Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, August 8, 1896, Page 6

CHAPTER XXV. The Little Chamber Door, “What now?’ was the query that «fose so naturally to the doctor’s lips that it was with difficulty he surpress- ed it. He went to sit by Amelia until his mother should return. “You are looking dreadfully worn -and worried,” she said. “I’m sorry,” he responded, “for I don't want you to worry at all. I haven’t had much sleep recently, you know.” “Won't you be able to rest soon?” “Surely. I am not afraid of any- thing happening to us, dear, but we shall all feel better when we are at home, shan’t we?” “Indeed, yes. Am I to go to-mor- row?” “I hope so. Are you feeling better?” “Better every time I wake. I’m sorry I had that dream, but I’m going to try hard not to think, I'll dream of the future.” “Our future,” gently added the doc- ‘tor. Her eyes filled with happy _ tears, -which the doctor had just kissed away ‘when his mother came in with a pitch- er of water. After Amelia had drank, the doctor asked her if she could go to sleep again. “Tl try,” she answered, and obedi- ently closed her eyes. The doctor was anxious to consult ~with his mother at length on the -course of action that had occurred to ‘him, but it was out of the question to do so while Amelia might overhear, and to his mind it was equally out of the question to leave the room, or even to whisper in the hall by the door. “No telling,” thought the doctor, “hat room or corner may conceal a iistening servant.” It seemed advisable, therefore, to wait until Amelia should sleep again. This might be soon. Evening would goon be at hand, and if anything de- finite were to be done, then would be the time. All at once it occurred to the doctor sthat Philbrick might be of service. He had been wishing for that man’s “presence but a few minutes before. Phitbrick had on at least one occasion made overtures to an alliance against the professor. It might not be too jate now to effect some manner of con- erted action. Philbrick could at least go to the village and arouse the authorities. The doctor went to the window. Philbrick was still in sight. He had taken down his tripod and was pack- ing up. Dr. Williams raised the win- dow and leaned out. He did not in- tend to shout, but he was certain that Philbrick would’see him in @ moment. Several minutes passed, while Phil- brick kept his head bent over his work. seemed to be finished at last, and he ntened up, turning this head for glance at Fairview before de- Dp He did see the doctor and waved bis hand in careless sahite. The doctor beckoned. Philbrick was about to go on, but the doctor’s gesture struck him as more than a. passing greeting, and he stood still, watching, and, as the doctor could plainly see, wondering. i Presently Philbrick laid down his bundle, put both hands on his breast, nodded vigorously and waved one hand from ‘himself toward the house. He was trying to say “You want me to come there?’ The doctor nodded. Philbrick threw up both ‘hands, shook his head in comical despair, and. made other gestures to signify that such a proceeding would be out of the ques- tic_. Again the doctor beckoned, this time with emphatic energy. Philbrick seemed greatly puzzled. The doctor took out a pencil and note book and went through the motions of writing. Philbrick understood. He reflected a moment then pointed toward the setting sun, lowered his hands and nodded. The doctor interpreted this to mean that Philbrick would come after dark. Accordingly he drew in his head and Philbrick disappeared among the trees. “He must understand,” thouglit the edoctor, “that I, would not ask him to. «come unless it was very important. So I suppose he'll turn up with his usual gang froid some time early in the even- 4ng. ti was dusk before Amelia finally went to sleep. The doctor had just “begun to tell his mother something of ‘the Situation’ with a view to getting ther advice upon it, when there was 2 timid knock at the door. Mrs. Will- ams opened it and saw Louise. “Oh, Mrs. Williams,” began Louise at once in an agitated voice, “we are 4m such trouble! May I see the doc- tor?” 4 The doctor heard the words and ‘hastened to the door. “Will you come in?’ he asked, “or shall I come out? I don’t want to dis- turb Miss Willis if it gan lie aypided.” “Come out, please. Pm afraid"Fshall -ery if I go in.” Dz. stepped into the hall. Professor’ Williams and his mother both | S Secret. “What is it, my dear?’ asked Mrs. Williams. : “We can’t find papa,” she answered, and at the words the doctor’s blood chilled, remembering the professor's wild