"
"I understand all that well enough," said Pendleton. "But," and he
waved his hand toward the house, "what does _this_ mean?"
"I don't know," said Ashton-Kirk. "And neither do you. So--that being
the case--there is but one thing to do--find out."
They gazed toward the window once more, Miss Vale had apparently
mastered the contents of the paper, and was now engaged in writing
rapidly. As the young men watched, she stopped, read carefully what
she had written, and then handed it to Locke. The mute carried the
paper to the light, and holding it very near to his eyes read it with
much attention; then he tore it into strips, placed it upon the red
coals of a stove which stood near him and watched it burn. Facing Miss
Vale, his fingers began to fly rapidly in intricate signs. This only
lasted a moment, however; for he stopped, gestured passionately,
seized a pad of paper and began to write.
While he was thus engaged, Ashton-Kirk said to Pendleton in a low
tone:
"Remain here for a moment."
Then slowly, carefully, the investigator made his way toward the
window through which Miss Vale and Locke were to be seen.
Heavy beams of light shot across the ground from the windows; but here
and there were trails of shadow.
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