Page:Chipperfield--Unseen Hands.djvu/54

42 troubled by foolish, nervous fears but my faith is strong. The fall of that picture was an unfortunate accident; and I blame myself for Eugene's danger, because he sat there at my suggestion to reply to some correspondence. As to the stairs giving way this morning, that must have been an accident too; the house is old, our home for generations back—"

Her voice died away as the detective in answer turned back the carpet once more and silently exposed the damage which had been deliberately wrought.

Miss Meade caught her breath sharply, and her thin, delicate hands came together in a convulsive clasp.

"Oh, what does it mean? Surely none of the boys would attempt to play a wicked practical joke at such a time as this!"

"This was not intended for a joke, Miss Meade." Odell's matter-of-fact tone seemed to make her shrink within herself. "It was done with the deliberate purpose of injury to some member of this household. The portrait fell last night because the heavy steel wires which helped to hold it in its place had been hacked apart. I am sorry to add to your distress, but the truth must be faced; someone is trying to murder you all!"

"Murder!" Her pale lips barely formed the word. "I—I cannot believe it! There must be some hideous mistake. Why, we haven't an enemy in the world!"

She swayed and would have fallen but that Titheredge sprang forward and caught her.

"You had better go back to your own room and rest, Miss Meade. I'll see that Dick is made comfortable, and you will need all your strength for what I am afraid lies