declaration that he was going to follow Starkweather. “Mrs. Appleton went to call him for dinner. The ‘shop’ door was not lock- ed and she opened it. He was not there. She went to his room and to the stable. He has not left the house, I am sure, for I have been at my win- dow watching the road for hours, and I should have seen him. The women are dreadfully alarmed and don’t dare to look anywhere else. I’m as fright- ened as they are.” “I will search for your father, Miss Drummond,” said the doctor quietly. “Meantime, will you sit with my mother?” He opened the door. Mrs. Williams put her arm around the unhappy girl and led her within. The doctor waited until his mother had taken a chair and Louise had knelt by her side and laid her head upon the elder woman’s lap, silently sobbing. Then he started upon a systematic tour of the house. There were several rooms in Fafr- view that were not only not used by the Drummond household, but that were not even furnished. them were on the top floor ,and the doctor decided to start there and work down. He really questioned the pro- fessor’s sanity, and was quite pre- pared to find his dead body in any room he entered, but if the professor were insane there was also more than a‘chance that he still lived and was even then prowling about the house, madly and cunningly intent upon dia- bolical mischief. With this thought in mind the doctor went below to find the serving women before beginning his search in earnest. Mrs. Appleton and Betsey were in the dining room. The table was laid for dinner and the women sat side by side at a little distance from it, be- tween it and the windows, with their faces toward the hall door. “Miss Drummond tells me you can- not find the professor,’ remarked the doctor kindly . Mrs. Appleton stared at him in evi- Explored the Gloomy, Low Places dent terror. Betsey stirred uneasily and answered after some hesitation: “Yes, sir, we can’t find him, and we don’t dare to look for him very close for fear of him.” As she spoke she glanced from the hall to the basement door apprehen- sively. The doctor then perceived the significance of their position. They were in fear that the professor would come upon them unexpectedly and they sat where they could watch both en- trances to the room. “Tell me where you saw him last and when,” said the doctor. He addressed his question to Mrs. Appleton, but she seemed to be par- alyzed with fear. Again it was Bet- sey who replied: “Here with you. We went up stairs to our room, intending to get our things and leave the house. He abused us and struck Martha and declared he would kill us both. That was in the kitchen before you came down.” “I understand, then, that you have not seen him since. Have you heard him moving about?’ “We heard a slight noise as we were coming down stairs that we supposed was him moving some of his ma- chinery in the shop. That was all.” “What made you decide to stay, Mrs. Hubbard?” Betsey looked even more worried, end Mrs. Appleton reached out a hand and caught her arm. “There was dinner to get,” said Mrs. Appleton harshly, “and we thought it wouldn’t be right to go while there was a sick person in the house. The doctor unhesitatingly discredited this statement, but it seemed not to be | the time to question it. “Very well,” he said, “I am going to hunt for the professor. I want you to remain just where you are until I come in again and tell you that I am through. Do you understand me? I don’t want you to stir from your chairs.” ‘The women looked at him without re- plying. Afraid that he might spoil his plan by adding to their alarm, he con- tinued> “I don’t think you are in danger from him, but if you aré the least danger, I assure you, will lie in your staying where you are now.” “We don’t care to stir,” responded Betsey. So the doctor left them and went to the top story. His purpose in having the two women remain where they were was to prevent the professor from eluding him. If ‘his madness had taken on an acute turn it might be en- tirely possible for him to creep throvgh the corridors of the building in ad- vance of the doctor and escape obser- vation indefinitely, for there were two stairways from the main floor to the second story, but only one between the second and top, and one from the main to the basement. If, therefore, the pro- ; fessor should attempt to play hide-<and- seck with his pursuer by going up one flight of stairs while the doctor -was geing down another, his presence Most of | would be revealed to the watchers in the din: room, and the doctor was satisfied it Betsey at least would an- mounce the