The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-07-13
CHAPTER XI-Continued


room? Could it have been that mech
anism of the shaft and the lever
which | confused with hammer and
a trigger? caught Charles Mac
IvOr's eye: he was glancing al me tri-
umphantly; he read my thought. In
Stinctively ] glanced at Julia, and she
was looking at me imploringly, as If TO
beg me not to misjudge her, even
though that instrument must have
been in her hand before she emerged
from the shadows, snatched up TO de-
ceive the intruder, who she did not
know was her cousin. Yet | hardly
noticed either of them. That strange
click was beating OF my brain; its
source, that small brass box, had been
in Darrow's; | had heard that click
before. not once. hut oftenl had
heard it at 10 40 that fateful Monday
previous, when the shipping-ofiice ap
plicant rang in, and again ten minutes
later: at Z 30 Thursday evening, and
also at 10:15-that click, which i now
knew was not the time-clock, similar
though it had sounded. All in one
across my mind Then Mr.. Almy
spoke. He was working the fiat screw
on the top of the box up and down.
and at intervals swapping the trigger
He tapped the screw:
"This is a depth gauge. II regulates
the depth which these knives cut
They can make deep incision or
slight scratch. as desired. Sixteen OF
'em, Ell? And all grouped together
This is a beautiful little instrument
Julia shivered.
"'Paris, eighteen-twenty-five read
Mr.. Almy, slowly, deciphering some
tiny letters along one edge of the box
which he turned to the light This
instrument is evidently used for scarf
fying, MacIvor: belongs to the days
of bloodletting. Your great-grand-
fathers was it?"
"Yes! It's a spring-lancet."
Now, how did it get into Darrow's,
so that you should have to go back
after itP" wondered Mr.. Almy, paying
no attention to the defiant tone. Miss
Fuller, what were you doing with this
spring-lancet I'm your desk?"
.It never was in my desk!' | pro-
tested.
But you say you saw Mr.. Maclvor
at your desk Thursday night, and ne
saws he went to Darrow's to get this
spring-lancet."
at never was In the desk" / re-
heated firmly: shut it was under the
desk. When / sat down there to work,
early that evening. pulled my chair
far in, to settle down. Ii was the first
time in three days had been able to
do so without fear of interruption;
since Monday l had merely snatched
a few minutes there as was able, con-
stantly rising to look up references or
find material Well, as ] pulled my
chair in that time, ] distinctly heard
this very click. My foot must have
touched the hammer of the lancet:
it must have been under the desk.
set !"
Julia began to tremble violently
Her cousin said with triumph:
'gTherel You've given yourself
away. ! can't protect you any longer.
saw you in Darrow's Monday morn
ing, Julia, In the history alcove.
saw grandfather in the medical alcove
in front of you. was In the narrow
ieft-hand aisle under the gallery. |
didn't want to see what might hap
pen If you two met In that boOkshop.
So i helped you. again, by clearing
out"
what time were you there?" de-
manded Julia.
"Ten O'Clock. | left within FIVE min
utes Of entering the shop. and went
straight to my Spanish lesson. remain
ing there until twelve o'clock. No
doubt you know grandfather was last
seen conscious at twenty minutes of
eleven. And didn't call you up early
Thursday, to ask how you were!'
Yves; and 70 ask questions that
showed me you thought maybe had
grasped the fact that you and grand
father both wanted that book i had
read him about, the week before" re-
turned Julia. scornfulIy. "That was
the first time you suggested maybe /
had been after II In Darrow's; that
maybe | had it,"
at was at that time," Charles con-
tinued implacabIy, that you told me
where the spring-lancet wasl | went
and got it for you, asking not one
single question. I've also offered you
financial assistance. In return, you
try TO get me In bad with the police,
to direct suspicion from yourself"
what do you mean?"
ITO distract the authorities atten-
ton from the fact that you sent me
to get this deadly weapon from OAR
rows, from its hiding place which was
known to you, you suggest that I've
been trying to steal something that
is no property of yours. If Miss Full
Ter sprang 1t with her foot, II must
have been set. To divert suspicion?
1t was sprung when l found it, for !
reset and sprang II to prove that"
The 1918 click was explained! But
scarcely noticed the fact
Charles ~ choked Julia, "are you
accusing me of numbering our grand
father? -. Oh ohp
For he was struggling his shoulders
mockingiy. Mr. Amy intervened:
BE careful what You say, both of
youl"
81 have nothing 10 say" cried Julia
passionately, Except that 1t is true
my cousin went to get that spring
lancet, just as he says. and that he
asked no questions. Neither did | ask