Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02

4 piNSi oocu lIoii just uuUeT tine CuSe
or the frame. The tips of the sunder-
cd steel strands glittered as IL bur-
nished. and some had been turned in
ward from the force OF the blows
| which had parted them.
| He glanced up at the inscrutable
face of his companion.
What DEVILS work has been going
on In this house?" He spoke in an
awe-struck whisper.
For answer the attorney merely
touched his finger SUCCESSFULLY to his
! closed lips with scarcely preccptiblc
shake of his head as Gene FASTENED
toward them.
AD" EuEepe's face was white
- at his marrow escape. THAT
! didn't just happened! 1t couldn't.
Why. It doesn't seem as though ii fell
| at all. but as thought something
| pulled 1t down over the place where
Id been working only minute be-
| fore. Look at the WALL"
The two older men raised their eyes
| and saw number of small, deep,
round holes spaced at regular inter-
| walls which roughly outlined the size
and shape of the portrait. and then
Elancing down at the upturned back
OF the fallen picture behold row OF
stout iron stakes. equally spaced.
| driven outward from the under part
| OF the frame.
That's a mere detail" Samuel COM
mcnted. Evidently the person who
hung the portrait did not put any too
much faith in the strength of the
\ stakes driven into the wall: and wise
| ly, seeing what has occurred. he sup
! plemented them by the steel cable
which has just parted. as you see.
You had harrow escape. then.
Eugene: but 1t was sheer accident
Looking more mouselikc than ever
with her gray hair lying in soft folds
about her face and her slender figure
encased in drab dressing gown.
Miss Meade glided into the room.
NO. I'm not hurt. Aunt Ellie. /
had just gone TO ask dad about one
OF the letters when the portrait fell,"
Gene explained as she stood swaying
| her thin. delicate hand gripping his
arm until the e,Ecrs almost disap-
peared in the folds OF his coatslceve.
|
accident. but after what Rannie said
At dinner tonight; after we know how
we've all felt since julie" He broke
or and added: Ouch! Aunt Ellie.
you hurt,''
She removed her hand from his arm
and repeated mechan ically In a dazed
fashion,:
You had gone 10 ask your step
father about one OF the lctters?"
Yes. These coincidence things, you
know. But I'm sure 1t couldn't have
been an accident. Why should that
one picture in all THIS house have
fallen just at the moment when left
the desk? Id been sitting there for
more than an hour"
What Il merciful blessing tina, YOU
escaped" Miss Effie spoke in low
tone. then added quickly with ii
sharper note: But lit was | who
asked you to reply to the letters. and
suggested that you use tho library
desk here. even arranged the light
for you Had you been killed it would
have been my fault"
Come. Miss Meade. that's all nom
sense" Samuel Titheredge stepped
forward. mo one can foresee ac-
cldents; and that portrait has hung
there more than twenty years without
falling. In any event IL is all right;
Gene wasn't hurt, and you and the
girls had better go back TO bed and
try TO forget all about H."
As il conscious for the first time OF
their appearance, she glanced down
shrinkinly at her own ATTIRE and then
turned to where Nan and Cissie
stood.
; mfr. Titheredse Is right; let US &c
back to our rooms. II should never
have forgiven myself IL anything had
happened TO Genet"
When she and the girls had taken
their departure, the attorney turned
20 the white-faced young man.
You. too. Gene. No use trying Il
clear up this mess tonight. and your
dad and | have some business matter!
still to talk over. You've had bat
shock and you must try to get (;
sound nights rest"
Tithercdge compressed his lips an'
nudged Lorne. who glanced at hin
= and then spoke with sudden stern
ness
Eugene, you are hysterical. Yot
u arc behaving like child! This ma I
ter OF the fall OF the portrait will b,
: thoroughly investigated tomorrow
bnt meanwhile YOU must, try TO pnl
yourself together. Things will loo,
: different TO you in the morning. 6,
on nD TO bed Ike "A good chap. an,
J. let NJ. T!theredEc and me finish GU
confercncc."
y Gene wen; shakily from the room
i and they heard him ascending tn
u steep. oidfashioned staircase. Wait
Ie ing until his footsteps had cease
with the thud OF closing doc,
l.orne turned. to his companion
Neverthcless. Sam, the boy is dea
Is right. There Is something horribl
: sinister back Of the whole thing: an
&c 1t is an insult to even his intelligcnc
T. TO try TO convince him of the fallac
r OF mere coincidence. I'm not goin
l. TO wait until morning and perhap
IN lind some other member Of the famil
ne dead in bed! At the risk OF the dc
nj risive notoriety you were talkin