The Washington times., 1916-11-04

chap. but I suppose I would have mo-
ticed II you'd come IN without your shirt
to put them In. did your"
mo; ! had then in. right enough"
said Race. Looking down he saw that
the white expanse OF his evening shirt
lacked the finish Of the two pearl studs
room. His cuffs hung loose. empty OF
his favorite pair OF links. Hastily touch
Ing his watch pocket. he found II limp
well. yes. II is BY Jove.'" he re-
Shall We csii Morley Chester and tell
No" said Christopher, who aat with
S.s 5 back * tSrneS ,Ss S~r5S the Sthss s Ss'S
the end by window. and he having
given his usual seat to his guest: "I'd
rather not make fuss. ! shall sit till
the others have gone, and no one Will
and don't want to pose as the hero Of
one II / can help It."
1t was a relief when the rest OF the
diners left the room. and he was free
or answering questions. He went to his
room. locked the door. and, having lis
tened with his ear to the wanscoting.
presently began az noiselessly as pos
the oak paneiing behind his curtained
four poster bed. The saw was sharp.
and he worked as theoretically as II he
had an injury TO avenge. In an hour he
had the p;,as,,, panel out Of lis frame; ,S.o
square hole In the wainscoting. but he
did II, after Riding himself of coat and
waistcoat. Now he stood In long. mar
row space between the walls Of his own
room and slr Walter Ravens. He had
slipped on his pumps. and In stockinged
feet began cautious explorations, the
lantern making a pathway Of light. The
Thing he had seen at the far end was
not n beam. It was a box-two boxes
three boxes--of common wood. such as
come into every household from the
stores. They had lids, but the lids were
not nailed down. Christopher lifted one:
The box was filled with jewelry, heaped
on some DARK garment folded under
meath. There were a pile Of bracelets, a
pile OF brooches, a pile OF rings, and
collection OF watches like glittering gold
eggs in a nest The second box had the
so.ne description OF contents. though
there were more miscellaneous articles
gold or Jeweled belt buckles. hatpins. a
diamond dog collar or two. and several
much smaller than the other two. were
purses, some of leather. some Of gold or
silver netting; sigarette cases with
jeweled monograms. and, weighted
down by lump Of gold chains. lay
Behind the row Of wooden boxes was
a square hole, black as the heayt of
night Christophers lantern showed
him that from the top OF this opening
round upon itself like a corkscrew. He
set his foot on the first step. and II
squeaked. Then he knew what II was
that had walked him every night-s foot
treading upon that stair-perhaps other
| stairs below.
|, , "Pil soc what's at the bottom"
thought Christopher; and was In the
OF boxes when he heard a distant
| sound.
The sound continued. growing grad
ually more distinct. Someone was tip
was on the stairs. Someone was COM
ing up. There was a wayering gllm-
msr OF light. a little light. like that
OF a candle.
chTis,OPhsr 6T. lay very still He hard
The light was moving up the dark
! hall. and throwing a strange black
4 shadow, which might be the shadow
stair. That clock must have been
| slow. or else the ghost was before it's
time. Now there was long drawn,
tired breath, like q sigh, and In the
white and small. For. a moment It
| hung In the midst Of shadow. then II
descended on the lid OF the middle
oSS Quiet Z was ,boSSs wSmans Gh,is;nSS. ssnS ,.a
and held II tightly. at the same In
tern.
There was a stifled gasp; the hand
struggled yainly; he pulled II toward
him. though Its owner stumbled and
nearly fell. and Christopher found
himself face to face with Mrs. Morley
81 Let me me go" she painted. "oh. i'm
.Tll not let you 60" said Christie
pher., In q voice as low as hers. but
mercilessly determined.
This game Is up. You shall toll me
everything. or I swear I'll alarm the
house. send for the police. and have
you arrested. you and your husbandi"
| III you wish to save him you know
| what to do" the young man said.
| fov won't send US TO prison IL tell
I'll do my best for you. II you
make 4 clean breast of II; but the
contents OF these boxes must be re-
stored to their owners. for your cou-
sins sake IL nothing else. promise
your husband, before any public rev.
that you tell me the whole truth now"
81 will; oh, will" You know, Morley
would have had this place II common
justice had been done-if the entail
| hadn't been broken"
"Ah, he Is the heir OF whom Miss
Chester spokel"
"Of course. who else could be. He's
| the only one left In the male line, And
think what II was for him TO find out
| through an expert, whose word he
couldn't doubt, that there's coal enough