professor’s appearance by a scream. On the top story the doctor gave at- tention first to the ledge door. It was locked and bolted on the inside. The windows opening upon that level were all fastened. “I must ask the women,” he reflect- ed, “when I get down, whether either of them locked the door.” He went into every room on this floor and opened every closet. He even climbed through a scuttle and explored the gloomy, low space between ceiling and roof, and at last went out upon the very housetop. When he started to the second story ‘he was perfectly satisfied that the professor was not above, and that if he had been in the top story when the search began, he had now been driven down With equal method and thoroughness he explored the second story. Room after room he entered and searched The Poor Swung Open. WitLsaé mnéing a trace. He did not look inte the sick room, but he listened in passing and heard the low tones of his mother’s voice as she comforted Louise. Presently he came to the small chamber at the head of the main stairs. It was the first door he had tried that did not open. The doctor was gravely affected by this fact. After @ momentary hesitation he call- ed down the stairs: “Mrs. Hubbard, step into the hall, please.” “Betsey obeyed slowly. “Move a little way toward the other side,” said the doctor; “‘that’s right. Now, can you see this door?’ “Yes, sir,” she answered. “Will you remain there and keep your eyes on it till I come down.” “T’ll try to,” said Betsey nervously. The doctor continued his search, hur- rying, but neglecting nothing in thor- oughness. He descended to the main floor by the back stairs, and in the course of his search came to the “shop.” The door was open, and in the gathering gloom all within it look- ed exactly as it did when he and Phil- brick had made their perfunctory ex- amination. Mechanically he closed the door, but before he had gone two steps away ‘he returned to open it again. He found that he could not do so. The combination lock had worked and he knew there was no getting into the shop now without the professor's knowledge of the combination unless the door should be battered down or the lock be blown to pieces. Regretting his thoughtlessness he passed on, saw that Betsey was keep- ing her watch faithfully and that Mrs, Appleton remained in the dining room, and went to the basement. The same thoroughness was applied there, with the same result—nothing. Dr. Williams returned to the main floor. “I haven’t seen or heard a thing,” said Betsey. “Very well,” responded the doctor, “go to Miss Willis’ room and prepare the table for supper. Mrs. Appleton will you help take some food up stairs?” The women, apparently reassured by his tranquil manner, set about obeying. “By the way,” said the doctor, un- concernedly, “did either of you lock the ledge door?” “I did,” replied Mrs. Appletop. “I locked it and saw that all the wildows were fastened when we went up stairs.” The doctor nodded. That settled a good deal. The professor had not left the house via the ledge, for the exits were all fastened upon the inside; he had not gone by the road, for Louise would have seen him. Taere was only one other way—the Miniski. The pro- fessor might have jumped from the piazza or from some window, but the doctor. thought that very unlikely. The one conclusion, therefore, was that Prof. Drummond was still in Fairview, and that he was even now in the little chamber from which Starkweather had been said to disappear. While the women were conveying dishes and food to Amelia’s room the doctor kept his eyes upon the door of the little chamber. He had Betsey, bring him writing materials, and sit- ting in the hall where he could see the door, he wrote to Squire Taylor a brief but urgent note, asking that the con- stable be sent with all authority to search the house and make arrests. / When this was done he called the sery- ing women to him. ‘ “I presume,” he said, “that you will ‘be willing to take a message for me to village?” Betsey glanced at the outer door as if the growing darkness frightened her. Mrs. Appleton looked calmly at the floor. “There is no need of your staying here,“ exclaimed the doctor, with some impatience, “and if you hope for a peaceful moment the rest of your lives you'd better go. Nothing ean harm you on the way.” “I'd like to go, Martha,” said Betsey. “I hate to stay here.” Mrs. Appleton muttered an assent, and the doctor gave the note to Betsey. “Deliver it,” he said, “and tell Mr. Taylor as much or as little as you please. You may go to the hotel if you like, and tell Mr. Hawkins I sent you