Harold MacGrath

“ The valet stumbled, and the bundle slipped from his arm. The wrapping paper broke and disclosed half a dozen pairs of old shoes. Haggerty picked up two pairs and the valet gathered up the others. He gravely led the detective into a large room. Haggerty grasped his revolver, then let go of it, grunting inaudibly. What he saw in the dim fire-light were not living people, only the shells: rows of mummies and mummy-cases called cartonnages.
“Better not turn on the lights,” said Haggerty. “Th' fire's enough. These things give a fellow th' chills.” ”

“ The valet deposited the shoes along the wall and Haggerty placed his beside them. Next, the valet crossed to the wood-box and threw on a log. A blaze started up.
“Sit down, sir. This is Mr. Crawford's study.” Haggerty was quite familiar with it, but only in the daytime. “You'll excuse me, sir, till I pack the shoes. You see, Mr. Crawford tramps about a good deal and likes old shoes because they are most comfortable. We leave for Naples. There have been some new excavations at Herculaneum which Mr. Crawford is anxious to see.” ”

“ He turned on the low desk-lamp and began to arrange the books and papers on the broad flat desk. Some he put away in drawers which he locked. He then put out the light and took the easy chair by the fire, his back in half-view. ”