The Mansion of Mystery | Page 6

down."
"You must not promise too much on my account, young man. I am no
wizard, and I cannot perform the impossible, much as I might wish to
do so."
"But you will come?"

"Yes, I will come."
"At once?" cried Raymond Case impatiently.
"At once."

CHAPTER III
MARGARET LANGMORE
As Raymond Case had said, the Langmore mansion was a large one,
setting in the midst of an extensive lawn, sprinkled here and there with
maples and oaks and fine flowering bushes. The hedge in front was
well kept and the side fences were also in good repair. In the rear was a
stable and also an automobile shed, for the late master of this estate had
been fond of a dash in his runabout when time permitted. Down by the
brook, back of the stable, was a tiny wharf, where a boat was tied up, a
craft which Margaret Langmore had occasionally taken down to the
river for a row.
The mansion now looked dark and lonesome, although many folks
passed on the highway and whispered to each other that there was the
spot where the gruesome tragedy had been committed. "And to think
that the man's own daughter did it," they would generally add. "Beats
all how bloodthirsty some folks can get. He must have cut her short on
money or something and she was too high-strung to stand it."
"No, it ain't that," another would answer. "She's been flirting around
with a certain young man, a Wall Street gambler, and her mother
wouldn't have it and told her so. That's the real trouble, my way of
thinking."
Inside of the house all was as quiet as a tomb save for the ticking of the
long clock in the lower hall. Below, a single policeman was on guard,
in company with a woman, who had been sent in to help: Upstairs
another woman was stationed, to see that Margaret Langmore might

not take it upon herself to leave for parts unknown.
Margaret sat in her own room, in the wing on the second floor, a dainty
apartment, trimmed in blue and containing all her girlish treasures. On
the walls were numerous photographs of her old schoolmates and the
flag of the seminary she had attended. And on the mantel rested the
picture of Raymond Case, the high polish of the surface marred in one
spot where a tear had fallen upon it.
The girl was tall and slender, with a wealth of light-brown hair and
eyes of deepest blue. It was more than a pretty face, for it had a certain
sadness that was touching.
For several minutes the girl had not moved. Now, as the door opened
and the woman who was on guard upstairs came in, she gave a long
sigh.
"Can I do anything?" asked the woman, in a voice that was not
unkindly.
"Nothing, thank you, Mrs. Morse."
"Would you like a cup of tea, or a bit of toast? Mrs. Jessup can make it
easy enough--she has nothing at all to do."
"I do not care to touch a thing."
The answer came in a dreary monotone. The girl's trials were beginning
to tell upon her. At first she had tried to bear up bravely, and the words
Raymond had spoken had comforted her, but now he was gone and the
whole world looked dark once more.
"Has anybody called?" she asked at length.
"Nobody to see you."
"Nobody?" Margaret began to pace the floor. "When did the coroner
say the examination was to be continued?" she went on.

"To-morrow morning at eleven o'clock."
"And who is to be put on the stand?"
At this question the woman in charge began to fidget. "Excuse me, miss,
but I was ordered not to answer questions. I'm sorry, and I wish you
wouldn't worry so much. If I can do anything else--"
"You can do nothing."
At that moment came the sounds of carriage wheels and a cab from the
depot drew up to the door. Margaret looked through the slats of a blind
and saw that the arrivals were Raymond Case and a stranger, a man
wearing a rather ordinary suit of clothing and a rough slouch hat.
"Thank Heaven, Raymond has brought somebody!" murmured the girl.
There was a short consultation at the front door and she heard the
young man say: "He has a perfect right here and I demand admittance
for us both." Then another murmur followed and the pair came upstairs.
They knocked on the door of Margaret's room and were admitted, and
Mrs. Morse was told that she might go.
"This gentleman has come to give Miss Langmore some advice," said
Raymond Case. "If we want you we will call."
"But I have orders--"
"Miss Langmore will remain in this room,