The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-11-30
BY A. E. THOMAS
Copyright. BY
Dodd. Mead and Company, Inc.
w. N. u. Service
CHAPTER XIII


tied, she sat up, wondering If the
sound were not a part of her dream.
But the knocking was repeated.
What is 1t? What Is it?" she
cried, and voice said:
Mrs. Waterman
"Yes-yeS-"
something terrible has happened!
{ think you had better come down al
oncel"
what is It? What is it?" she cried
again. But there was no answer. She
snapped on the light, slipped swiftly
out of bed and hastily began to dress.
at the same moment O'Hara, sum
mOned from the garage over the house
phone, walked into the library. Will
son stood across the room, looking
from the open French window.
what the devils the matter?" cried
the chauffeur
Wilson turned a white face upon
him. THANK God, you've come" he
said; "thank GodI'
What's the matter"
Something's happened-something
dreadful"
'What Is It?"
"Mr. Stanley has disappeared"
what"
"Yes."
The three maids rushed in, almost
On the houSekeeper's heels. in various
stages of negligee-frightened, SILVER
ing. inQuiring. Their idea seemed to
be that the house was on fire.
'No-no-no-shut up, for heavens
sake" ordered Wilson. "There isn't
any fire."
The whole group advanced upon
him with frantic inquiries, but he
waved them away, crying, stand
back, all of you-stay where you are !
Don't touch a thing in this room.
There's been a struggle Can't you
see? I'm afraid Mr.. Stanley's been
murdered"
Silence fell upon the little group
Awe-stricken they looked about the
room. Their eyes fell upoc the dis
order of the place-ihe overturned
table, the broken glass, the twisted
rug, the papers covering the floor.
swept from the desk. Upon this ST.
in negligee of emerald green, which
& she had hurriedly cast over her night.
I gown, her bare feet cleaning from a
pair of little mules.
whats the matter? What's the
matterf" she cried, advancing into the
room. There was no answer. "Where's
Mr. StanleyT"
Pm afraid he's been murdered
With a gasp Doris sank into the
nearest chair.
whats this? What's this?" said a
new voice.
The group turned and looked at the
door. Waterman stood there. He still
wore his dress trousers, and he had
donned silk dressing gown. There
was a handkerchief tied about his
neck. "Who says Mr.. Stanley's been
murdered?'
''I'm afraid it's a fact. sir" an
swered Wilson.
what on earth do you mean?"
I'VE can't find him anywhere"
"And therefore he's been MUIR
,dered," cried Waterman, ironically.
"'ROtl He's probably gone. out to
take q walk"
AT midnight" Doris put I'm.
why not? Any law against it?"
But Wilson turned to the chauffeur
and pointed to the open French win
dow.
"OHara, go out through that win
dow. Have you got fashlight?"
Sure" answered O'Hara. always
carry one for use about the car"
"Some one has been through that
window" Wilson continued "If there's
a trail, follow it. See where 1t leads"
Right" responded the chauffeur
He disappeared through the window
"What did | say?" resumed Water.
man lightly. "O'Hara will find him
incoming about the lake somewhere
He'll have the laugh on US. say.
Wilson, what the deuce do you mean
getting us all OUT of bed for q mares
nest like this?'
Wilson regarded him obliquely. at
isn't mares nest, SIR"
"No?"
mo, SIR When I come into this
room and find it Uttered with evi,
4dence of a desperate struggle, as you
see" He pointed to the wreckage.
''When | find this table overturned.
everything that was on this desk
swept upon the floor and" here he
pointed to dark red stain upon the
twisted rug-"blood upon this rug"
murmur of approval came from
the little group of servants.
Doris drew her negligee closer about
her with a little shiver. "Who saw
him last?" she asked. =.
"The last | saw of him." replied
Wilson, "he was talking here with
Mr. Waterman"
Doris fixed her eyes upon her hus-
band.
"Rollin, what happened between you
two?"
"Why nothing" he answered easily.
1--WE just talked for an hour or SO,
and then | went to bed"
Leaving him here?'
'Yes. He said he was going to
write letter or two. You remember,
he told O'Hara to sit up while, so
as to take them to the village post
Office tonight"
O'Hara stood In the French window
again. His face was grave.
did you-did you find anythingT'
asked Wilson. speaking with difficulty.
"No-but some one has walked down
that path TO the lake tonight"
Wilson continued the inquiry. did
you go as far as the lake?"
81 did"
'And the boat 1.-The bOat?"
"It'S gone And found this caught