The Mystery of the Hidden Room

me. Then with a finger on her lip, she led the way in silence to the drawing-room, se

d more alarmed by all this secrecy c

n beside her on the divan and touche

urmured, brokenly. "Oh, my dear, I won

sery in my voice she slipped to her k

times I feel I must go mad, alone night after night in this great si

me, but she pushed me from her an

ng up her hand. "I thought I h

lighted hall was empty save for the wavering shadows that lost themselves in the gloom of the stairwell. The utter si

divan. As I approached she questioned me with her eyes. With a sha

nterval, "but you don't know what I have had to put up with. No, Carlton, p

pacing the long room, "but I can't bear to h

ou that way again. It was for anot

how thin she was and how the lines of suffering had gathered on her white brow and around her sweet, drooping mouth. Verily I cursed the

"No, no, Carlton, not that!" and when I flushed she added

til it was the merest thread, at the same time looking around

pon me. Ugh, he makes me shiver with his prominent, near-sighted eyes, his eternal humility and mock grin. H

ght your father li

n and he has been visiting friends out of town. I expect him home to-

in her lap and strove

bling hands in both my own, "why did you sen

hands and reclasped them in her lap. "It was f

ke?" I ask

" turning suddenly toward me, "forgive me, but I did a very foolish thing last night. I was so lonely and dispirited and nervous with hearing

rling!" I

hrew it in my waste basket. I would have done better to have kept it, for to-night about ten-thirty, when I w

obe

. So I followed him to the study and there on the table the first thing I laid my eyes on

was beyond me. I could only stare at her and sp

bitterly, "in hopes of finding just what he did find this morning. An unfaithful husband is a

u and breaking you, then I decided it was time to act. He told me he was going out, so I sent my maid with the note and instructions to my chauffeur. I had to warn you, to

mpatiently. "It would only make it h

ourself for a few minutes. Why don't you get a divorce or

out on Dick. Don't you s

preciate the justice of her remark. I slightly cursed Philip Darwin f

ou could get that let

Carl

aside." Seeing that this had no effect upon her, I added-would that I had cut my tong

n the drawer of the table in his study. Sta

the lower floor of the main wing and lay to the right of the entrance hall, while the study was its exact counterpart on

eavor to catch the slightest sound, but was only rewarded by the most profound stillness, through which there presently echoed and re-echoed the voice of the old clock in the hall proclaiming the midnight hour.

he study door, my one thought for Ruth. But on the threshol

with a sardonic grin on his face and an ever-widening stain upon his shirt front, was Phi