to stay there to-night.” Yney went up to their room for hats and wraps, and the doctor waked for them in the hall. When they left the house he bolted the door after them. Then he went again to the chamber door. After pressing upon it with all his might he saw that it would not yield, except at the expenditure of great violence. This he wansed to avoid, if possible, for Amelia’s sake. It was his plan, if the constable came, to have the house guarded through the night; then, if it seemed safe, he would have Amelia removed, and all Fairview could be torn down or blown up if the Rafsing the lantern the. doctor saw | The top of this room, according to the that the bed had much the same ap- | professor’s statement, more than cov- law officers so desired. He stepped to the door of the sick room, but he did not enter, and even while he spoke to his mother he kept his face turned toward the door of the little chamber, a few feet distant. “TI shall stay down stairs for a while,” he said, quietly. “Call to me if any- thing is wanted.” “Is there any word for Louise?” asked Mrs. Williams. “Nothing definite. We shall know all to-morrow, I think.” He went down to the broaii hall again, and, drawing a chair under the lamp, he set himself to reading, with his face to the chamber door, de- termined that it should not be opened without his seeing it. A long time, nearly two hours, passed. Mrs. Williams came to the head of the stairs to inquire if he were coming up. “I’ve made up a bed for Louise in Amelia’s room,” she said. “Very well,” responded the doctor, “I shall stay here until somebody comes.” He wondered why somebody didn't come. There was not only his note to ’Squire Taylor, but his signaled ar- rangement with Philbrick. It seemed strange that Philbrick should not put in an appearance. At least another hour passed. The doctor was not nervous, exactly, for nothing untoward could happen, he reasoned, but he wished heartily that the suspense might end. Suddenly he closed his book and sat upright. The handle of the little chamber door was turning. He heard the slipping of a bolt, and, as with a violent® wrench or shove, the door swung outward. CHAPTER XVI. ‘ The Professor’s Secret. To the doctor’s infinite amazement, Mr. Philbrick appeared in the door- way of the little chamber. He glanced down, raised his hand, as if to warn the doctor not to cry out, turned about, and, with his face toward the cham- ber, carefully closed. the door. ‘Then he nodded, as if sitisfied of something, and slowly descended the stairs. His clothes were wringing wet, one of his hands was bleeding, and there were scratches and beu'ses on his cheek. “Ig there a fire anywhere in the house, docwi?’ he asked, with a shiv- er. “The Miniski is confoundedly cold to-night.” He spoke in a wvhisper, and the doc- tor answered in the same way: “Core to the kitchen.” Profoundly mystified and awed with a sense that the shadows were about to be cleared from Fairview, the doc- tor led the way to the kitchen, where Philbrick promptly made for the stove. “You must have dry clotbing,” said the doctor, impatient thevgh he was to ask questions. “1 brought an old suit with me when last I came from my own hcouse—” “Don’t get them, doctor,” interrupted- Philbrick; “but if you’ve a mind to go outside and get a bundle of my own clothes, under the piazza, near the steps. I knew I should need them, and so came prepared.” He chuckled, in his familiar, self- satisfied way, as he observed the doc- tor’s surprise. “My bath wasn’t involuntary this time, nor the other, either,” he added. Dr. Williams went out of doors, found Philbrick’s bundle of clothing, and took it in. Philbrick was half-dis- robed when he returned, and his light- ness of manner seemed to disappear with his dripping garments. The doc- tor found towels for him in the kitchen press, and stood aside until he wae te- habilated. As men sometimes con- fess themselves too full for utterance, so the doctor was too greatly curious to ask questions. He waited for Phil- brick; to offer an explanation. “Well, doctor,” said the latter, at last, “I understand your gestures to mean that you wanted me to call. Here Iam. What can I do for you?” “You have appsievtly done what I wanted,” responded the doctor. “I wanted thet chamber opened. I could not force the door without a noise that would alarm Miss Willis. I wanted to get word to the authorities, so that a search warrant might issue, and I sent the women, Mrs. Hubbard and Mrs. Appleton, to the village with a note to Justice Taylor, ebout the mat- ter. I’ve been expectirg an answer for a long