The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-01
CHAPTER VII.
Tho prohiem


Tho Problem
The cave" cried Betty. NAT.
allie. you may remind orme that
you told him 40"
Il told you 40. Mr. Vendome''
smiled Natalie.
The credit IL yours" Nendome
replied-and dropping on one knee
lie pecred into the hole.
ITS dark" no remarked.
Another thing wc forgot" Single
ton replied. n lantern. For bone
headcdness. Vcndome. you and are
In the expert class"
Isn't u truol" said vendome
climbing out Did you ever know
such driyeling incompeteuts'
Il reckon. Williams. you will
have 20 so back TO springberry for
lantern" said Singleton.
Certainly. stiff can't get one
~ the cabns," Williams replied
and hastenes across.
1t seems that tho old Scots
woman's tale 10 being verified =
vendomc reflected.
Are you women actually think
ing % going down into the cave .
Singleton asked.
Most Assurcdly'" naid Betty
Here comes Williams with ths
lantern"
Singleton took the light and
lowered (, into N. opening.
"Ail right" be said, after a
hasty inspection. I'm going down
the bottom IL only about eight
fee, away Hand me tho lantern
when call
let me co. said both vcndoms
and Williams together-the latter
adding. You don't know abou, the
air. sir"
IT'S not foul-the light burned
brightly. Here. give me a hand"
He slld into the blackness. hunE
an instant from the edge. then dis
appeared.
Down" he called. Now pass
me the light" Williams swung ir
the lantern. rive got lt--waIt til
/ | look around. Very good
come along"
You first. Betty said Natalie
Without the usual feminine de
muir and insistence that the other
should precede. Betty gathered her
skirts tightly around her and weni
forward. Nendome and Willlami
gave her hand and she sprang
down beside them.
Now" said vendome. IL you vii
permit each OF US 10 slip n hand
under your arm, We can lower yot
into the cave without the least dif
ficulty."
THAT Is much better than falling
In" laughed Betty. and she was
lifted out over the hole and lei
down lightly thru Il to within q
short distance OF the floor. wher,
Singleton steadled her for the slight
drop.
Now. Mrs. Tremalne," sait
lVendome.
She found BETTY below. Vendom,
| followed instantly. and after hin
Williams
What Is tho size OF your cave
Vendome7' said Singleton. holdinr
the lantern high.
II don't know tho width: but Il
10 40 feet to the lower levcl--7l
feet Of water beyond"
There IA water. all right" SIN
gleton exclaimed. ss the light
glinted family IN reflection.
And about 20 feet away" Ven
dome added II does look as Il
Mrs McIvor's vision was true"
Whats that yonder7" Natalie
whispered. The unusualness Of the
experience, and tho blackness OF the
cave. had awed Betty and her &c
silence.
"where?" said Betty nervously
There. by the wall-don't yor
sec TIT looks like skeleton"
ut 10 skeleton two OF them,
said Vendome.
"And side by side" Singleton
added.
They went over to them-th,
women hanging back. yet afraid &c
be left even n few feet behind. TIL,
bones and buttons we're all that re
mained OF the bodies and clothes.
This tolls tale'" said Vendome
pointing to small hole in the from
OF one skull
lie picked II mp gently--a bulle
fell out
Killed" said Singleton.
STOPPING. he turned over the othei
skull. a hole had been drilled In 4
from tho rear--the bullet ratified a,
II rolled around.
Murdered" said Vendome.
Singleton nodded. And the muir
derer carried the bodies here anC
then departed. replacing the ston,
after him"
And we have tho Frenchman. hi,
servant and the other Frenchman
We may choose between them, nj
to which got away and replaced tn,
stone. The replacing OF the ston,
IL very indicative. Whether he tool
the crown Jewels. we may. or W,
may not. find out. II looks OK
ceedingly dubious"
The Scotswoman said that tn,
Jewels are still herol" Natalie ex