Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
THE MYSTERIES OF MYRA

q q & e q VIZ a.
room window. u man approached N,
tho drive. He was CARRIED In the Same
manner as the coal -hcavers. and on his
shoulder bore II shovel similar to theirs
Dirty and bcgrimcd. he passed them.
unnoticcd. reaching tho Kitchen door.
where he asked tho maid to admit him
to the cellar that he might shovel tho
falling coal into the bin. The maid
led the way TO the bottom of the chute.
where he began to work industriousiv.
No sooner had she disappeared than
he tossed aside the shovel. tip-toeins:
up the stairs again, to glide noiSciess-
~ through the deserted back hall into
the dininr-room. Then he slipped to
the stairway.
Upon the carpet Of the steps were
some telitale candle droppings lie
erunted aiiirinatively, as though he had
found what he had expected Into the
empty library he stole To study tho
paneling Of the walls
Ah, there are the finger marks" he
whispered to himself
The stains which had been left by
Myra's fingers as they biindly felt for
the secret spring of the sliding door
were df:ccrniblc. He paused 10 push
back his lowered hat brim that he
might search this panel the better
Just then Myra's voice came from the
hfa"ihs-rooHi. Just a moment. Ar
thur. there arc more matches on tho
library table. I'll get them for ynu'--
Before she had completed the SEN
.tence she had entered tho room. to OK
claim, as she recognized his features
why, DR.. Alden What arc you doing
here"
The physician drew off his hat--for
his disguise was useless now he feared
Ssh! sh BE quiet am here to help
YOU"
But Varncy had followed tho girl.
and now sprang into the room 1T was
yet he dissembIed.
what is this tramp doing here lie
Is burglar" and he sprang toward
Alden. who lcaped aside just in time
TO avoid vigorous blow
Willis had run into the room, and no
caught Alden'i arms from behind.
Mrs. Mason. alarmed by the disturb
ance. had rushed to tho doorway
She screamed:
THAT man is a criminal" she cried.
II knew he planned some evil. Police.
Police"
Varney again sprang to strike the
physician. who dcftly wriEeled out OF
his coat. leaving It In the hands Of
Wills. The sudden. stop Of the stress
backwards
Az the same instant Alden sent a
professionally pugiiistic right swing
TO tho Jaw of Arthur Varncy. who SAM;
TO his knees from tho impact
Myra and her mother. transfiyed with
alarm. stood watching this unusual
contest. Before they realized Il, the
physician had disappeared down the
hallway and out through the front door.
When Arthur Narney sought to pur-
sue the physician was lea ping over Il
hedge on the edge Of the lawn.
Ills escape was as sure and surpris-
ing as his entry!
That night at Mrs Mason prepared
for the worst. y private Waterman
armed with 81 loaded rightstick and n
revolver took his place in the library
which commanded q view OF the hall,
the dining and tho drawinc-rooms
Consistent with tho convention Of his
profession, he sought the most COM
Portable Of the big padded library
chairs. And the normal result waa
that ON three occasions the excited
Willis was compelled to interrupt his
dreams.
At 10 belatcd delivery wagon
brought up large bundle. Willis re
ccivcd ii-a new rug. when the two
cNprcssmcn carried into the library
and deposited upon tho floor still un-
rolled and tied as II had come from
Tho shop
Willis did not disturb the ladies with
any Inquiries about it: as maior-c lomo
he was accustomed TO sign tho receipts
FOR all such bundles
Alone again with his thoughts. the
Waterman drifted into slumbcr. to he
awakened by tho surprising touch,
against his foot. of tho rug
IL was rolling on the floor.
Before he had collected his drowsv
senses 4 man had sprung up from it's
folds. He found himself covered by q
revolver in tho hands Of no less a
parsonage than the ubiquitous Dr. Fay
son Alden
"Ycll--and I'll blow your brains OUT
was the curt thouch low-voiccd com
inaud. I'm Il dctcctivc-hcrc to pre-
vent Il crimc-kacr quiet now and
watch what happens. l'r out that
light want il dark in here"
CHAPTER VII.
Miles away. in another underground
chamber. much larger than the com
partment in the basement Of the Mason
residence, q curious scene was taking
place at this precise instant
Within four walls hung with black
curtains and before n strange rcvOlv-
ing disc. were kuccling twelve mon
CARRIED in black rccalia
Upon the altar in tho room stood
q silver candlcstick in which thirteen
candles spluttered and winked their
yellow flames, as the smell of their
sweet incense. This cxudcd from bra
center Of the revolving disc. whose cir
a. fcl.ruCa Ill .., :