cisLe.” “Your note wasn’t delivered,” said Philbrick, quietly. “I have it in my wet clothes somewhere.” “You inte-cepted the worren, then?” exclaimed the doctor, in great dis- pleasure. “] did; and, of course, I’m prepared to otfer every apology #1 d explanation. I will say, right at the start, that I don’t think you would ever have found what became of the professor if you had forced that door. It was in my belief that I knew his secret that I ventured to upset your plans.” “You arrogate a good deal of re- sponsibility,” said the doctor, “but if you have any light to shed upon this matter, and your own connection with it, I shall not be disposed to quarrel. You are as much past my understand- ing as the prof:ssor himself. How did you enter the house? Did you find Prof. Drummond?” The doctor’s curiosity was gaining expression, and Philbrick smiled slightly as he recognized that fact. “No, to your last question,” he re- sponded; “I am a disappointed man. The professor has followed Stark- weather.” \ “Indeed! Well, suppose we go up to the chamber, and I’l] show you how he did it. The professer, as we are in the habit of calling him, was a wonderful mechanic, you know.” “There’s plenty of evidence of that about the house.” “Yes; and one of his masterpieces, though not to my mind his crowning work, was this contrivance for disap- pearing. I don’t think you will care to explain it to Miss Drummond, so let’s go quietly, and not attract atten- tion.” They were passing through the din- ing foom as be spoke. On tip-toe they went up stairs and entered the little chamber. “There isn’t light enough here,” whispered Philbrick. “Bring a lamp, or, better, a lantern, and some rope.” The doctor speedily found the desired articles and returned to the chamber with them. Philbrick was sitting in a chair near the door. “I think it’s safe enough,” he said, “pnt 1 wouldn’t go to the bed just yet, doctoz," f 3 pearance that it had when he visited the room on the of Stark- ers the floor space of the chamber and one other room, but it struck me that weather’s disappearance. The pillow | the wall of the chamber on the side was indented as by a man’s head, and the coverlet was slightly disarranged. There was one detail in the room, how- ever, that had not been there before. It consisted of a cord running from the head of the bed up the wall across the ceiling over little pulley wheels, to the key in the door. A glass with the dregs of some liquid in it was on the stand. “Now, doctor,” whispered Philbrick, “i'm going to lock you, in here for a moment. You keep thie lantern and stand by this chair. Keep your eyes on the bed.” He withdrew the key from the lock and opened the door. Dr. Williams felt as if he were about to be initiated into some secret order by means of a trying ceremony. He would not have admitted that he felt trepidation, but he was conscious of a sense of pro- found apprehension. “You don’t mind, I hope?” suggested Philbrick, pausing. “No; hurry!” Philbrick stepped into the hall and closed the door. A moment later the doctor heard the key grating in the lock. His eyes were upon the bed, and his blood ran cold as he saw the edge nearest the wall sink, sink, until the entire body of the bed ‘hung straight down from the frame, and in the dim light of the lantern he saw a hole ex- tending down through the floor. Up from its depths came the gurgling and hissing of the Miniski. The doctor stood perfectly — still. Again he beard the grating of the key, and with the same steadiness of motion the bed assumed its former position. Then Philbrick opened the door and came in, a somber smile on his face. “Do you see now, doctor?” he whis- pered. “Partly,” responded the doctor. “Let us look more closely.” Philbrick turned the key from the in- side this time and again the bedside descended. Both men drew near the edge of the hole and looked down. Philbrick attached the rope the doctor had brought him to the lantern and lowered it. Part way down it hit an obstruction. “That's one of the spikes,” remarked Philbrick. “Look close and you can see that the walls of that narrow well are lined with spikes. They are of the same kind that are used on the profes- sor’s wonderful loom for making wire where the bed stands would lie outside the wall of the shop. It does so. This partition,” pointing to the one against which the work bench stood, “in fact, is in line with the front, not thgyback of the bed. It was put up to e the well. With these points in my mind I experimented with surveyor’s instru- ments, «eying to verify the pian of the house as I believed it to exist