Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
ture of the subtl. hands.


after the death OF father, and then OF
my two sisters, she has had such a
burden OF sorrow to bear in her heart.
| can hardly believe that such "A grow
some thing could happcn-where is the
panel?"
Alden went to the library. as she
followed eagerly.
There" lie said. And here Is the
secret spring which opens it,"
He rubbed around with his fngera
for a moment. and suddenly the door
slid noisclessly back. leaving II threat
ening NAV of darkness which caused
her to catch his arm timidly.
What surprising glow of strength
that trusting touch diffused through
the physicians veins. He wns con
tinually surprising himself. and yet
his calm face did not betray his feel
inSs.
Come, We will go down. and I will
show it 10 YOU. Just US saw it. /
have my pocket light which is better
than - candle"
He drew small storage battery
lamp from his coat. and directed it's
concentrated rays on the base board OF
tho panel.
An. see this" he stopped down. rnd
kneelinS. examined the groove with in
tercSt.
What is it"'
oil. Nice, smelly. machine oil. And
it is fresh. The occult may deal with
spirits. but il does not overlook such
matter Of fact. matcriaiistic things as
spueaky panels Some malcvoIent spir,t
has been here, within the last few DAYS
TO grease up this little runway 80
tina. it could be opened without "A sound
II might he well to set a tran for that
same astral force
Astral" MaterialIstic? Malevolent!
the girl looked at him with Il look OF
comical bewilderment. as her smooth
brow wrinkled over the strange words.
II don't know what you are talking
about Spiritualism-and such silly
rubbsh"'
Not az silly as some people would
like to think was the surprising re-
sponse. II will explain them all to
you in good time. But come-follow
me-"
Somehow or other. Myra experienced
an almost childish trustfulness in this
broad -shouldered. assured stranger
for she had hardly exchanged "a score
of words with him since their first odd
introduction. She went down the stccp
steps. as he indicated the path before
them.
There. do YOU see the altar cried
Aiden. You knelt before that. and
there is tn" scroll. ] must take that
with mo to study the fabric. ard take
photograph OF the handwriting. IL
is a tell-tale riew which may some
day tell moro than lis writer ever ex-
pected"
Myra was transfxcd with a growing
horror. as she gazed about tho black
drapcd chamber.
And then what did do?"
Payson Alden did not answer. lie
quietly raised the dagger from the
iioor where 1t had fallen. swayed back
and forth before the Internal altar, and
motioned as though TO plunge it into
his own breast, Stimulating Myras
gestures OF the night before.
with n scream. she sprang toward
him and caught his arm
There, you're initiating what did"
and he chuckled grizzly. Now. little
lady. hurry mp those terrible steps
again, and see that you never come
down here. You must set away from
this house. with your mother sleep
walking runs in yorr family, and we
mustn't let this thing happen again"
The girl was silent as she obeyed his
instructions. given in that smooth tone
OF professional command which he
comes second nature to the practictng
physician
Arthur Narney had compelled her in
terest by his intense personality in an
entirely different manner from that of
this mild hammered but direct man Of
mystery. IT seemed as though she had
been used to his advice and directions
for centuries. She flushed at the Gu.
rious realization OF 1t.
YOU succumb TO the fate which over.
took your two sisters"' were tho next
startling words. as she reached the
free air OF the library once more
Myra Easped.
do you mean to say-that-my-sis-
observation-disclosures And
that way she cried, AS the color left
her cheeks
Alden bowed gravely
Yes. Many people know it. But your
mother was wise 10 keep YOU Ignorant
OF the fact. until now. II is time to
know the truth. Miss Maynard. for YOU
have much TO face
Myra stood facing him, her facs
drawn In anguish at this unexpected
knowledge OF the tragedy which had
surrounded her in the home Of her
Sirlhood. She felt a hundred conflict
ing emotions-thcn Yielded to the most
natural one. She turned and ran prs.
cipitously toward the telephone on the
library table.
What are YOU going to doo" cried
the doctor.
I'm going to telephone the police.
We must learn who was Responsible"
lie caught the instrument and forced
the receiver down on the hook, cut
ting off the open connection.
The police are the last ones In the
world To intrns, with such secret
They would bunEle it hopeiessly, and
perhaps pave the way for another sue
ccssful murder"
'Murdcr?" and Myra whispered tho
dread syllablcs.
Yes, foul murder OF the most villain
Gus plotting. Murder unseen, unheard
by oven the victims"
How have you learned all this"
Myra demanded. You never met my
mother or myself until two mornings
ago Yet YOU seem to understand more
about our family than either OF us.
Who told you?"
Alden shook his head quietly. as lie
drew away from the telephone instru-
ment
mo one told me by word OF mouth.
But have you not heard OF the curious
way in which one ship at sea. or some
amateur OH shore, with a wireless in
strument picks up fragments Of mes
sages passing through the ether be-
tween two other communicates whom
he neither knows nor sccsc' The girl
nodded We'll. Miss Maynard that
may give YOU an idea of n little bit
OF what have done. There have been