Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-20
gardens with Miss Fordyce," 1

Mr.. Markham" said Stone. sup
pose you go after them" He added
a few words to Markham which 1 did
n hear, and then we all went to the
study.
IT can tell you all in a few words"
said Mr.. Stone. I'VE know that Mrs.
safe. and that Mr.. Morland Van Wyck
took the paper from his fathers
desk. But neither of these had any
hand in Mr.. Van Wyck's death. Mr..
Van Wyck was murdered later that
same night. He was stabbed with
this bill-fle;"' and Stone produced the
file in evidence. After killing Mr..
Van Wyck, the murderer himself
carefully fastened all the doors and
windows. and left the room by a se-
cret exit. ( This is the explanation Of
the sealed ROOM, and I will now show
you where the secret passage is.
did not know myself until during the
last hour. came in here positive
that there was some such way Of
egress. and after a careful search I
found it. As vol see, the study is
Joined to the main house only by one
corner. WHICH laps the corner Of the
house for a space OF about ten feet.
This ten feet on the ground floor
gives for the connecting door
way which is usually used. The study
is the height of two full stories Of
the house, but the study has only one
story, and therefore an unusually
high ceiling. The deep ~cornice has
an immense cartouche ornamentine>
each corner. 1t seemed to me that
behind this ~cartouche in the corner
that touches the house was the only
possibility of a secret exit from this
room.' 5.
All yes turned at once to the great
shield-shaped affair Of which he
spoke. 1t vas quite large enough to
conceal a secret door. but at a height
of twenty-five feet or more from the
floor, it was entirely inaccessible.
1T seems inaccessible" said Stone.
following our thoughts, and there is
no ladder or possibility of one any
where about. But I vas so sure that
my theory was the true one that I
examined the floor in that cornersand
found several tiny flakes Of plaster
that had fallen. Then I was certain
that the secret exit mad been used re-
Gently. I went in the house, and up
stairs to the room in which the secret
passage-if there vas one-must
part of a deep cupboard q panel, and
by dint Of search l found q spring
which caused the panel to open.
then discovered that I was directly
back Of the great cartouche. In q
word, the passage Is anEexit from this
room / will now show you the means
Of using it."
! We watched with breathless atten-
ton while Fleming Stone mounted
the spiral staircase and walked the
length of the little gallery. At the.
and hA .gf44A uy{<E.E ~ AS. A~.x& 49,
end rail. quite four feet from the car
touche.. ss
mot the beautiful simplicity of it,
he said. Merely loosening bolt on
the under side OF the end railing
caused the whole end Of the balcony
to fall outward. AS 1t did 50, the
great end bracket beneath swung the
4 other way, acting ar aFcounterweight.
and what had been the end railing OF
the gallery was now horizontal
bridge straight across to the car-
wall had at the same time raised the
outer shell OF the cartouche. which
was hinged at the top, and disclosed a
small doorway. $
THAT Is All, said Mr.stone, speak
ing to. us from the gallery. /
said; 81 ID beautifully simple. Once
unbolted. a persons weight servesTato
throw down the railing az q bridge.
y open the cart0uche. Now you
VIII see..that. as !. step on and 2tlhroush
weight causes the railing 10 swing
back to Splace, ana the cartouchs To
close. =, IS
Stepping on the railing upon =
ledge and through the door, stone
disappeared, and the mechanism
worked exactly = he had ssid. a