The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-09-27
Chapter 41
 HYOCENE

Smithins-that London firm, pos ing as brokers, the connecting link between Redslade, Marling n d Fotherbury in the mystery of Roger Pelll
 Fotherbury merely gasped. Lax ton spoke again:
 er"Did you think Smithins were acting for client? My dear sir, they acted for themselves. Having drawn MT. Redslade into their trap, they induced him to give most preposterous mortgage on Newplace While they were negotiating that mortgage security, MT. Redslade mentioned, in a jocular way, that there were legends of concealed riches at Newplace. Marling heard of the story. came down to look over the abbey ruins and probably persuaded you, without your own consciousness of it, to engage him as chaplain"
 s MT. Fotherbury signed to Laxton to go on
 ''You still have doubts, about the character of Marling. Well, VIC will see. It was because of Mar ling's knowledge and Markings con- duct. that Pell was murdered in this room"
 sPeli7p MT Fotherbury exclaimed. sWhatever Marling may have been, professor. he didn't shoot Pell." f T didn't say he shot Pell," LaN- ton retortcd. T said Pell was shot because of Marling And III tell you how, MT Fotherbury. Pcll and Mir Redslade were close friends. .
 As Laxton went on to relate the story at Ostend and Dover, MT. Fotncrbury's eyes bulged with as- tonishment.
 Ibid you guess" Laxton asked, .wllen Pell came down to help you explore your ruins that Pell had been in prison year because of this damnable conspiracy? Did Marliiig tell you? No-apparently he didn't =.
 s Did you know that after his re- lease from prison Pell got into the office of Smithins and devoted more than year to examining the dirty secrets of that dirty concerh' Did you know when he came here that he knew the old abbot's clew had been found d in the library? That Pell invented means of com municating with MT. Redslade ir prison? That Pell was all the time waiting to explode a wicked plot' and get justice done?"
 Laxton paused.
 .arNo-of course couldn't know all that" said MT. Fotherbury. And even now I can hardly credit thot Marling was clever enough for a scheme so deep, even if he were interruptions enough?"
 Laxton grinned.
 ..,,'I know" said he "But you're quite right. The unscrupulous Mar ling wasn't clever enough. There's somebody else somewhere in the background, behind Marling in- structing Marling. And that's the figure we've got to find. I can prove the existence of that hidden figure, MT. Fotherbury. Have you looked into that chest there lately?''
 4No,n said MT. Fotherbury, but surely, MT. Laxton, it's not big enough"
 stTo contain the supermanP" Lax ton laughed Good heavens, mol But pointer towards him-yes. " Layton went to the library door, knocked and waited. We gasped our astonishment as we heard the heavy lock turned and saw the door open and the man whom we had brought with us into the hall standing outside.
 sThat key"
 kLaxton held out his hand. The man gave him bright new key. He closed the door. He heard the catch of the lock turn back.
 wsPrecautions," said Laxton. You win see how necessary"
 slHis voice was the only sound ir the room. There was an uncanny atealth about his quick movements ffif moment he had thrown back the cover of the chest.
 we grouped round the chest and hooked in. What we say there vHs not new to Somerfield and me. dur eyes had feasted on it as it lay on my bed. But MT. Father bury cried out.
 ffThe thing was not open more tsfan few seconds. Laxton pullen down the lid, locked the box. and but the key in his pocket. S~Let us take our places again" safd he. 'Now you understand W6y this room is locked and is Raarded. Treasure trove. The br6perty of the Grown. MT. Fother- bury, as you doubtless understand