Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 305, 30 November 1906 — Page 7

The Richmond Palladium, Friday, November 30, 1906

Page Seven

, m. m m. m j. . f f y 1.4.-.

K4H

-5 otl o Author of "The Mystery of Copyright, If 03, 'F '1' ' 'V W I' ! Tou have a right to be alarnieay 1 issented. "She was not frightened to fleath, yet is she lying dead on the ibrary floor." Then, with a glance at f he windows about me, I added lightly, 'I take it that a pistol shot delivered pver there could not be heard In this room." He sank rather melodramatically nto his seat, yet his face and form did not lose that sudden assumption of Ufgnlty which I had observed in him bver since my entrance into the house. I am overwhelmed by this news," he remarked. "She has shot herself? fcVhy? "I did not say that she had shot berVelf," I carefully repeated. "Yet the facta point that way and Mr. Jeffrey accepts the suicide theory without huestlon." f "Ah, Mr. Jeffrey is there V "Most certainly; he was sent for at pnee. "And Miss Tuttle? She came with aim of course?"' "She came, but not with him. Sne Is rery fond of her sister." . I must go over at once!" he cried, eaplng again to his feet and looking kbout for his hat. "It is toy duty to make them feel at home; in short, to l-to put the house at their disposal." lere be found his hat and placed it on pis head. "The property is mine now, rou know," be politely explained, tuni ng, with a keen light in his gray eye, nil upon , me and overwhelming me kith the grand air of a man who has ome unexpectedly Into his own. "Mrs. effrey's father was my younger brothr the story is an old and long one ! nd the property, wnicn in ail Justice hould have been divided between us. vent entirely to him. Bat he was a ood fellow in the main and saw the ujustice of his father's will as clearly s I did. and years ago made one on Is own account bequeathing me the vhnl Mfiit tn run h lft no iftaiiA or Jhat issue died. Veronica was his only hild; Veronica has died; therefore the Id house is mine and all that goes Vlth it all that goes with it" There was the miser's gloating In Jhl8 repetition of a phrase sufficiently xpreBsive In itself, or, rather, the ioating of a man who sees himself j uddenly rich after a life of poverty. ; "here was likewise a callousness as ' egarded his niece's surprising death : Vhleh I considered myself to have ome excuse f v r noticing. "You accept her death very calmly," remarked. "Irobably you knew her b be possessed of an erratic mind." He was about to bestow an admoni?ry kick on his dog, who bad been iniscreet enough to rise at his master's . Entering (he forbidding portal. lrst move, but his foot stopped in mldJir in his anxiety to concentrate all lis attention on his answer. I am a man of few sentimentalies," he colaly averred. "I have loved hit one person in my whole life. Why, hen, should I be expected to mourn k-er a niece who did not care enousrh r me to invite me to her wedding? : would be an affectation unworthy ie man who has at last come to fill s rightful position in tnis community the owner of the great Moore este. For great it shall be," he ematically continued. "In three years bu will not know the bouse over youpr. Despite Its fancied ghosts and path dealing fireplace, it will stand 1 in Washington. I, David Moore. romise you this, and I am not a man utter fatuous prophecies. But 1 lust be missed over there." Here he gave the mastiff the long deyed kick. "Rudge, stay here! The estibule opposite is icy. Besides, your owls are not wanted In those old alls tonight even If you would go ith me. which I doubt. He has never ben willing to cross to that side of be street" the old gentleman went on complain, with his first show of irtation. "But he'll have to overcome kat prejudice soon, even if I have to ar up the old hearthstone and reconruct the walls. . I can't live without udge. and I will not live in another lace than in the old home of my anMors." - I was by this time following him out. "You have failed to answer the sugpstion I made you a minute since" hazarded. "Will you pardon me if I at it now as a question? Your niece. rs. Jeffrey, seemed to have every - king in the world to make her happy. t she took her life. Was there a Int of insanity in her blood, or was er nature so impulsive that her astonhing death in so revolting a place hould awaken In you so little wonfer?' ' A. gleam of what had made him more less feared by the very urchins who rgged his steps and made sport of m at a respectful distance shot from s eye as he glowered back at me torn the open door. But he hastily oppressed tLis sign of displeasure and plied with the faintest tinge of sarsm: "There! You are expecting from me flings which belong to youth or to en of much more heart than underanding. I tell you that I have no ellngs. My niece may have developed sanity or she may simply have drunk ft cup of pleasure dry at twenty-two hd cone to Its dracs nrematuraW. I

