which was a landmark for miles around, and which, in its day, had been a handsome house and estate. Now it

along the dusty highway. "Hard to tell. Yet, if he's hanging out in this

an be, anyhow? And

, though he stays in a place where ther

to the Preakness house, and about a mile away from it. "We'll soon b

d in his pocket, and, a moment l

ter?" asked Mar

essor wrote out a message urging the factory to hurry the shipment. He gave it to me to send, just before the accident to the motor, but when that happened it knocked it out of my mind, I guess. I stu

cross lots, and be there in fifteen or twenty minutes. Tell 'em to rush the message, and it may be in time yet. Anyhow, we're going to

he did not fancy a half-hour's tramp across the fields and ba

o alone, as it's my fault, and you can stay here, and watch to see if that str

e Preakness house?" asked Mark. "I can meet you the

he old slate quarry, and save some time that way. I'll meet you right near the old b

e out for all day, and there isn't anything that needs to be

"I want to see if we can't solve the myst

direction of the old Preakness house. He was thinking of many things, chiefly of the wonderful jo

, and, as is well known, the most powerful instruments can now bring the moon to within an apparent distance of one hundred m

uish any such objects as forests, cities, or any evidences of life o

his watch, and found that he would still have some time to linger before he could expect Jack to return. He sat down on a stone beside the fence, and looked about him. Th

se, we won't. I guess all we'll have to eat will be what Washington takes along

vity, he arose and strolled about. Something seemed to draw him in the dire

time before Jack returns, and I may be able to catch a glimpse of our man. I think I'll go up where I can see th

ough the results of his simple action were destined to be more far-reaching than he imagined. He thought he would be back in time to meet Jack, and so he s

formed a fine gateway. The posts were in ruins, now, and half fallen down, being cover

f the house over the tops of the trees, which had not yet shed all their leaves. "Guess I'll go o

highway until he got directly in front of the old mansion. There, he

his intention to pass himself off, if possible, as a casual passer-by, so that in case the mysterious man should be in

ussing with his shoe, Mark was

ess he has some strong motive for lingering in this section. And that's probably what this fellow has, and I'd like to dis

and Mark stared with all his might as he saw a man emerge, a man who did not look like a tramp, for his clothes were of good material and cut, and fit him well. Nor did he wear a stubbly growth

"He isn't very tall, and he hasn't any black mustache. But of course he may have shaved that off, and I suppose in the dark, and when on

the porch, and was walking down the weed-grown path. He was looking straight at Mark, but if the strang

ed at the gap in the front wall, where onc

ed Mark, wonderin

here?" went

ery fa

ou know thi

here, very often. Do y

ng to do some question

ng, and, happening to see the old place, and having a fondness for antiques, I

at name,"

moment, and the lad wa

gazing bol

be the man we want. He doesn't live here, and he doesn'

articular?" questioned the man ta

to take a trip, shortly, with som

as polite inquiry in the man'

d what the man would say if he t

r. I am a collector of antiques, and I would very much like to have that. But I need help in getting it off. I do not intend to steal it, but if it is lef

o are the owners," replied Mark

l you help me remove the knocke

Mark did not like the idea of going into the old house with him alone. It might be safe, and, again, it might not. But the knocker wa

want you to help me pry off the knocker, as I have

. This struck Mark as rather suspicious. Suddenly he became aware of a peculiar odor in the air-a sweet, s

y cried the fellow.

t himself grasped in the strong arms of the man, and a cloth that smelled s

Then his voice died out. He felt weak and sick,

on Mark's white face. "I'll put you where you won't get away, either," an