Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/37

Rh pale and distorted visage that the dwarf (now hiding in the half-story above) had seen a few moments before. "Foul play," he said to himself; and thinking the man dead, he made a hasty search of the lower floor. He stopped at the stairs and encountered by the opinion that he would do better not to waste time, but go at once to notify the other officers, who might remove the body and then assist in making a systematic search for the perpetrator of the crime. He went half-way up the stairs, and feeling some fear creep over him, easily convinced himself that he had better notify the other officers without further delay.

In less than an hour four of them were within the court of the stone house. But when they opened the side door, the body was not there, nor anywhere to be found.