f ft tfttrT "PaFaaaTar a

if 1 riiigree am

ftftfftft By ANNA

' 1 I III! U IIHMMI I --

t , - -- -A ii j f r : i 'H Sfe It KATHARINE GREEN, Afataa Webb," -Lost Man's Lane." Etc. by the Bobbs-Merrill Ceapaay It '4' "F J V V I f" T W V lf 'F yr TPtMJMI1 'V "1" 4 do not know and I do not care. What concerns me is that the responsibility of a large fortune has fallen upon me most unexpectedly and that I have pride enough to wish to show myself capable of sustaining the burden. Be- ! sides, they may be tempted to do some mischief to the walls or floors over there. The police respect no man's property. But I am determined they shall respect mine. No ripplngs up or tearings down will I allow unless I stand by to supervise the job. I am master of the old homestead now and I mean to show it." And with a last glance at the dog, who uttered the most mournful of protests in reply, he shut the front door and betook himself to the other side oftbe street. As I noticed his assured bearing as he disappeared within tbe forbidding portal which, according to his own story, had for so long a time been shut against him, I asked myself if tbe candle which I had noticed lying on his mantelshelf was of the same make and size as those I had found in my late investigations in the house he was then entering. ' CIIAPTEIt VI. T TEXT morning the city was in a lnl blaze of excitement. All the ) burning questions of the hour the rapid mobilization of the army and the prospect of a speedy advance on Cuba were forgotten in the engrossing topic of young Mrs. Jeffrey's death and the awful circum stances surrounding it. Though I was the hero of the hour and, as such, subjected to an infinite number -of questions, r followed the lead of my superiors and carefully refrains'! from advancing any theories beyond tbe obvious one of suicide. The moment, for self exploitation was not ripe; 1 did not stand high enough in the confidence of the major, or, I may say, of the lieutenant of my own precinct, to risk the triumph I anticipated ultimately by a premature expression of opinion. I had an enemy at headquarters; or, rather, one of the men there bad always appeared peculiarly interested in showing me up in the worst light. The name of this man was Durbin, and it was he who had uttered some thing like a slighting remark when on that first night I endeavored to call tbe captain's attention to some of the small matters which had offered themselves to me in the light of clews. Perhaps it was the prospect of surprising him tome day which made me so wary now as well as so alert to fill my mind with all known facts concerning the Jeffreys. One of my first acts was to turn over the files of the Star and reread the following account of the great wedding. As it is a sensational description of a sensational event, I shall make no apology for the headlines which startled all Washington the night they appeared: "STARTLING TERMINATION OF JEFFREY-MOORE WEDDING. The Traditional Doom Follows the Opening of the Old House on Waverley Avenue. One of the Guests Found Lying Dead on the Library Hearthstone. Letters In His Pocket Show Him to Have Been One W. Pfeiffer of Denver. No' Interruption of the Ceremony Follows This Ghastly Discovery, but the Guests Fly In All Directions as Soon as the Nuptial Knot Is Tied. "The festivities attendant upon the wedding of Miss Veronica Moore to Mr. Francis Jeffrey of this city met with a startling check today. As most of our readers know, the long closed house on Waverley avenue, which for nearly a century has been in the possession of tbe bride's family, was opened for the occasion at the express wish of the bride. For a week the preparations for this great function have been going on. When at an early hour this morning a line of carriages drew up in front of the historic mansion and the bridal party entered under its once gloomy but now seemingly triumphant portal, the crowds, which blocked the street from curb to curb, testified to the Interest felt by the citizens of Washington in this daring attempt to brave the traditions which have marked this house out as solitary and by a scene of joyous festivity make the past forgotten and restore again to usefulness the decayed grandeurs of an earlier time. As Miss Moore Is one f Washington's most charming women and as this romantic effort naturally lent an extraordinary interest to tbe ceremony of her marriage, a large number of our representative people assembled to witness it, and by high noon the scene was one of unusual brilliancy. "Halls which bad moldered away in an unbroken silence for years echoed again with laughter and palpitated to the choicest strains of the Marine band. All dr ts were open save those of the library an exception which added a pleasing excitement to the occasion and when by chance some of the more youthful guests were caught peering behind the two Corinthian pillars guarding these forbidden precincts the, memories thus evoked were momentary and the shadow soon passed. "The wedding had been set for high noon, and as the clock in the drawing room struck the hour every head was craned to catch the first glimpse of the bride coming down the old fashioned staircase. But five minutes, ten minutes, a half hour, passed without this expectation being gratified. The crowd ! above and below were growing restless when suddenly a cry was heard from beyond the gilded pillars framing the library door, and a young lady was seen rushing from the forbidden quarter, trembling with dismay and white with herror. It was Miss Abbott of

