Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-15
Who. Who in the Story

SIR RObEh4 M1ANNGkNSA&1t HNS
man Of ancient title and vast estate
on which valuable mines have Deem
found. He is mysteriously murdered
PHILLIPA, his beautiful Daughter. is
Lady Bountiful Of the farm ana mn. NM
and believes Innocent Of 9 charge OF
forgery, her cousin, and plans to
marry him and settle In the colonies
when he finishes his prison term
estate, who has sown harmless Wild
oats, but declares himself innocent
of the forgery of his uncle's name,
though he cannot convince the latter
He escapes from prison and Is dis
dered uncle. He is arrested and
charged with the crime,
MRS. BRITTEN, his old nurse, who be-
lieves him innocent.
JIM, his foster-brother. who - some
what radical miner.
MR., QUINTON. austers. executive type
of man, manager Of the mines and
asyirant for Phillipa's hand,
ILL1NGWoRTH. ambitious police or
INSPEcroR coRTELYoU. a,vstsran
Scotland Yard sleuth, who takes up
the case for Clinton.
MARSHALL STEAD. chief cashier
and confidential man for Sir Robert.
Sleuthina on the Fatal Spott
Across the blotting pad in the Gen.
ter of the desk lay pen-he sup
posed 1t to have fallen from the
dead mans hand as the fatal blow
was struck. However, he saw no
signs to show that Sir Robefr 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. II was a large apart
ment, entirely paneled in black oak,
and contained so many articles Of
furniture in the way Of writing and
reading tables, stands, chests and
other impeachment of like nature. that
there was not much room to move
about in 1t.
Low bookcases of black oak were
arranged against the paneling; here
and there in the panels hung etch-
ings and old steel plates. And, with
his hands in his pockets ad apparel
iy doing nothing more than en-
aiming these pictures, Inspector
Cortelyou began to walk round the
room, in reality keeping a sharp eye
on the walls. And in one corner he
suddenly paused, seeing that at
some time or ather n door, low and
narrow, had been cut through the
paneling.
This was one of the two outer
walls of the room--the same wall In
which stood the door that opened on
the garden.
This" said Inspector Cortelyou TO
himseli-"tnis must I've cupboard;
and he tried to open tho door by
pulling at tho beading of the panels.
The door, however, remained fixed.
He beat upon 1t with his hand; it
sounded very hollow within--much
more hollow than a cupboard would
have done. And sudden idea oc-
curing to him, lie unlocked the
path, glanced along the side Of the
house.
Just what thought" he ex-
claimed. Il was sure OF it,"
Built out frcm the line OF the
study wall and projecting a semi
circle until it terminated at the wall
OF another wing of the house was A
building of two stories In height,
which doubtless added to the archi-
tectural effect, but did not, so far as
Inspector Cortelyou could see, pos
sess any utilitarian feature. lie
made 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
at the angle. I'll lay pound to
penny it's a stairway"
Letting himself out into the cor
ridor. he went in search of Dauncey,
and finding him, at once led him
back to the study. lie pointed out
the door in the paneling.
Look here, MIR. Daunccy." he
said. Whats that? A cupboard ?"
The old man shook his head. mo
sir, no." he said. Dear me. now, to
think Of you seeing that, inspector!
You must have sharp eyes. No, sir
it was a fad of my poor dear
masters. was that, and one of which
lie soon tired"
Aye; but what is it," asked the
inspector.
IT'S a stairway, sir. to the great
gallery above" replied Dauncey, He
was a very romantic man, sir, was
the late Sir Robert, and good
many years ago he made soms
alterations in the house, and this
was one of them.
You have noticed. inspector, that
In this house there's a hall which
runs right through from one end to
the other. Well, sir, it's the same
upStairs-there's a gallery which
does the same thing. That's where
all the best and finest pictures are
kept. Now, Sir Roberts bedroom
opens off that gallery, and whom he
was making the alterations / spoke
Of, he had two stairways made IN
the walls-these walls are six feet
Trick. inspector--one to the study
ard one to the library, so that if he
wanted books or papers in the night
he could come straight down for
them from his room without the
trouble of having to 60 all round by
the great staircase.
But, as a matter of fact, he
scarcely ever used them, for they
hadn't been made very long when he
fell down one and put his ankle out,
end he bumped his forehead very
badly in coming down the other.
After that he said they were too
steep and too narrow, and that he'd
been an old ass for having them
made: and. to tell you the truth, sir,
l don't think he ever used them
again."
All the same. they're both there"
said INSPECTOR CoFteIYoiI