“Oh—a—Murphy,” supplied the stranger hastily. “I knew this place was for rent but didn’t know whether it had been taken or not so I thought I’d see about it. It would suit me splendidly. Would you—ah—could you consider a lodger, madam?”
“Well, really,” replied Miss Katherine very pleasantly—the man was very gentlemanly and not at all ordinary—“really, I’m afraid not, although I should very much like to accommodate you.”
“Oh, that’s alright,” Mr. Murphy assured her. “It’s a nice healthy spot and I think I’ll spend a few months here—to—er—recover my health.”
Miss Katherine looked at his fresh face and vigorous frame in some surprise, whereupon Mr. Murphy made haste to explain:
“I am feeling very much better now, but not quite right. I—ah—should be able to lift five hundred pounds. Well now, I’ll just say good morning and I’ll see if I can get suitable lodgings somewhere near. I feel—er—that our common friendship for the late Captain Shannon should be—ah—a sort of bond, so to speak, between us, so I shall drop in to see you again.”
Miss Katherine gave him a very cordial invitation to come and see her brother and herself frequently.
When the door had closed upon Mr. Murphy, a shade passed over her face and she betook herself again to the library. Could it be that this stranger was a spy? Had he really known the Captain and suspected the existence of the treasure? Was he going to stay in the vicinity to keep watch upon them? Miss Katherine trembled as she thought of what might have become of Joseph and herself if she had taken him as a lodger. But here poor Miss Katherine’s heart suffered a pang, for she thought of the gentlemanly deportment and attractive appearance of her visitor. He had seemed quite impressed with her, too. There was no denying it. She rose from the chair with a sigh and walked about the room.
“I must hide the book, anyway,” she exclaimed aloud. “There’s no telling what that man was after and I’d better put it in a safe place.”
She took the treasured volume—Capt. Shannon’s diary—and, after glancing out of the window to make sure she was not watched, she stole cautiously from the room as if the house were full of spies. When she reached the floor above she stood still, wondering what hiding places the house afforded. There were not many, she knew, but now she could think of none. Downstairs was out of the question. Anyone could come in there at night and carry it off. The second floor was little better for the windows were all open and anyone could enter them by means of a ladder. The attic! Yes, that was the only place and Miss Katherine flew up the steep stairs to the attic.
There was a very little light admitted through a small window, and when her eyes became accustomed to the dim light, she saw a trap door in the ceiling. Of all places in the world this was the most desirable. As luck would have it she found an old ladder among the rubbish. One end of this she placed against the trap door, then, pushing with all her might at the other end, she succeeded in raising the door and liberating clouds of dust, spiders, dead flies and cob-webs. Though half choked and blinded she proceeded to execute her scheme. Placing an end of the ladder in the opening she endeavored to make it secure from slipping. Of its strength she was fairly satisfied, but she could not feel confident of its equilibrium. She did the best she could and then began the perilous ascent. She held the book in one hand and with the other clung fearfully to the rickety ladder. She stood in need of another prehensile member for the rungs of the ladder were worn smooth as glass and every upward step was fraught with danger. The ladder creaked ominously beneath a weight that was far from trifling. However, she made a steady progress, and when she had climbed as far as she dared, she very cautiously reached upward and placed the book upon the rafters. In her relief at having placed the book in safety she forgot caution and gave the ladder the excuse it was looking for. She felt the ladder going and frantically grabbed the side of the trap door. It was well her arms were not slender ones for they had to support her entire weight. The very ceiling creaked. A severe fall was to be preferred to bringing the roof down upon her, so she suddenly let go her hold and came crashing down upon the floor that quivered to receive its burden. But it was only a moment before Miss Katherine was sufficiently recovered to assure herself that, as the book was securely hidden nothing else was of consequence.