A A J, f afi I-

Stratford Circle, wao in tne interim of waiting had allowed her curiosity : to master Ler dread and by one peep j into tbe room, which seemed to exer- ; else over her the fascination of a liluelieard's chamber, discovered the outstretched form of a man lying senseless and apparently dead on the edge

of the hearthstone. The terror which Instantly spread among the guests shows the hold which superstition Las , upon all classes of humanity. Happily, however, an unseemly panic was averted by the necessity which all felt of preserving some sort of composure ; till the ceremony for which they had assembled had been performed, for ; simultaneously with this discovery of death in the library there had come I from above tbe sound of the approach- ; Ing bridal procession, and cries were , hnsLeJ and beating hearts restrained ; as Miss Moore's charming face and exqra'te figure appeared between the ; rows of flowering plants with which ' the staircase was lined. No need for the murmur to go about: 'Spare the i bride! Let nothing but cheer surround her till she Is Jeffrey's wife! The look of joy which irradiated her countenance and gave a fairylike aspect to her whol3 exquisite person would have deterred the most careless and self centered person there from casting a shadow across her pathway one minute sooner than necessity demanded. The richness of the ancestral veil which covered her Jtcatures and the natural timidity which prevents a bride from lifting her eyes from the floor sle traverses saved her from observing the strange looks by which her presence was hailed. She was consequently enabled to go through the ceremony in happy unconsciousness of the forced restraint which held that surging mass together. "But the bridesmaids were not so happy. Miss Tuttle especially held herself upright simply by the exercise of her will, and, though resplendent in beauty, suffered so much in her anxiety for the bride that it was a matter of small surprise when she fainted at the conclusion of the ceremony. "Mr. Jeffrey showed more composure, but the inward excitement under which he was laboring made him trip more than once in his responses, as many there noted whose minds were not fixed too strongly on flight. "Only Dr. Auchincioss was quite himself, and by means of the solem- ' nity with which he invested his words i kept the hubbub down, which was al- j ready making itself heard on the out- ; skirts of the crowd. But even his in- j fluence did not prevail beyond the mo- j ment devoted to the benediction. Once the sacred words were said, such a ! 6tampede followed that the bride show ed much alarm, and it was left for Mr. j Jeffrey to explain to her the cause of this astonishing-conduct on the part of her guests. She bore the disclosure well, all things considered, and once : she was fully assured that the unhappy man whose sudden death had thus interrupted the festivities was an intruder upon the scene and quite un known, not only to herself but to her : newly made husband, she brightened j perceptibly, though, like every one around her, she seemed anxious to leave the house, and, indeed, did so as soon as Miss Tuttle's condition warranted it. "The fact that the bride went through the ceremony ' without her bridal bouquet is looked upon by many as an unfavorable' omen. ' In her anxiety not to impose' any longer upon the patience of her guests, she had descended without if. "As to the deceased, but little is known of him. Letters found on hi3 person prove his name to be W. Pfeiffer and his residence Denver. His presence in Miss Moore's house at a time so inopportune is unexplained. No such name is on the list of wedding guests, nor was he recognized as one of Miss Moore's friends either by Mr. Jeffrey or by such of her relatives and acquaintances as' had the courage to enter the library to see him. "With the exception of the discolored mark on his temple, showing where his head had come in contact with the hearthstone, his body presents an appearance of natural robustness, which makes his -sudden end seem all the more shocking. "His name has been found registered at the National hotel." Turning over the files I next came upon the following dispatch from Denver: "The sudden death in Washington of Wallace Pfeiffer, one of our best known and most respected citizens, is deeply deplored by all who knew him and his unfortunate mother. He is the last of her three sons, all of whom have died within the year. The demise of Wallace leaves her entirely unprovided for. It was not known here that Mr. Pfeiffer Intended to visit Washington. He was supposed to go in quite the opposite direction, having said to more than one that he had business in San Francisco. His intrusion into the house of Miss Moore during the celebration of a marriage in which he could have taken no personal interest is explained in the following manner by such as knew his mental peculiarities: Though a merchant by trade and latterly a miner in the Klondike, he had great interest in the occult and was a strong believer in all kinds of supernatural manifestations. He may have heard of the aula Ike hotel reading room happy reputation attaching to the Moore house in Washington and, fascinated by the mystery involved, embraced the opportunity afforded by open doors and the general confusion incident to so large a gathering to enter the interesting old place and investigate for himself the fatal library. The fact of his having been found secluded in this very room, at a moment when every other person in the house was pushing forward to see the bride, lends color to this supposition; and his sudden death under circumstances tending to rouse the imagination shows the extreme sensitiveness of his nature. "He will be buried here." Tio noxt nararajjb vu luart.

