The Washington herald., 1915-01-10
BY
7. w. Hanshew

breaking appeals OF neF huSDan0 VINO
stood with arms outstretched TO her all
helped to bring the young wife back to
consciousness Of her surroundings
Slowly, uncertainty she staggered to him.
| Thus she stood for a moment locked in
a loving embrace.
wonderingly the young wife looked
about her and pointing at the abject
Italian, asked:
What has happened? Where have
been? What have | been doing"
Yes, yes, my dear. indeed you have
returned from the dead and that is
enough for us
Just so. Mr.. Shadbolt, said CIeek.
But If Mrs. Shadbolt feels quite able
to talk I think it would be best now II
she could answer a few questions"
Yes" she replied. - must When was
il? Last night, year ago or a hundred
years ago? I see you have discovered
SartoIi's duplicity. How do you know.
and where have 1 been?'
You have been in a perfectly safe
place." broke in CIeek. and you have
only been there for a little less than forty
eight hours. What do you know Of Sar-
tolls duplicity. please"
Yes. yes, that is 1t. did tell some
one. You remember. my dear husband.
that you left me after dinner to attend
meeting. After a little while with Ailsa
| left to go to my own room and rest
On the stairs l found a paper. yes, here
it is. 7 put it here in my dress"
Shadbolt reaching out for the crumpIed
note which was written in SartoIi's for
eign handwriting read:
My ever dear Signor M:
Il have cOunterfeited many handsome
trinkets from the Shadbolt collection and
soon bring them to you in London to ex-
change for gold. You can sell in Paris
or Rome for many times my price. Watch
Tor me tomorrow. Yours,
'Ah, yes, now I remember" said the
young wife. the effects of her long sleep
disappearing when the shocking story
came out bit by bit. Naturally 1 was
shocked beyond measure when l read
that note We had trusted Sartoli So
implicitly. So 1 went to my room and
for few moments could think of no ac-
tion. Mr.. Shadbolt was out of reach.
had no one to whom I could turn, with
that blackguard in the house. no doubt
seeking his lost note and plotting a final
raid on the priceless art collection.
went TO the extension telephone in my
room and called up Mr.. Maurice Ward
and told him the whole story. While we
were talking I heard some one take OF
the receiver on the downstairs telephone,
but was so excited it made no impression
upon me.
Maurice. in spite OF the scene a few
hours before, said he would come to me
Immediately and do what he could until
Mr.. Shadbot should return. Doubtless
our telephone conversation was over
heard. Next I went into the OctaEonaI
Room and sat down to wait. While I was
waiting the maid brought in my parrot.
which I always kept in this room during
the night The birds cage was covered
as If she was asleep, but on removing
the cover ! noticed that she was wide
awake and her feathers were ruffied as II
she had just been in a temper
'Ay," said Cleek. What have you to
say to that Mr.. Sartoli."
They are all devils" walled the Ital-
ian. XIII me now
Turning again to the young wife. CIeek
said. Pray continue, Madame. And
what more about the parrot? We are
much interested in that bird"
In trying to pacify the parrot" she
said. I received cruel bite on the hand
sat down in my chair by the fire and
that is the last I remember
Mr.. NarIom, did Potter find the bird
buried in the garden. as / suggested in
my note?' asked CIeek.
Here 1t is. sir" said the constable ad-
vancing with the dead bird in a paste
board box.
Taking the bird in his hands, CIeek ex-
amined the sharp beak and shifted.
AS l thought" he said. Madam. at
1870 o'clock Miss Lorne looked in this
room to see il you were asleep and saw
you sitting in your chair. At that time
you were unCOnsCiouse and later you wer-
carried to the place where you have been
in a trance ever since. That trance was
brought on by Aqua Torfana smeared on
the parrots beak. Evidently. however.
it was somewhat diluted and only caused
YOU TO fall into a trance. but you see II
killed the parrot"
Yes. yes" broke in the Italian appa-
rently seeing a IOophole for escape. Il
did not mean to kill zee lady. only
meant to give her a long sleep"
All" said Cleek. perhaps you can tell
us about Maurice Ward? Why was il
there was a bullet hole in his heart as
well as wound where he too had been
made the victim of this insidious Equa
Torfana?"
What" broke in Mary shadbolt. did
something happen 20 Maurice Ward,
Where is he?''
His troubles are over now, poor feI-
low" said ShadbOIt Il see that / did
him an injustice before. He too. is a
victim Of this traitor
One moment said CIeek. ''Sartoli
wants to say something else"
Il did not mean that he should die
insisted Sartoli. When he came asking
for Signora ] make the accident with
roses in a vase scratching his hand
with the poisoned thorn. He seem like
he got too much. for he fell over dead.
Then I drag body to conservatory and
lay pistol by his hand like you found
him"
Did you actually put the bullet in his
heart in order to divert suspicion on the
poor fellow asked Cleek.
The Italian with a shrug Of his shoul-
ders replied He was already dead: II
could not hurt him
SO much for that said Cleek turning
away as the others stood hOrrOr-striCken
at the shameless confession Of the thiev-
ing valet Perhaps now Mrs. ShadhOlt
would like TO See the place where this
amiable Sartoli placed her for a short
sleep. | think ne intended that she should
never awake"
The party then made for the door, but
CIeek stopped them with a gesture.
There is another way-look,''
He crossed to the carved Madonna and
beckOned to Mr.. Shadbolt.
Push" he said. and in another minute
the figure slid back, revealing a flight ~
steps leading down into what appeared
a dark circular passage. They go right
down through one Of those huted columns
and into the chapel"
In front Of the altar the flowers and
stone step had been removed, and there
lay revealed the stone vault into which
the unconscious Mary Shadbolt had been
placed
Mr. Narkom leaned over and touched
Cleek on the arm.
How did you know she was in the
chapel" whispered he