. Witch Winnie's mystery; or, The old oak cabinet; the story of a King's daughter . opened the safe. I dont think thatMr. Mudge believes that I am the culprit, forhe smiled at me in a very friendly way. How could he believe such a thing? Iasked. It is perfectly nonsensical. But if he does not suspect me, his suspi-cions will probably fasten on some one you, for instance, or Adelaide,--and Iwould rather be the scapegoat than have anyannoyance come to the rest of you. We had reached the Amen Corner, and hadjust opened the study-parlor door. Winniegave a little cry of surprise. The door i
. Witch Winnie's mystery; or, The old oak cabinet; the story of a King's daughter . opened the safe. I dont think thatMr. Mudge believes that I am the culprit, forhe smiled at me in a very friendly way. How could he believe such a thing? Iasked. It is perfectly nonsensical. But if he does not suspect me, his suspi-cions will probably fasten on some one you, for instance, or Adelaide,--and Iwould rather be the scapegoat than have anyannoyance come to the rest of you. We had reached the Amen Corner, and hadjust opened the study-parlor door. Winniegave a little cry of surprise. The door intothe studio was open and a strange man stoodlooking at the broken lock. CHAPTER V. L. MUDGE, DETECTIVE. The look o the thing, the chance of mistake,All were against me. That I knew the first;But knowing also what my duty was, I did it. H Y, !W i n n i eexclaimed,recoveringherself,excuseme for cry-i n p- out. o but reallyI did notexpect tosee youhere. I pre-sume not,the gentle-ma n re-plied dryly. Under other circumstances such intrusion would be unwarrantable ,but I 76. L. MUDGE, DETECTIVE. 77 presume you understand that in a case likethis we must question not only human wit-nesses but the place itself, and often our mostvaluable testimony is of a circumstantial char-acter. This broken lock, for instance, wouldseem to prove that the thief entered throughthe studio. * Oh ! that, I cried, proves nothing ; ithas been broken this long while—since thevery beginning of the term. Winnie clasped my hand tightly, and I un-derstood that she did not wish her escapadewith the sliding trunk explained. Are you sure of that ? Mr. Mudge asked,looking slightly disappointed. Even if thelock was not broken on the nicrht of the rob- o bery, the fact still remains that an entrancewas practicable here at that time. Why, of course ! I exclaimed. It musthave been the man who looked in at the tran- som. < t What man? asked Mr. Mudge; and Itold the story of the appearance the nightbefore.
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