ere aireaay crowain? 1 wonder to the well. 1 case of Wallace lying dead on the hearthstone of the old Moore house library. "Concussion of the brain, preceded by mental shock or heart failure. "The body went on to Denver today. And below, separated by the narrowest of spaces: Mr. and Mrs. Francis Jeffrey have deckled to give up their wedding tour and spend their honeymoon in Washington. They will occupy" the Ransome house on K street." The last paragraph brought me back to the question tnen troubling my mind. Was it in the household of this newly married pair and in the possible secret passions underlying their union that one should look for the cause of the murderous crime I secretly imagineJ to be hidden behind this seem ing suicide, or were these parties innocent and old David Moore the one motive power in precipitating a tragedy the result of which had been to enrich him and impoverish them? Certainly a most serious and important question and one which any man might be pardoned for attempting to answer, especially if that man was a young detective lamenting his obscurity and dreaming of a recognition which would yield him fame and the wherewithal to marry a certain clever but mischievous little minx of whom you are destined to hear more. But how was that same young detective, hampered as he was and held in thrall by a fear of ridicule and a total lack of record, to get the chance to push an Inquiry requiring opportunities which could only come by special favor? This was what I continually asked myself, and always without result. True, I might approach the captain or the major with my story of the telltale marks I had discovered in the dust covering the southwest chamber mantelshelf, and, if fortunate enough to find that these had been passed over by the other detectives, seek to gain a hearing thereby and secure for myself the privileges I so earnestly desired. But my egotism was such that I wished to be sure of the hand which had made these marks before I parted with a secret which, once told, would make or mar me. Yet to obtain the slight concession of an Interview with any of the principals connected with this crime would be difficult without the aid of one or both of my superiors. Even to enter the house again where but a few hours before I had made myself so thoroughly at home would require a certain amount of pluck, for Durbin had been installed there, and Durbin was a watchdog whose bite as well ns his bark I regarded with considerable respect. Yet into that house I must sooner or later go, if only to determine whether or not I had been alone in my recognition of certain clews pointing plainly toward murder. Should I trust my lucky star and remain for the nonce quiescent? This seemed a wise suggestion, and I decided to adopt it, comforting myself witn tne thought that if after a day or two of modest waiting I failed in obtaining what I wished I could then appeal to the lieutenant of my own precinct. He, I had sometimes felt assured, did not regard me with an altogether unfavorable eye. Meantime I spent all my available time In loitering around newspaper offices and picking up such stray bits of gossip as were offered. As no question bad yet been raised of any more serious crime than suicide, these mostly related to the idiosyncrasies of the Moore family and the solitary position Into which Miss Tuttle had been plunged by this sudden death of her only relative. As this beautiful and distinguished young woman had been and still wa a great belle in her special circle, her present homeless, if not penniless, position led to many surmises. Would she marry, and, if so, to which of the many wealthy or prominent men who had openly courted her would she accord her hand? In the present egotistic state of my mind I secretly flattered myself that I was right in concluding that she would say yes to no man's entreaty till a certain newly made widower's year of mourn- j ing had expired. I But this opinion received something ; of a check when in a quiet talk with a reporter I learned that it was openly stated by those who had courage to speak that the tie which had certainly ; existed at one time between Mr. Jef- ; frey and the handsome Miss Tuttle had ; been entirely of her own weaving, and j that the person of Veronica -Moore, j rather than the large income she com- i manded, had been the attractive pow- I er which had led him away from the older sister. This seemed Improbable, j for the charms of the poor little bride were not to be compared with those of i her maturer sister. Yet, as we all know, there are other attractions than ; those offered by beauty. I have since j heard it broadly stated that the pe- i culiar twitch of the lip observable in j all the Moores had proved an irresist- j ible charm in the unfortunate Veronica, ; making her a radiant image when she laughed. This was by no means a rare ; occurrence, so they said, before the fancy took her to be married in the ill I starred home of her ancestors. . The few lines of attempted explanation which she had left behind for her husband seemed to impose on no one. To those who knew the young couple well it was an open proof of her Insanity; to those who knew them slightly, as well as to the public at large, it was a woman's way of expressing the disappointment she felt in her husband. That I might the more readily determine which of these two theories had tbe firmest basis in fact I took advantage of an afternoon off and slipped away to Alexanuria, where, I had been told, Mr. Jeffrey had courted his bride. I wanted a taste of local gossip, you see, and I got it. The air was fully charged with it, and, being careful not to rouse antagonism by announcing myself a detective, I readily nicked up many small facts. Brought inn shaiK ana arranged In tne torm of a narrative, the result was as follows: John Judson Moore, the " father of Veronica, had fewer oddities than the other members of this eccentric family. It was thought, however, that he had ahown some strain of - the peculiar independence of his race when, in selecting a wife, he let his choice fall on a widow who was not only incumbered with a child, but who was, generally regarded as the plainest woman in Virginia ha who ixLUdbt have tad. the Dick

