The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-25

your masters room. I shall see you
again later, Mr.. Harbord." he con
tinued; in the meanwhile I will leave
my assistant with you.
We sat and smoked in the ecre
tary's room. He was not much of
talkeT, consuming cigarette after Gig.
arctic IN silence. The winter dusk had
already fallen when the inspector
Joined us, and We retired to our rooms
TO prepare for dinner. I tried a word
with Peace upon the staircase, but he
shook his head and walked on.
The meal dragged itself TO an end
somehow, and We left Ransom with q
second decanter of port before him.
Peace slipped away again, and 7 con
soIed myself with a book IN the IL
brary until haIfpast ten, when walked
OF to bed. A servant was switching
off the light in the hall when [ mount
ed the great staircase.
Ny room was in the old wing at the
further side of the picture gallery, and
1 had some difficulty In steering my
way through the dark corridors. The
mystery that hung over the house had
shaken my nerves, and I remember
that / started at every crpak OF q
board and peered into the shadows as
/ passed along with heaven knows
what ghostly expectations. I was glad
enough to close my door upon them
and see the wood fire blazing cheerful
" in the open hearth.
I woke with a start that left me sit
ting up IN bed, with my heart thump-
ing in my ribs like a piston-rod. I am
not generally g light sleeper, but that
night, even while I snOred. my nerves
were active. Some one had tapped at
my dooT-that was my impression.
I listened with the uncertain fear
that comes to the newly walked. Then
I heard it again-on the wall near my
head this time. A board creaked.
Some one was cropping his way down
the dark corridor without. Presently
he stopped, and faint line of iIlu-
mination sprang out under my door. 1t
winled. and then grew still He had
lit a candle.
Assurance came with the streak OF
light What was he doing, cropping in
the dark, if he had a candle with him2
/ crept over to the door, opened it, and
stared cautiously ort-
About a 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
he house lay behind me. The CORR
iOr in which be stood terminated in a
window, set deep into the stone of the
Did walls. The man walked slowly.
throwing the light to right and left
His attitude was of nervous expecta-
aon-that Of man who looked for
something that he feared to sec.
At the window he stopped. staring
about him and listening. He examined
he fastenings, and then tried a door
on his right. It was locked against
aim. AS he did so I caught his pro
lie against the light. It was Harbord,
The secretary. From where stood he
was not more than forty feet away
There vas no possibility of a mistake
AS he turned to come back I retreat
ed into my room, closed the door. The
fellow was in a state OF great agita-
lion, and I could hear him mutterins
70 himself as he walked. When he had
passed by peeped out to see him and
mis- light dwindIe. reach the corner by
he picture gallery, and fade into a re
dectiOn-a darkness.
got back into bed.
1 woke again at seven, and. hurry
'ng on my clothes. set off to tell Peace
all about it. I took him to the place.
and together We examined the CORR
dor. There were only two rooms be-
yond mine. The one on the left was
an unoccupied bedroom: that on the
right was a large stOreroOm. the door
Of which was locked The hOusekeep-
er kept the key we learnt upon in
CURRY Whom had Harbord followed?
The problem was beyond me. As for
Inspector Peace, he did not indulge In
verbal speculations.
1t was in the central hall that we
encountered the secretary on hi way
20 the breakfast room. The man
looked nervous and depressed: he nod
ded TO US, and was passing on. when
Peace stopped him.
Good morning. Mr.. HarboTd.~ he
said. Can l have asword with you2''
Certainly. inspector. What is it
I have favor to ask MY assist.
ant and myself have our hands fun
here If necessary could you help us
by running up to London. and
For the dav?7 he interrupted-
NO. It may be an affair Of three or
four. days"
Then / must refuse. I am sorTy.
but"
Don't apologize, Mr.. Harbord.S said
the little man, cheerfully. Il shall have
to ind some one eIse-that is all
+ We walked into the breakfast room
and a few minutes later Ransom ap
peared with great bundle of letters