The Riddle of the Spinning Wheel   By: Thomas W. Hanshew (1857-1914)

By MARY E. and THOMAS W. HANSHEW

AUTHORS OF

"Cleek, the Man of Forty Faces," "Cleek's Government Cases," "The Riddle of the Frozen Flame," "The Riddle of the Night," "The Riddle of the Purple Emperor," "The Riddle of the Mysterious Light," etc.

[Illustration]

A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Published by arrangement with Doubleday, Page & Company

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. The Girl from Scotland 1 II. Cleek to the Rescue 13 III. The Castle o' Dreams 21 IV. The Morning Call 38 V. A Startling Discovery 57 VI. When the Sword Fell 65 VII. The Summons 76 VIII. When the Blow Fell 85 IX. A Double Tragedy 95 X. The Woman in the Case 108 XI. A New Clue 117 XII. Cleek Makes a Startling Assertion 128 XIII. Mr. Narkom Voices an Opinion 142 XIV. In Which Rhea Takes a Hand 149 XV. Another Fly in the Web 159 XVI. "Tens!" 170 XVII. A Pair of Boots 180 XVIII. Enter Cyril 192 XIX. Dollops Makes a Discovery 202 XX. "Pins and Needles" 212 XXI. "A Lunnon Gentleman" 221 XXII. Damning Evidence 226 XXIII. A Startling Dénouement 233 XXIV. Hare and Hounds 239 XXV. The Man in the Black Mask 247 XXVI. The End in Sight 265 XXVII. What Happened in the Library 278 XXVIII. The Secret of the Singing Wheel 284 XXIX. "As a Tale That Was Told" 297

THE RIDDLE OF THE SPINNING WHEEL

CHAPTER I

THE GIRL FROM SCOTLAND

Mr. Maverick Narkom, Superintendent of Scotland Yard, looked up from the letter he was perusing, a wrinkle in his brow and one hand spread out over the sheet to keep it open, as the sound of a soft knock broke through the stillness, and with an exasperation born of the knotty problem upon which he was at work, called out an irritable "Come in."

Inspector Petrie's head appeared in the aperture, stiff hand at the salute.

"I know you wasn't to be disturbed, sir," he began apologetically, "but there's a leddy come to see you. Seemed distressed, and said it was urgent, and begged me for the love of 'even to let her in."

"And, being a religious man, you succumbed, of course," rapped out Mr. Narkom in a tone of exasperation. "Oh, well, where's her card? What with one thing and another, this morning's work has practically gone to blazes. Not a minute's peace, by James! What's the lady's name, Petrie?"

Inspector Petrie came forward, a strip of pasteboard in his hand upon which was engraved a name and something written in a woman's hand underneath.