Evening star., 1935-09-08
September 3. 1885

Dunstan's wife took up breakfast
on tray TO Lucille Paradene. and the
old woman told her how matters stood.
My wife has persuaded the Young
lady to remain in bed for a lew hours.
sir, said Dunstan when he came
back into the dining room where
was having breakfast.
How did Miss Paradene take the
news?"
Quite calmly, sir" replied Dun
stan.
don't think was surprised at this.
Lucille Paradene had accepted the
whole situation with an almost fatal
lstic calmness. so different from the
attitude OF Dunstan and his wife, both
OF whom sat shlvering in the kitchen
as though the devil himself had cast
an evil spell upon the place | went
upstairs to my grandfather's bedroom
and examined 1t carefully The door
at the top OF the star that led down
10 the little chapel was ocked on the
inside. as before and | could find
nothing whatever that gave the least
hint OF how the body of MIR. Paul had
been spirited away. Then decided to
go over the entire house with Dunstan.
We began i'll the cellar. went through
every room except the one occupied
by Lucille Paradene. and ended up in
one of the high turrets, where tiny
door opened upon the roof.
Our search had yielded nothing, and
from the stone parapet looked down
across the wide glen.
You said something about the
5nowplows opening the roads, Dun
stan" | remarked. When do you
expect them?"
Perhaps not tor week. Its only
a slde-road that runs down this glen
gave a low whistle. You mean -
We may be cut of like this for a whole
week? Have you got enough food to
keep us going?"
Thatll be all right, sir" nodded
Dunstan Were prepared for this
kind OF thing in winter and the early
spring. . And then he gave a start,
and peered down the glen towards the
east.
saw that his eyes were fixed upon
small house about a quarter OF mile
away. 1t was Falcon Lodge. where the
man called Roger Barnett came occa-
sionally to live during the summer
months. In mentioning his name the
previous evening, Dunstan had as
sured me that the house was shut up.
A second glance made it clear why he
was staring at the place in surprise.
From one OF the chimneys there issued
wisp OF grey smoke.
so Mr.. Barnett is at home after
all, Dunstan?" | observed.
He wasn't at home yesterday, sirr'
cried the manservant. There was no
smoke coming from that chimney at
tea-time - that III swear"
| lit my pipe thoughtfully. Had
Roger Barnett arrived there during
the night? If so, how on earth had he
managed it? As | was turning this
over in my mind, Dunstan pointed
along the hillside.
Beyond the clump of pine trees, the
figure of man was coming into view.
He had obviously made his way from
Falcon Lodge.
That's Mr. Barnett himself. sir!
Looks as if he we're coming here"
was conscious of curious glow of
excitement. watched the moving
figure for few moments and then
went downstairs. Dunstan had told
me that Mr.. Barnett had once been
a friend of my late grandfather's, but
they had quarrelled, and the man had
not crossed the doorstep of Falcon
Castle for nearly twelve months. I
quickly made up my mind that l
would form my own impressions of
this Mr.. Barnett before l took him
into my confidence about what had
haDDened during the NIGHT