The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-06-08
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

"On examining the bookplate with
a magnifying glass, | noticed on it an
object that bore the same pattern-in
miniature, of courSe-aS the arrange
ment of those sixteen Sits you see on
that paper. | took the object as some
kind of surgical instrument, as ii was
on a table with others | could identify.
such as the scalpel. This instrument
had sixteen slots, six down the center,
a row of five on each side of the Gen.
trail row."
"All the same size?' asked Mr.. Rob
erts, cycling the yellow note again.
"Yes, just as those Sits are"
what did this instrument look
Ike?'
"a small, cube-shaped box. | can't
even guess its purpose. 1t has what
l take for a handle on the back, and
something that looks like a small
lever, on top. But, since this instru-
ment appears or the ~bookplate In this
book which conceals a key, and Cd
this yellow slip, picked up just before
the accident, there is found pierced
the pattern on the instrument, | fancy
there's some connection among all
these facts"
"Tell me about this key" said Mr..
Roberts.
described how it was fastened into
the book cover, and made a rough
sketch Of it, also of the instrument
drawn on the bookplate, which he then
recollected having seer the day be-
fore. l related how | had heard the
time-clock ring twice in the course OF
the past evening, at twenty minutes
past seven O'Clock and at a quarter
past ten; how, directly after the Sec
ond time. l had seen Mr.. Case and the
stranger standing below me, as /
waited on the balcony; how the two
recognized each other in silence, and
how the stranger vanished. | con.
cluded with all the details of the
morning, including MIR. Cases asking
for the book, and returning it un-
touched.
ITS most unfortunate you had to
be here alone all morning." frowne6
Mr.. Roberts; but it's time to send for
Almy, and tell him all you've discOv.
cred, or believe you've discovered.
about that book"
"Do you really think it's importanti
At last"
Possibly; at least, something of
what you say confirms a fact hitherto
held in confidence; to know it now.
may help you. You saw Mr.. Case
searching, you believe, for this book
which you think an object to so many
persons. Well, he was absent from
the conference on Monday morning.
shortly before eleven o'clock; and
during that time he was seer in the
rear of the bookshop."
The thrill that ran through me was
anything but pleasant Mr.. Roberts
continued:
"He stepped out Of Mr.. Darrow's
Office, saying he wished to get q Ger.
tain list of books from Miss Wilkes.
whose office is of course on the fourth
floor. A few minutes later he returned
with the list, but he was seer during
that time coming down the rear gal
lery stairs into the shop"
"Who saw him?" | demanded.
Miss GrOsvenOr. She doesn't know
him but in the course of accounting
for her movements, to Almy, she de-
scribed having seen Mr.. Case that
way"
"Do you think there was any con-
nection between him and Grosvenor.
after all?" | hazarded. Il thought he
said he didn't know him."
mo: what he said was that he had
never seen Mr.. GrOsvenor In the shop.
as you and the other clerks had. II
may be that be did know him. Your
statement of his interest In this law
book, provided it car be proved thar
Mr.. Grosvenor also had an interest In
It, might confirm this idea"
"Why did l lose that bookI And
who took it," i
Perhaps Almy can race 1t. At all
events, we have this note Of yours,