Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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672 ing ignorant of which wds my room, he would be safe in there with the door locked. Then when you had gone to bed, he could steal out and open the safe at his leisure. That was why he came back.” “But he must have known he had to leave after our struggle later.” “Yes, but when he reached the spot where he had left his boat, he found that the waves had broken it loose and smashed it on the rocks. He knew I had a motor- boat in the boat-house, but it was too small to face such a sea in; and when he tried the bridge it was down and all communica- tion with the mainland was cut off.. ‘“‘ He was a virtual prisoner, and even if he had accomplished his purpose of opening the safe, he could not leave before the storm subsided. There were you and Shirley to be reckoned with, as well.” “Rather a tight fix.” “Yes, but one to which he was equal. It was this situation which gave him the idea of masquerading as me. He had to choose between skulking uncomfortably out- side without food or shelter; or staying com- fortably within with every opportunity to continue his efforts at the safe. It was a scheme which appealed besides to his love of trickery.” “It was abominably clever,” I admitted with reluctant admiration. ‘“‘ Stupidity has always been the least of his faults,” returned my uncle dryly. “I guessed most of this from what he let drop, for I was shut in the little room tightly bound, and had no other means of knowing. He threatened me, and tried in every way ‘to breAk down my will, but I was firm. “He gave me food at first, but kept me later under the influence of morphin, of which he seemed to have a quantity. The second night I managed to break free and | tried to scream for help; I heard you ham- mering on the door, but before you could finally open it, he had overpowered me and dragged me into the next room.” ‘‘ And when I finally got in he was hold- ing his own throat, declaring that some one had choked him,” I exclaimed. ‘ And J—like a fool—believed him.” “As I said, he is clever enough to fool . any one,” returned Uncle Gregory. ‘“ Any = ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. one, at least, who does not know his lying nature. But I knew, and refused to be cajoled. It was then that he gave me the morphin, and threatened to starve me if I did not tell. “I gathered also from what he let drop that he was posing as me; he could deceive you easily, since neither of you had seen me ‘since you were children, but I knew Peter would be back as soon as the storm subsided, and he could not fool him. “If I could hold out that long, I would be safe. The rest was like a dreadful dream to me until you came.” He closed his eyes with a sigh, and I thought he had said enough. “ Don’t talk any more. I can see now how it all was and how cleverly he got us «to aid him. There is only one thing I would very much like to know; when he blew open the safe did he get the paper he was looking for?” My great-uncle opened his eyes, and a faint gleam of amusement came into them. “He didn’t get the paper, for the good reason that it was not in the safe.” “é But,” I exclaimed, ‘‘ why did you re- fuse to give him the combination, then?” “ Because I wanted him to think it was in the safe! It kept him both amused and busy, and off the scent of the real place.” I looked at my uncle with growing re- spect. ‘“‘ Where was it then?” ‘In this room.” “In this room? Where he could find it? Surely he must have hunted here?” ‘Of course he did; he spent hours search- ing every possible spot. I expected he would, so I had previously taken the paper from the little wall safe there behind that picture, and put it where I knew it would not be found.” I gazed around in astonishment. ‘Where was that?” “T’ve read quite a good many detective stories in my day, and in the greatest of them all, ‘ The Purloined Letter,’ Poe has the letter hidden in the most exposed place in his desk.’” “You didn’t—” «= “Under these circumstances it would 10 A TAT CONUGIOO YN SCO An