Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-07
streets tina. run steep down to the
BY -

streets that run steep down to the
Embankment.
Nov. Jowett-one question at a.
time. What is this mystery about
Mr.. Huhert-what do you know"
I only know, Mr.. Camille, that I
was to return to meet my master
at Mortimer Terrace yesterday. I
went there-and again today. Per-
haps you'll laugh at me, sir, but the
house somehow looked-oh, / can't
say how-only it looked deathly."
Cantle turned on him sharply.
Don't be a fool. Jowett; how can
bricks and mortar look deathlv2
yet: Well go to Mortimer Terrace to-
The old a without waiting for
IN answer, hailed a cab that was
crawling up toward the Strand, and
within half an hour they drew up at
the residence OF Mr.. Hubert Baxen-
ter. Truly the house looked strange
~ desolate. with its shrouded windows
and the accumulated litter Of bills
and circulars on the dusty steps.
Their are some who assert that
a crime brings in its wake an at
mosphere- of its own, and that an in
tangible air of tragedy pervades the.
scene of murder. II this is so, then
No. 9 Mortimer Terrace was surely
beneath some evil influence.
Even old Edward Cantle, prosaic
as he was, felt it ~ he pushed open
the little iron gate and made his way
up the gravel path. 1t seemed to him
that he stood on the threshold OF
some mystery and that discoveries
and happenings were in the air. He
looked at Jowett and saw that the
Wallets face was clalky and drawn
into tense lines around the mouth and
eyes.
The old man gave q little cough
to steady his voice.
Have you a key, sJowett?"
mo, Mr.. Camille; MI. Hubert was
to Nave arrived at Chazing Cross yes
Eterday morning very early-about
five, i think. He would come home
here and I was to meet him at nine
O'clock"
The old clerk regarded the house
intently, rubbing O hand
over his shavens chin.
There is a window. perhaps?"
r For answer the valet turned and
led the way round TO the back OF the
house, taking q httle winding path
half hidden by e~vergreens. He stopped
at a square window which gave light
to the kitchen a room which, al
though scarcely a. basement, had its
floor a foot or so beneath the level
Of the garden.
Jowett gave a look at his COM
panion and beganEt TO work at the hasp
with a penknife. In a few minutes
the sash was raised and the two men
st0od together upon the floor OF the,
little scullery which adjoined the
II IN air OF horror had been man
ifest on the outside OF the house, It
WA nor apparent still inEthe musty
interior. For some reason which he
would have found difficulty in ex-
planning, Edward" Camille walked on
tip-toe, crossing to whore the stairs
showed dimly. ss5s
II was deadly silent, and as the
men entered the dining room the scene
OF desolatton and stiffness was mark
ed indeed. All was as 1t had been
left q week ago. The cards lay scat
0versthe table, and q Few had
fallen on the carpet: the chairs
seemed as though they might have
just been pushed back when the play
ers had risen from their game. The
clock on the mantlepiece had stop
ped at twenty minutes to ten, and the
air was foul with the stale odor of
spirits and tobacco smoke. Over ev-
Serything was thin layer of dust.
Camille crossed the room and pulled
aside the curtains, the rings making
q harsh rattle against the brass poles.
He unfastened the French windows
and pushed them back, and the cool
morning air seemed to leap past him,
into the house. He stood for a mo-
ment on the little balcony; then a cry
from his companion sent him hurry
ing back into the room.
The valet Was standing at the fold,
Ing doors, his face e. mask OF terror,
gray and drawn. HIS was making
movements with his throat and mouth
as though he wished to speak, ana ne
pointed with g crooked forefinger
that shook pitifully to the pile Of,
iugsage In the corner OF the bed
room.
Look Mr.. Gantle-I knew some
thing had happened; / felt TIL pack.
ed those bags for him. Mr.. Cantle-
my poor master never left London
and Jowett sank trembling on to the
Chesterfield; HIS face buried IN, his
The mystery Of the situation was
communicating itself rapidly 70 his
companion. Cantle touched tho little
man on tho shoulder.