Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PASSING OF with every ray of sunshine from noon till eve beating on it—while the moonlight must now be glistening from its weather-worn facets—within was nothing but the tenebral darkness of a tomb. ‘We cannot afford more time at pres- ent,” said Winter grudgingly, after he had almost convinced himself of the sheer im- possibility of the existence of any exit other than by way of the trapdoor. “ I'll return later, with a better light. Meanwhile, we'll seal the door beneath.” “You know best,” admitted his compan- ion, who was now evidently trying to atone for his earlier brusqueness of attitude and word. ‘“ But I can’t see what chance you have of getting much forrader here. Youll appreciate the fact better by daylight. Three sides of the turret overlook the court- yard, eighty feet beneath. The other three are twenty feet above sloping roofs—” “Let us get out of this, quick!” cried Winter, and he thrust the lower part of his body through the square opening. “Mind how you go! Put your right foot on that shelf!” But the burly superintendent disdained such aid. He dropped to the floor nimbly as acat. Glen, not to be outdone, followed in like manner. He grinned amiably at his companions, for his white shirt and light colored undergarments were daubed with brown. He began dusting himself with his hands. ‘“ Never mind that now!” said Winter. “ Ts this the window which faces due south? Ah, it’s unlatched! Now lend me your torch, and switch off those lights! Come here, both of you, and watch. I’m going to sig- nal in the direction of the town. Whatever you do, don’t disturb that torch on the table!” The others obeyed in silence. When the room was lighted only by the somewhat ghostly beam from the bandoned torch Win- ter opened the window which he had found unfastened, leaned well forward into the cir- cular cavity, and flashed the policeman’s lamp three times. The moon, now risen, though not at the full, was strong enough to reveal the roofs and spires of Sleaford, lying snugly beneath the hump of rocks crowned by the castle. Few lights were CHARLES LANSON. 839 visible, as the town lamps had been extin- guished at half past eleven, so any answer- ing gleam could be discerned without fail. But Sleaford remained utterly unresponsive. Indeed, the only person in the place that night who noted the well-marked flashes was Police Constable Jackson, very much on the alert among the broken arches of White Friars. Winter hardly looked for any reply. He was merely leaving nothing to chance. He had decided already that Alice Romer had had gone to the turret at eleven o’clock to signal to Denasch, and that the latter could not have received the message, whatever it signified, because he and Glen were arrested the moment they entered the wicket gate. “ That’s what I wanted to know,” he an- nounced, closing the window again. “ Shove on your clothes, Mr. Glen. By the way, what time would it be when the police- man grabbed you and _ your friend, Denasch?” “It struck eleven as we were walking to the police station. But—about Denasch— I met him for the first time this evening.” “Ah! That’s interesting. He intro- duced himself, I suppose?” “Yes. Said he was a pal of Sevasto- polo’s, and was here to see my uncle on business. Of course, you know Mr. Lan- son isn’t really my uncle?” “T understand. It was Denasch brought you to the ruins?” “Exactly. He struck me as a well in- formed chap. His views on art are ultra- modern, but pretty sound for an amateur. And, in a country hotel, there are so few people one can talk to. I even gave you the once-over early in the evening.” “You flatter me. But I avoided you. Well, all that will be cleared up later. Now, not a word to Denasch, or anybody, about what we have said - We who which is true as far as the tera facts go. Are you ready? We must hurry.” While speaking, Winter had examined the latches of all the remaining windows; but they were properly adjusted. He fas- tened the south window, and on reaching the corridor locked the door, putting the key in his pocket. Mr. Pinkney was just oO comicbooks C@©