The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-10-15

oI her summer dress was all that |
could sec. Nobody who had not known
N beforehand would have suspected
that there was q living creature in the
room.
1t was now ten minutes past 1. I
heard through the dead silence the soft
drip OF the rain and the tremulous pas
sage OF the night air through the trees.
After waiting irresolute for a minute
or more in the middle of the room he
moved to the corner near the window,
where the Indian cabinet stood.
He put his candle on the top Of the
cabinet. He opened and shut M
drawer after another until he came to
the drawer in which the mock diamond
was put. He looked into the drawer
for a moment. Then he took the mock
diamond out with his right hand.
With the other hand he took the CAN
die from the top of the cabinet.
He walked back a few steps toward
the middle Of the room and stood still
again.
Thus far he had exactly repeated
what he had done on the birthday
night.
His first action when ne moved n
more proved to be an action which he
had not performed when he was under
the influence Of the opium for the first
time. He put the candle down on a
table and wandered on a little toward
the farther end of the room. There
yvo~ ~ o>A~ l~-, w. 144-~J 1Lo0vy$1rv
on the back OF it with his left hand,
then reused himself and returned to
the middle Of the room.
The next event was decisive. He let
the mock diamond drop out of his
hand.
1t fell on the floor before the door
way-plainly visible to him and to ev-
cry one. He made no effort to pick it
up, He looked down a i. vacantly,
and as he looked his head sank on his
breast. He staggered, reused himself
for an instant. walked back unsteadily
to the sofa and sat down on it. He
made a last effort. He tried to rise
and sank sack. His head fell on the
sofa cushions. It was her twenty
five minutes past I o'clock. Before I
had put my watch back in my pocket
he was asleep.
1t was all over now. The sedative
influence had got him. The expert
ment was at an end.
l entered the room, telling Mr.. Bruff
and Betteredge that they might follow
me. There was no fear Of disturbing
him. We were free to move and
speak.
"The first thing to SETTLE" I said, "is
the question of what we are to do with
him. He will probably sleep for the
next six or hours at least. 1t IS
some distance to carry him back to his
own room. When I was younger I
could have done it alone. But my
health and strength are not what they
were-I am afraid 1 must ask you to
help me-"
Before they could answer Miss Verin-
der called to me softly. She met me at
the door of her room with a light shawl
and with the counterpart from her
OWE bed.
do you mean to watch him while
he %sleeps?" she asked.
Eyes. l nm not sure enough of the
action Of the opium in his case to be
willing to leave him alone"
She handed me the shawl and the
counterpart.
"Why should you disturb him?" she
whispered. make his bed on the sofa.
l can shut my door and keep in MY
ROOM"
1t was infinitely the simplest al
the safest way of disposing of him for
the night. l mentioned the suggestion
to Mr.. Bruff and Betteredge, who both
approved Of my adopting it. In five
minutes l had laid him comfortably on
the sofa, and had covered him lightly
with the counterpane and the shawl.
Miss Verinder wished us good night and
closed the door. At my request we
three then drew round the table in the
middle Of the room, on which the can
die was still burning, and on which
writing materials We're placed.
I put the writing materials before
Mr.. Bruff and asked him If he had any
objection-before We separated for the
night-to draw out and sign a plain
statement Of what he had seen. He
at once took the pen and produced the
statement with the fluent readiness of
a practiced hand.
II owe you this" he said, signing
the paper, las some atonement for
what passed between us earlier in the
evening. l beg your pardon, Mr.. Jen-
nings, for having doubted you. You
have done Franklin Blake an inestima-
BILE service. In IL legal phrase, you
have proved your case"
Mr.. Bruff took me aside as we rose
from the table.
Zone word about the diamond" he
said. "Your theory Is that Franklin
Blake hid the moonstone in his room.
My theory is that the moonstone is in
the possession Of Mr.. Luker's bankers
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