The Argosy — page 306: what you’re looking at

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

288 A Great Mystery. she urged. ‘“ But the probability is, they come out that way,” he an- swered. “At any rate, they fling the doors open, and I shall be there to drop upon them.” Janet Carey grew very ill as the day went on. Lettice offered to sit up with her, in case she wanted anything in the night. Janet had just the appearance. of somebody worn out. We went to bed at the usual time, quite unconscious that Mr. Stone had taken up his night watch in the summerhouse at the end of the garden. The nights were very bright just then ; the moon only a few days past the full Nothing came of it: neither the room nor the win. dow was disturbed. “They scented my watch,” remarked the officer next morning to Miss Deveen. ‘“ However, ma’am, I don’t think it likely you will be troubled again. Seeing you’ve put it into our hands, they’ll not dare to risk further annoyance.” ‘‘T suppose not—if they know it,” dubiously spoke Miss Deveen. He shook his head. ‘They know as much as that, ma’am. Depend upon it, their little game is over.” Mr. Stone was mistaken. On the following morning, the breakfast- room was found by Lettice in exactly the same state of confused turmoil. The furniture dragged about, the ornaments moved from the mantel- piece, the bills and papers, as before. Miss Deveen was very silent over it, and said in the hearing of the servants that she should have to carry the grievance to Scotland Yard. And I’m sure I thought she set out to doit. The carriage came to the door in the course of the morning. Miss Deveen, who was ready dressed, passed over the others, and asked me to go with her. “Do you know what I am going to do, Johnny ?” she questioned, as George took his place on the box and the fat old coachman gave the word to his horses. “TI think I do, Miss Deveen. We are going to Scotland Yard.” “Not a bit of it, Johnny,” she said. ‘ My opinion has come round to Mr. Policeman Stone’s—that we must look indoors for the disturber. I have brought you out with me to talk of it. It 1s a great mystery— for I thought I could have trusted the servants and all the rest of you with my life.” It was a mystery—and no mistake.” ‘A great mystery,” repeated Miss Deveen: “and I want you to help me to unravel it, Johnny. I intend to sit up to-night in the breakfast parlour. But, not being assured of my nerves while watching, all soli- tary, for thieves, or ghosts, or what not, I wish you to sit up with me.” “ Oh, I shall like it, Miss Deveen.” ‘TI have heard of houses being disturbed before in a similar manner,” she continued. ‘There was a story in the old days of the Cock; Lane ghost : I think that was something of the same kind, but my memory COMIC OOOKS: (CO) in —_)