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Page 38
"First to the cellar. Remember that hot-air box from the furnace, that
backs the chimney, way up?"
"I looked only at the bricks."
"We'll go and have a look at that box. It just occurred to me that
there is a cellar window within two feet of that box."
"Let us hurry. Can you find the way?"
"I can try."
"But lights?"
Fitzgerald exhibited his electric pocket lamp. "This will do."
"You Americans!"
After some mistakes they found their way to the cellar. The window was
closed, but not locked, and resting against the wall was a plank. It
leaned obliquely, as if left in a hurry. Fitzgerald took it up, and
bridged between the box and the window ledge. Breitmann gave him a leg
up, and in another moment he was examining the brick wall of the great
chimney under a circular white patch of light. A dozen rows of bricks
had been cleverly loosened. There were also evidences of chalk marks,
something on the order of a diagram; but it was rather uncertain, as it
had been redrawn four or five times. The man hadn't been sure of his
ground.
"Can you see?" asked Fitzgerald.
"Yes." Only Breitmann himself knew what wild rage lay back of that
monosyllable. He was sure now; that diagram brushed away any lingering
doubt. The lock had been trifled with, but the man who had done the
work had not been sure of his dimensions.
"Clever piece of work. Took away the mortar in his pockets; no sign of
it here. The admiral had better send for his bricklayer, for more
reasons than one. There'll be a defective flue presently. Now, what
the devil is the duffer expecting to find?" Fitzgerald coolly turned
the light full into the other's face.
"It is beyond me," with equal coolness; "unless there's a pirate's
treasure behind there." The eyes blinked a little, which was but
natural.
"Pirate's treasure, you say?" Fitzgerald laughed. "That _would_ be a
joke, eh?"
"What now?" For Breitmann thought it best to leave the initiative with
his friend.
"A little run out to the stables," recalling to mind the rumor of the
night before.
"The stables?"
"Why, surely. The fellow never got in here without some local
assistance, and I am rather certain that this comes from the stables.
Besides, no one will be expecting us." He came down agilely.
Breitmann nodded approvingly at the ease with which the other made the
descent. "It would be wiser to leave the cellar by the window," he
suggested.
"My idea, too. We'll make a step out of this board. The stars are
bright enough." Fitzgerald climbed out first, and then gave a hand to
Breitmann.
"I understood there was a burglar alarm in the house."
"Yes; but this very window, being open, probably breaks the circuit.
All cleverly planned. But I'm crazy to learn what he is looking for.
Double your coat over your white shirt."
Breitmann was already proceeding with this task. A dog-trot brought
them into the roadway, but they kept to the grass. They were within a
yard of the stable doors when a hound began bellowing. Breitmann
smothered a laugh and Fitzgerald a curse.
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