The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-03-02

make himself speak at all. He put
his hand to his head.
Miss Cornelia was at loss. If this
were acting, 1t was at least fine act
ing.
"Hew did you happen to come to
this houseT she persisted, her voice
unconsciously tuning itself to the
slow, laborious speech of the Tn
known.
Saw-the-lights."
Bailey broke in with question.
"Where were you when you saw the
lights%
The Unknown wet his lips with his
tongue, painfully.
"I-broke-out-of- - garage"
he said at length.
This was unexpected. A general
movement Of interest ran over the
party.
"How did you get therer Beres-
iord took his turn as questioner.
The Unknown shook his head, so
slowly and deliberately that Miss Cor
nelia's fingers itched to shake him, in
spite of his injuries.
"I-don't-know."
did you ring the house phone?" In
sisted Miss Cornelia.
The Unknown nodded.
EYES,"
Miss Cornelia and Bailey gave each
other look of wonderment.
I-leaned against-the button-in
hn ~ ha
1 think-maybe tainted. That's
not clear"
Dale rose, and came over to him,
with sympathetic movement of her
hand.
you don't remember how you were
hurt?" she asked gently.
The Unknown stared ahead Of him,
his eyes filming, as If he were trying
to puzzle it out. E
"No," he said at last. "The first
thing remember-I was in the garage
tied" He moved his lips. 81 was
-too-that's-what's the mat
ter-with my tongue-now- Then
I got myself-free-and- out-of
window"
Miss COrnelia made movement to
question him further. Beresford
stopped her with his hand uplifted.
"Just moment, Miss Van Gorder
Anderson ought to know of this"
He started for the door without per-
ceiving the flash of keen intelligence
and alertness that had lit the Un-
known's countenance for an instant, as
once before, at the mention Of the
detectives name. But just as he
reached the door the detective en-
tered.
He halted for moment, staring at
the strange figure of the Unknown.
"a new element In our mystery, Mr..
Anderson" said Miss Cornelia, re-
membering that the detective might
not have heard of the mysterious
stranger before-as he had been
locked in the billiard roem when the
latter had made his queer entrance.
The detective and the Unknown
gazed at each other for a moment-the
Unknown with his cid expression of
vacant stupidity.
"Quite dazed, poor fellow" Miss
Cornelia went on.
Beresford added other words of ex-
PLANTATION.
He doesn't remember what hap
pened to him. Curious, isn't it?"
The detective still seemed puzzled.
How did he get into the houseT
HE came through the terrace door
some time ago." answered Miss Cor
nelia. "Just before we were locked
in
Her answer seemed to solve the
problem to Andersen's satisfaction.
Doesn't remember anything, eh?"
he said dryly. He crossed over to the
mysterious stranger and put his hand
under the Unknown's chin, jerking his
head up roughly.
'Look up here!" he commanded.
The Unknown stared at him for an
instant with blank, vacuous eyes.
Then his head dropped back upon his
breast again.
Look up, you" muttered the de-
tective, jerking his head again. "This
losing your memory stuff doesn't go
down with mel" His eyes bored into
the Unknown's.
at doesn't-go dOwn-very we'll
with me-either," said the Unknown
weakly, making no movement of pro-
test against Anderson's rough handling.
did you ever see me before?" de-
manded the latter. Beresford held
the candle closer so that he might
watch the Unknown's face for any
involuntary movement of betrayal.
But the Unknown made no such
movement. He gazed at Anderson,
apparently with the greatest bewilder-
ment-then his eyes closed-he
seemed to be about to remember who
the detective was.
you're - the - doctor Il saw
downstairs-aren't your" he said in
nocently.
Miss Cornelia gave a little shiver
The third degree, in reality, was less
pleasant 10 watch than 1t had been
to read about In the pages Of her ia
vorite detective stories.
Hes evidently been attacked" she
said, turning to Anderson. "He