Fresher events this three da; "Verdict in . Pfeiffer, found

or soutiitrn oeauty. Unt wneu in tne course of time this despised woman

! proved to be the possessor of those i irtues and social graces which eminently fitted her to conduct the large establishment of which she had leen made mistress he was forgiven his lack of taste. Little more was said of his peculiarities until, his wife having died j and his child proved weakly, he made the will-in his brother's favor which has since given that gentleman such deep satisfaction. Why this proceeding should have been so displeasing to their friends report si'.ys not; but that it was so is evident from the fact that great rejoicing took place on all sides when Veronica suddenly developed into a healthy child, and the probability of David Moore inheriting the coveted estate decreased to a minimum. It was not a long rejoicing, however, for John Judson followed his wife to the grave before Veronica had reached her tenth year, leaving her and her half sister, Cora, to the guardianship of a crabbed old bachelor who had been his father's lawyer. This lawyer was n4orose and peevish, but he was never positively unkind. For two years the sisters seemed happy enough, when, suddenly and somewhat peremptorily, they were separated, Veronica being sent to a western school, where ehe remained, seemingly without a single visit east, till she was seventeen. During this long absence Miss Tuttle resided in Washington, developing under masters into an accomplished woman. Veronica's guardian, severe in his treatment of the youthful owner of the large fortune of which he had been made sole executor, was unexpectedly generous to the penniless sister, hoping perhaps in his close, peevish old heart that the charms and acquired graces of this lovely woman would soon win for her a husband in the brilliant set in which she naturally found herself. But Cora Tuttle was not easy to please, and the first men of Washington came and went before her eyes without awakening in her any special Interest till she met Francis Jeffrey, who stole her heart with a look. Those who remember her that winter say that under his influence 6he developed from a handsome woman Into a lovely one. Yet no engagement was announced, and society was wondering what held Francis Jeffrey back from so great a prize, when Veronica Moore came home, and the question was forever answered. Veronica was now nearly eighteen and during her absence had blossomed into womanhood. She was not as beautiful as her sister, but she had a bright and pleasing expression, with enough spice in her temperament to rob her girlish features of insipidity and make her conversation witty, if not brilliant. Yet when Francis Jeffrey turned his attentions from Miss Tuttle and fixed them without reserve or seeming shame upon this pretty butterfly, but one term could be found to characterize the proceeding, and that was fortune hunting. Of small but settled income, he had hitherto shown a certain contentment with his condition calculated to inspire respect and make his attentions to Miss Tuttle seem both consistent and appropriate. But no sooner did Veronica's bright eyes appear than he fell at the young heiress' feet and pressed his suit so close and fast that in two months they were engaged and at the end of the half year married with the disastrous consequences just made known. So much for the general gossip of the town. Now for the special. A certain gentleman, whom it is un necessary to name, had leen present at one critical instant in the lives of these three persons. He was not a scandal monger, and if everything had gone on happily if Veronica had lived , and Cora settled down into matrimony he would never have mentioned wbat j he heard and saw one night in tbe great drawing room of a hotel in At- ; lantic City. j It was at the time when the engage- j ment was first announced between : Jeffrey and the young heiress. This and his previous attentions to Cora j had made much talk, both in Wash- , tngton and elsewhere, and there were ; not lacking those who had openly i twitted him for his seeming incon-1 stancy. This had been over the cups ! of course, and Jeffrey had borne it well , enough from his so called friends and ; intimates. But when, on a certain i evening in the parlor of one of the! large hotels In Atlantic City, a fellow ! whom nobody knew and nobody liked accused him of knowing on which side his bread was buttered, and that certainly it was not on the side of beauty and superior attainments, