The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1913-01-03
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had so e~ngrossed US the night before.
hoping to find ureea OF harassing
thought In q restless round of activi-
ties. The condition was a morbid one
which / believed should be diseour.
aged: the more so as | possessed what
| fancied WAS a perfectly practical so.
luton Of that which hitherto had
seemed to us an inerplicable phe-
nomenon. And | was a little annoyed.
too, that my good tidings should be
thus disregarded.
When, therefore. we had entered
the hall and Cameron was leading to-
wards the broad, ascending staircase,
| paused.
DO you mind giving me Just u
minute? ?"
He stopped, turned, and stood in
questioning silence.
"A minute In your study" | added,
In explanation.
Reluctantly, It seemed to me, he
crossed to the study door. and throw
ing 1t open, stood aside that ! might
precede him.
The room appeared far less grim
and gloomy than when / had last en-,
tered It, Its windows faced the
south: and between the olive-green
tapestry curtains the sun poured In a
flood, lighting up the far corners, CLINT
ing on the gilt ornaments of the writ
ing table, and bathing in dazzling
splendor the Furnished bronzes on the
crowded top of the book-shelves.
Il see you are not disposed to re-
sumo our discussion of last night" |
began, when Cameron, having closed
the door behind him, halted Just in
side, and with hands in pockets, await
ed my opening. But | want to show
you that we have been In very much
the same position as the wondering
children who watch the prestidigita.
teur. We have imagined something
amazingly like a miracle, which, in
point of fact, Is capable of a very sim
pie. commonplace explanation"
You mean the cutting out Of the
head of the portrait?" he asked, with
kindllng interest.
81 do"
you have discovered how 1t was
done, before my eyes, so to speak,
and YETI"
Il have discovered how it may have
been DONE" | interrupted.
He moved his head just perceptibly
from side to side in skeptical gesture.
THE door of this room Is seldom
locked?" | queried, ignoring the indi.
Gated skeptictsm.
Never locked" he answered.
ut would be quite possible for any
one, knowing that you were absent,
to spend an hour or so here, uninter-
rupted?"
ANY one?" he questioned.
ANY one who had gained entrance
TO the house." amplifed.
"Oh. yes, I presume So"
They would have ample time to
clear a space on the book-shelves,
climb UP, and carefully cut out the
head, or any part, or the whole of a
portrait, II they were so inclined?7
| paused for his answer, but he only
smiled with a sort Of ~incredulous toll.
erance.
Would they not?" l insisted. But
Cameron was most perverss this morn
ing
MY dear Clyde he scotfed, "of
what use Is all this? The portrait was
cut, not while | was absent, but while
/ was present. ! saw 1t complete at
three o'clock; at twelve minutes past
three, it was mutilated."
my contention is" explained,
quite patiently, that while you saw
1t complete at three o'clock, the cut
had already been made, but the cut
portion had not been removed. In
other words, the cutting having been
deity done with a thin, sharp knife, 1t
was perfectly feasible to leave the por-
trait apparently intact. though with
the slightest effort the incised portion
could subsequently be released-with,
say. a piece Of cord, glued to the back
for that especial purpose"
Now that | had made myself clear,
Cameron was quick to acknowledge
the possibility Of such a method.
And the cord, you mean, led down
behind the book.shelyes, and perhaps
through a window" he suggested.
Precisely. And was pulled by some
one on the outside
yes" he said, thoughtfully. Such
an explanation Is not unreasonable.
The thing. really, must have been
done In ON such way"
And don't you see" | hurried on
with my advantage, how utterly
cheap this makes the whole affair?
There's nothing at all impressive In
that performance when you find out
how 1t was done. II the next demon
stration Ia no better than such clap
trap, you may rest assured you have
a very picayunish sort Of mountebank
villain to deal with. So, cheer up, my
dear man, and I'll show you a few
tricks at tennis that may be equally
e~ye-opening."
Unquestionably my friend appeared
relieved. But | came to fancy later
that the appearance wal feigned for
my benefit. Certainly he was not con-
WINGED, and in that proved himself
possessed Of an intuition, a world
more accurate than my own.
I'd ....# 80,