Evening star., 1923-10-14
sIeuthing ON the Fatal Spot.

A CROSS the blotting pad in the
~ center of the desk lay a pen
a he supposed IT to have
n fallen from the dead mans
hand as the fatal blow was struck.
However, he saw no signs to show
that Sir Robert had been writing at
the moment.
Turning away from the desk, In
spector Cortelyou began to examine
the room, not in any exhaustive
fashion, but by strolling here and
there about 1t. 1t was large apart
ment, entirely paneled in black oak,
and contained so many articles of
furniture in the way of writing ana
reading tables, stands, cnests anu
other impedimenta of like nature thdI
there was not much room TO move apouS
In 1t.
Low bookcases of black oak were ar
ranged against the paneling; here and
there in the panels hung etchlngs ana
old steel plates. And. with his hanas
| in his pocks ats and apparently DONG
nothing more han examining these pic
lures. Inspe kr Cortelyou began to
walk round \ room. in reality Keep
ing a sharp e.. on the walls. And In
one corner he suddenly paused, see
ing that at some time or other ooo,'
low and narrow ndu beeh Sot eHtoSe-'
the paneiing.
This was one of the two outer walls
of the roorn-the same wall in Whlcn
stood the door that opened on the
garden.
This" said Inspector Cortelyou to
hfmself--'this must be a cupboard
and he tried to open the door by pulling
at the beading of the panels. The door,
however, remained fixed. He beat upon
1t with his hand; it sounded very mol
low within-much more hollow than :
a cupboard would have done. AND a
sudden idea occurring to him, he un-
locked the garden door, and stepping
on to the path, glanced along the side
Of the house.
Built out from the line of the study
wall and projecting semicircle un-
til it terminated at the wall OF anotneI
wing of the house was a building OF
two stories in height, when douptiess si;
added to the architectural effect, but dlo
not, SO far as Inspector Cortelyou could
see possess any utilitarian feature. He
made a rough calculation, by pacing: OF
how far it was from the garden door
to the angle of the building. Returning
to the study. he paced the distance
| to the door of the paneling.
ALSO Just as ] thought, he said
| THAT door leads into the building a.
| the angle. I'll lay a pound to a penny
4
Letting himself out into the corridor
| he went in search OF Dauncey, and find
] ing him. at once led him back to tht
study. He pointed out the door IN the
Look here, Mr.. Dauncey." he said
| whats that? A cupboard?"
| The old man shook his head. mo
sir. no." he said. Dear me. now, t
| think of you seeing that, inspector! Yo'
! must have sharp eyes. No, sir-it wa!
/ a fad of my poor dear masters, wa!
that, and one of which he soon tired"
| AYE: but what is it?" asked the In
! spector.
! was a very romantic man. sir, was thu
late Sir Robert, and a good many year
ago he made some alterations in th'
| house and this was one of them.
| "You have noticed, inspector, that Ii
| this house there's a hall which rum
right through from one end to TIL
other. Well, sir, It's the same upstair
there's q gallery which does the SAM
thing That's where all the best ant
| finest pictures are kept. Now. Sir Rob
ert's bedroom opens OFF that gallery
and when he was making the altera
4 tions / spoke of. he had two stairway!
made in the walls-these walls are 81.
| feet thick, inspector-one to the stud.
and one to the library, SO that If h
| wanted books or papers in the night h
| his room without the trouble of having
/ to go all round by the great staircase
I but, as a matter of fact, he scarcel.
ever used them, for they hadn't beer
made very long when he fell down on,
| and put his ankle out, and he bumped