Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-23


could concerning the movements OF
Magnani, as well as to get at"
Davis, and he knew 1t was a con-
necton between the two Ct any
that Dagon wished to trace. This
connection at least was now proved
at the start. And Murdoch con-
cocted a telegram to Dagon in q
code used officially by Scotland
Yard.
The answer came early next
morning. AT any price get into
that house and see Magnani. I'M
perative."
Murdoch whistled as he read this.
order. He had heard since wiring
Dagon that Magnani was seriously
i'll, and could not see even the man
nger of his own company. a doctor
from off the island was with the
actor. and nobody else was let in.
1t was all very we'll to say Inn
perative' in the telegram. There
was a still stronger word in the
English language. impossible"
Still. Murdoch meant to try.
Meanwhile, the London architect
sent for by kennedy Haste had
come to the court with an assistant,
and together the two had made
strenuous efforts to get at the heart
of the secret. But. according to
their report. the secret seemed TO
have no heart! Nothing could be
discovered that had not been dis
covered already; the hidden door in
the tapestry boudoir, and the con-
ccaled staircase behind this door,
which led to the cellar, and had
there an equally we'll concealed exit
behind a stone pillar-apparently
solid. moving outward in a groove.
1t was admittedly odd that so
much trouble should have been
taken to make a secret way down
into this cellar. which was connected
by archways with two newer Gel
lars under wings of the house.
Logically, the hidden staircase
should have led to something i'm
portant which might need to he
reached secretly and in haste; but
brought to light that something
important" The architect, accord
tngly, gave it as his opinion that
nothing of the Sort existed. There
might have been a plan, he suggested
which was never carried out. If
SO. the stairway with its hidden
doors at top and bottom would be
satisfactorily accounted for.
With this opinion-which was
that of great expert, and made
AFTER exhaustive research-Haste
had to be satisfied. But Dagon had
one of his lunches" that for once
The architect was wrong. He felt
that he was going to find out
something at Hidden Hall Court
something, perhaps, which would
make the whole mystery clear. And
for Dagon the whole mystery" did
not begin on the night of the Haste
wedding. To find the real begin
nlng-WhIch might account for
much of the rcSt-he believed that
he must go back 4 good many years,
in The hope of getting at that be-
ginning. he had made friends" with
Sir Rawdon Wells, and had con-
WINGED himself that. innocent or not
IN the case of Eve Carroll, Wells
was unaware of any further secret
IN The construction of the house. IL
MIS- Haste were n prisoner in some
hidden hail." Rawdon Wells had
not put here there. AS for Pandora,
wells lad no motive for hiding the
SlrI. She asserted that she had
done away with Eve" and IL Sir
Rawdon could be cleared she was
the one to clear him. No, IL was a
very different person who needed to
suppress Miss Haste: and Dagon
chung to his belief that this person
was responsible for both disappear
anCes.
HIS clues were few, and (except-
ing inc skeleton which was that OF
man, thus indicating plot
"saihsl Neils) not satisfactory. His
conclusions were based on ideas
rather than proofs, and II he had
peen forced by his superiors ,r
scotland Yard to lay his cards face
uppermost upon the table, he might
i:ol nave received support on the
hnes he had laid down for himself
fortunately for him, however. he
mad done amazingly brilliant work
ana was called behind his back the
lh!ant Prodigy" When he begged
10 be trusted without questions for
a lew days, he was thus trusted:
anu IL was due to his earnest re-
quest mat Rawdon Wells was not
arrested on suspicion, despite the
favorable evidence of the skeIeton
This being the state of affairs
bagon knew that he must soon
make good in some way. and
Justlly himself; otherwise-as he
put 1t mentally--for every one con
cerned the fat was in the Arc
BESIDES, 1t would be Impossible Ia
Keep the secret Of Mrs. Haste's and
Pandora's disappearance from the
public much longer.
All the servants at Hidden Hall
Court were pledged to silence. bmt
some one was sure to talk. or Mr..
Iayntor would confide her anxiety
TO friend. and there would he n
newspaper sensation in England and
america. This would be terrible
Tor Captain Haste, whom Dspon
encouraged to hope that all would
emu wen, and without scandal. II
would also be disastrous for Sir
proved innocent, the story would
throughout his life. He would he
the man who had been accused -
kidnapping or numbering Eva g.
foii. and many people would aIwav.
peheVe that something had been
hushed up" Oee"
Constant dancing attendance unon
Mrs. Gillett had gained Dagon a
point or two. She had confided 70
MN that she was "mediumistic
An ner life, since Childhood. she
had seen things" How and VIII
she mad come to Hidden Hall Court
as housekeeper "a post in which she
appeared TO be an amateur) Daron
could not find out to his satisfac tion
Sne mad done some services for ST..
hawdon Wells family In the mast.
ne mad always kept track of her
she said. vaguely. Investments y;
ners had gone wrong. She had hasr
IN temporary trouble. Just thar
me housekeeper's place had been