Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/219

 a single step inside the door leading from the vault into the underground passage as if he were showing the way to others who traversed the entire length."

Stella's red lips were suddenly pressed tight and Ackerman watched her keenly.

"This may mean something or it may mean nothing. It all depends on what night he stepped inside the door."

"I see," she said cautiously.

"Other facts I have found are of significance," he went on. "I have located Mr. Isaac A. Postle, and learned from him two startling things. First that he encountered John Graham at the gate on the night of the murder—collided with him, he declares, as he was running from the masked men who had just galloped past his cottage."

The girl smothered a cry.

"He also says that later in the evening, just before the murder occurred, he passed by the front door and saw John Graham seated on a rustic bench in the shadows watching the house."

"It's horrible—it's horrible!" Stella murmured.

"The two statements contradict each other. Uncle Isaac is lying at some point of his story. If he ran for his life from the masqueraders he certainly would not have returned to the house in thirty minutes while they were still there. Until