New Britain herald., 1929-09-26

escape Laxton halts the recital. H. has arranged a meeting in Fother- hury's library for that very night an inquisition that will solve the mystery of PelIs death.
 Chapter 4o
 TINY THREADS
 It was just half-past nine when we passed under the gatehouse of Newplace. On the bridge six men had silently fallen in behind us, saying no word to anybody.
 Inside the gate one dropped ou, and stood motionless near the door Of Mar.ing's house. The other five followed LIS. At the fork of the road two disappeared towards the cloisters. The remaining three ac- companied us 10 the house. One of these walked around 10 the back. One stayed in the shadow of the porch The last Of the six entered with us and stood aside in the hall. We made q single file procession in the yaulted corridor, now lit up by electric bulbs, and issued into the library.
 MT Fotherbury and the doctor were sitting ty the center table talking. Mir. Fotherbury rose and came to I.aXton, saying:
 "Ah, professor. you've brought your friend who's going to show us a way through the maze? Will you all find chairs?"
 Laxton stood aside and indicated Redslade.
 "A little surprise for you, Mir. Fotherbury,' he said, This is Mr. Redslade, the former owner of New place"
 Mr. Fotherburxs surprise was not so little.
 "I apologize for my rudencss," said he, after T moment of silence. ''Mr R9dsIade! Has he risen from the dead?"
 LaXton laughed q little.
 Substantial ghost, eh?" he said "But truly a ghost. Pelrs ghost, in fact"
 "Pe's ghost, Poor Pel," MT Fotherbury shuddered. "Shan't We all sit down."
 Yes, Mr. Fotherbury." said Lax ton, here's the ghost Pell was about to coniure up in this room when he lost his life I'm sorry some Of the people to whom h. wished to show his ghost are not here now, and particularly one of them-Marling"
 "Ah-Marling. You know-"
 "Yes. Marling is no longer avail able-however, We proceed without him. This, then, Is the former owner of Newpact. It is also Pelrs ghost. It IS also an escaped con- VCt-"
 Good gracious." exclaimed Mr. Fotherbury.
 Yes - but don't be alarmed. I have already presented to him a free pardon. He escaped from Dart moor on the 24th Of June. He also knocked me out in your corridor on the 25th of June"
 q suppose this is not an elaborate joke, LaXton?" GIr. Fothorbury ob- served.
 Absolutely protcan, isn't it?'' sald LaXton. with his haartiest laugh. "But no - it's not d iola I hadn't quite come to the md. H.. Is also tho person who was found in possession of thc book stolen from your library, Mr. Fothorbury But he now restores it at my rc- quest, and here it is"
 LaXton turned hack the covers Of Sheldon and tool, out tho ycIIum. bound quarto of the Abbot Johr Deacon.
 MT FothcrDurt's eyes ou,ur, wide.
 T think it quite likely" said Lax. ton. that this book is the IitfI, string 10 guid" us out of the mag. Mr. FothcrhVry. As you know nr q manuscript history Of NcwuIac, by the last Abbot. wh, part tha interests us is th. la.J pac. CT two written, SO they tell me. If tha be- ginning Of 15&S. wn,n tho Abbn got word that g9oI Kln- Hal wa. going 10 send his tmous yisjto~ Bishop fngWorth. 10 soil up tl, place, The bi$hop when he ar rived, fouud there wasn't rngc} poodle in E"~p'uoe sor his Na,.sfy
 Yet Newpao" had been rir. abbey, Thor" aore legends of .raa gifts made 10 + and Of much traae rre stored What dyou think hap pen"d 10 s Mr. Foth.rbargon
 "I ha'eur 'la fmutcst iIoa p.o lessor"
 "Tbon you hns, missed H, lra thread it. Inc Auoors boo. 20 .st 1aXton, tapping on rao open ua4, Here It is plain as a furmiEo. , anybody "ho can road ,aur. Latin and nJorstauj mar."
 He pushed the book into ta mid dle Of the tab,. and wr alI b., over 10 look at thc map. Ii was ground plan Of the church. Ia> tons finger picked out a circle.
 This is tho translation Of ,h few words referring 10 tde mark "and of the highly gifted and yer reverend Abbot For,uuatue, froi the altar II feet and from th norti wall min" feet. at a depth ( nine feet
 "AIr. I'othcrbury youvo nc,, found 'he abhors grave bocau. there never vas such an abbo Doesn't his name, Forruntus. SUE gest anything 10 you""
 You mca1--tr"asurr? Mr. Fotu erbury's eyes opened wider tla eyer.
 "rreciscly treasure; t'n stun that Henry the Eighth failed 10 6