Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-13

cold meat, with bread and cheese;
also a carafe containing red wine.
The sight of these things made
Pandora wonder if her laintness
were partly caused by hunger.
THE stuff isn't likely to be poi
soned," she thought. They would
have got rid of me more simply
without taking the trouble to bring
me here, if that was their idea"
She ate a biscuit or two, and
poured into thick, old crystal
tumbler little of the wine, which
tasted like port.
Il wish l knew whether this were
breakfast, or luncheon, or dinner"
she remarked again aloud. And
then she noticed that an echo fol-
lowed her wordS-an insiStent, per-
sonal sort of echo, almost like a
spirit speaking, invisible, imprisoned
in the same room.
Courage and strength began to
stream into her body again after the
food and wine-almost too much
consciousness of Astounding vitality
for a girl plunged deep in tragedy.
AS there could be no way back to
happiness for her after last night
even If she were able to escape
to hear the call of youth and life.
Still, certain ebullience did rise
within her. 1t was good to hear her
living voice!
Where am II" she asked of the
echo. And promptly it replied. Yet
was it an echo-or something
more? Was there another voice
farther away behind the echo, q
voice that was not an echo at all?
Dagon had ironically told Sergeant
Arson that he had "a dozen
theories, each one entirely different
from every other" But something
quite small, insignificant some-
thing-which had happened banish-
ed the lot into the background of his
brain. In their stead a new theory
stepped forward.
Perhaps in It's turn this last would
be dismissed, and a alf-abandoned
rival beckoned out of obscurity to
take its place; but for the present II
lured, startled, fascinated the de-
tective. He dared not let his mind
dwell upon 1t too much. He wished
to keep In touch with all sides of
the subject. And though he started a
new notebook in honor of the new
theory, he neither starred nor en-
pnaslzed 1t there. No one save him
self. looking through the iottinns.
could have guessed in which person
named Dagon felt the most. absorb
ing professional interest.
Tne Canadian had a way Of writ
ing down questions addressed to him
sell. Staring at these in black and
white seemed to force answers .out
OF the static" as he had called a.
since a short apprenticeship to
wireless teiegraphy. Sometimes the
answers were wrong; but by fhe
time he began to see their wrong.
ness he had often dashed the real
solution Of the puzzle on the next
page Of the book.
The day following his visit n
niooen Hail Court and Ardry-le-
ware the small volume. which he
dubbed MY New Theory Notebook"
would nave appeared to any other
eye IMAM his a hotchpotch. To
Dagon. however, it was clear enough
Inc pade fair later to be H.
The detective had returned 20
London on the quiet, in order Ia de-.
veiop the photographs of the
snuoged finger marks, also thoss
ne 1, mad discovered on the bench 4,
:! & anoora Haste's cell. He bad
rrougnt to town In addition = inv
sample OF the dried and cloffsd
Dlooo found on the wall under ts,s
tapestries. and the least charred a.
ne bones retrieved from the fur
This Five Portraits
AZ Tor the blood. Tho nnfrrn~~n.>,.