I couldn’t be certain, so I had to give up pure science and try the experiment of entering from the river. I succeeded % because the professor had left the bed down when he departed. If you ana- lyze the liquid in the glass above there you'll doubtless find it to be poison, or at least a powerful soporific. Having drank a dose, the professor lay down, locked the door by pulling the cord at- tached to the key, the trap bed dropped and he followed Starkweather. You ean hardly imagine how I’ve worked over this problem. I fished from the piazza in order to study the currents of the Miniski; I threw bits of bark into the stream from the ledge for the same purpose; I accidentally tumbled into the river also for that purpose and for the sake of getting a friendly foot- ing in the house. Once here I could see no better way of retaining a fa- miliar acquaintance than by making love to Miss Louise. I was awfully sorry for you—” “Don’t speak of it,’ interrupted the doctor, coldly. “I’d rather not feel called upon to express an opinion of your conduct.” “Disgraceful without a doubt; but I had a big purpose, and you'll excuse me for finishing, I’m. sure. I thought at the start that the daughter might be cognizant of her father’s character and the nature of his business. I a mnow 4 convinced that she is entirely inno- cent.” “Do you mean that you suspected Miss Drummond of complicity in the murder?’ asked the doctor, indig- nantly. “Oh, no! no! no! I meant the other secret. Let’s move this alleged loom. I a we shall find the secret back of ts? The doctor complied as if he were acting ina dream. They tugged at the machine, but it failed to budge. “Funny,” muttered Philbrick, “there was a mark on the floor that day we . were here that showed the loom hail », nets. They account for the mutilation on Starkweather’s body ,and they will account for the mutilations on the pro- fessor when he is found. They also account for the scratches on my hand and face, for although I couldn’t have climbed up the well without them; 1 couldn’t dodge them all in the dark- ness.” “Then you swam across the river and under the house?” “Pretty nearly. I really entered the river from this side, but 1 got under the house and then ascended to this room. It was the only way of verify- ing my theory, for if the door had been unlocked the hole would have closed and no one would have thought of lockt=g £-¢ door from the inside to see the machine work.” “But what if the door had been forced?” “It might not have worked then, but in all probability your clever constable would Lave taken pinchers and turned the key from without. That would have released the mechanism, the bed would have swung into place by the time the deor was opened, and nobody would have been the wiser. Besides, I wanted to settle the thing in my owr way.” : “I can quite understand tnat,” said the doctor, “but this isn’t the end of your work, I’m sure.” “Far from it. There remains for your satisfaction an explanation of the rea- son why the professor killed Stark- weather. I take it you know hew it was done?” “I am not sure of the details. I say- posed it was by electric shock, but where and how Starkweather ignorant- ly made the connection, I don’t know.” “It’s immaterial, but we can infer it easily. It was enough for me when I, saw the symptoms of electricity on Starkweather’s body that the profes- sor had killed him. I knew why it was done, and I didn’t care hoy. Let’s go down stairs.” In the corridor where Starkweather fell dead Philbrick said: “Betsey says Starkweather went in here; the professor said so, too, though that doesn’t count. Betsey told me this evening that she had seen the pro- fessor working over this floor at night. You may have the floor ripped up if you like; I don’t care for the detail, but I can guess that you will find noth- ing directly beneath this’ spot. You will, however, be able-to trace where electric wires used to run from the dining table to this point, one connect- ing with the handle of the shop door, the other with the board on which a man stands when he opens the door. You will not find the pole of a battery in the floor now, or in the shop, for it is a thousand to one that the professor destroyed it after it had served his pur- pose, for there is no doubt whatever that the murder of Starkweather was planned months before it took place. ‘That was why the house was so re- constructed as to permit of the making of that extraordinary well. The main trouble with the professor's scheme was Betsey’s unexpected view of the deag man. That brought about a chain of circumstances