fingered hor,
quite awhile. and suddenly a hide,,u.
possibility presented itself to my n. ,ai
Just then, however, I remembered &u
riel. and turned to Join Frost ir ali
search. wondering II any harm ha(
come to the girl. Our search IN the
upper regions was equally unsL ccess
ful We wk1ro inst cx,inO dow aSfaiyx