The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-06-05
THE VANISHED
MILLIONAIRE
fcontinued.l

NY uooi--tnat WAS my impression.
listened with the uncertain fear
that comes to the newly walked. Then
heard 1t agaIn-on the wall near my
head this time. A board creaked
Some one was cropping his way down
tho dark corridor without. Presently
he stopped. and faint line Of illu-
mination sprang out under my door. It
winked. and then grew still. He had
lit candle.
Assurance came with the streak OF
light What WAS he doing. cropping in
the dark, II he had candle with him?
I crept over to the door. opened 1t, and
stared cautiously out.
About score feet away a man was
standing-a striking figure against the
light he carried. His back was to-
wards me, but could see that his
hand was shading the candle from his
eyes while he stared into the shad-
ows that chung about the further end
OF the corridor.
Presently he began to move forward.
The picture gallery and the body OF
the house lay behind me. The corri-
dor in which he stood terminated in a
window. set deep into the stone OF the
old walls. The man walked slowly,
throwing the light to right and left.
Ills attitude was OF nervous expecta-
tion-that OF man who looked for
something that he feared to see.
At the window he stopped. staring
about him and listening He examined
the fastenings, and then tried a door
on bis right. II was locked against
MIN. AS he did SO | caught his pro
nle against the light. 1t was Harbord,
the secretary. From where stood he
was not more than forty feet away. |
There was no possibility OF a mistake. |
AS he turned to come back retreat
ed into my room. closed the door. The
fellow was In state OF great agita-
ton. and could hear him muttering
to himself as he walked When he had |
passed by peeped out to see him and |
his light dwindle, reach the corner by |
the picture gallery, and fade into a re-
nection-a darkness.
took care to turn the key before l
got back into bed.
| woke again at seven. and. hurry
ing on my clothes. set OF to tell Peace
All about IT. took hin, N The n,aoa
md together we examined the CORR.
Tor. There ware onlv t,vo r,so.,,s, ~
'ond mine. The one on the left was
IN unoccupied bedroom: that on the
light was large storeroom. the door
4 which was locked. The bousekeen-
n kept the key, we learnt upon in
uiry. Whom had Hartford followed,
he problem was beyond me. As for
Inspector Peace. he did not indulce in
erbal speculations.
1t was In the central hall that wa
the secretary on his wav
o the breakfast room. The man
ooked nervous and depressed: he nod.
ed to us. and was passing on. when
'eace stopped him.
Good morning, Mr.. Hartford he
aid. Can have a word with vou,Y
Certainly. inspector. What is itY"
Il have a favor to ask. NY assist
mt and myself have orr hand, all
ere II necessary could you help us
y running up to London, and"
For the day?" he interrupted.
NO. 1t may be an affair of three or
our days"
Then l must refuse. l am sorry.
Ut
Don't apologize. Mr.. Hartford" said
be little man. cheerfully. Il shall have
md some one else-that is all"
We walked into the breakfast room.
nd few minutes later Ransom ap-
cared with great bundle of letters
nd kilograms In his hand.
Ransom said not a word to any of
s. but dropped into chair. tearing
pen the envelopes and CHANGING at
heir contents. His face grew darker
5 he read. and once he thumped his
and upon the table with crash that
Il the china iineling
We'll. Inspector" he said at last
The little detectives head shook ont =
negative. 4
Perhaps you require an incentive
. sneered. rs II a matter of a re- ;,
ardf" !,
No. Mr.. Ransom; but II is becom-
g one OF my personal reputation"
Then. by thunder, you are in dan =
ar OF losing It, Why don't YOU and y
our friend hustle, instead of lettering =
'ound as II you were paid by the y
W. tell you, man, there are thou- =
OF thousands-melt- "
&, slipping through your fingers -
Tery hour. every hour =. y