with which you are familiar, and in which the professor bouné himself more inextricably every time he tried to turn. It drove the man mad.” “But why did he kill Starkweather?” asked the doctor. “Let us go into the shop and find knows the eombination.” “TI anticipated that.” Philbrick’s pockets bulged with yari- ous articles. He now produced from them a bit, stock and augur and a slen- der saw. Energeticallyheset to work, the doctor interposing no objection, and in less than half an hour he had. eut the lock out of the door. It opened readily, ! jicted as she was. and both entered the shop, whieh was. apparently as it was upon the day of their visit. “The disposition of Starkweather,” said Philbrick, “was as much of a mys- tery to me as to you untii the professor | voted cyclist, wasn’t he?” took us here. I had already fixed the plan of the house pretty thoroughly in | that he was to be-cremated and used my mind, and when here I vecame con- | to help out on our new cinder path.”— vinced that the shop was too narrow, | Louisville Courier-Journal, been moved. Suppose you close the door, doctor.” Dr. Williams shut the door, and be- fore he had returned to the loom Phil- brick had drawn it easily from the wall. As it came out a door opened be- hind it. The passage it revealed was dark. Philbrick took the lantern eagerly and entered. “Come on, Doc!” he called excitedly, “here we are!” The doctor followed. They stood in a small chamber cut out of the ledge against which the house stood. A small work bench and a printing press were the chief furnishings. On the bench was a quantity of paper cut to the size of bank notes. Beside them were two copper plates and some en- graver’s tools. Philbrick took up one of the plates. “One hundred dollars, Bank of America,” he muttered. “That's right. Prof. Drummond, you see, was a coun- terfeiter. Starkweather was his en- graver. When Starkeather’s work was done the professor had no further use for him.” + “And you are a detective,” said the doctor. “I am in the United States secret service,” responded Philbrick. “We suspected Drummond long ago, and I am only one of several men who have been engaged in watching him. My wife is a detective, also. She had been investigating the operations of the pro- fessor during his absence after the murder. His journey was undertaken for the purpose of floating a great quantity of his counterfeit bills. Un- fortunately, I didn’t keep Mrs. Phil- brick posted as to the exact game I was playirg here, and she was badly upset at first when she caught me flirting with Miss weuise. She’s for- given me now; but she couldn’t stand the thought of my retaining friendly relations with Fairview. So I had to work from outside. I 2m greatly dis- appointed. I wanted to take the man alive, but I had no evidence whatever on which to base a search of the house. Of cours2. I could have foreed a search on information and belief; but I dared not risk that. The old fox would have eluded me. Fer the same reason I didn’t want him indicted for murder. It would have spoiled ‘4 game. So I took Charles Starkwea er into my confidence. He saw that I were allowed to go akead in my own way the inquest might come to noth ing, but the professcr would be ex- posed in the end. I don’t see his ma- chinery for making paper like the gov- ernment paper, but I am convinced that he has a paper mill somewhere. He was a great n.echanic! and yet there is nothing an cng the murderous , and criminal contrive nees cf this house that is really novel. His system of traps and weights and delicate ma- chinery may be duplicated on the stage of any city theater.” Philbrick never found the professor's paper mill, but the professor's body was found next day in the flume whe! workmen had found Starkweather.) Mrs. Appleton claimed that it was that of her husband. She proved a secret « marriage with the professor, a fact of which her sister, Betsey Hubbard, was cognizant. Mrs. Appleton was | not wholly in th2 professor’s secret, | but she was in his power, and Betsey knew just little encugh of the man’s | eriminal operations to be in terror of — hi. j Amelia wxs removed to the dettor’s home, where she recevered fully, an® they are making speedy preparatio for their wedding. Loise nas gone te, live with relatives of her mother’s, and if some @ay true love is agaty offered to her, it is not psobable that | she will again play fast and loose | with it, to the end of missing the one consolation that can come to one a& (The End. A Real Philanthropist. “Poor Dick is gone! He was a a> “Yes, indeed! He left a will stating t | eb 4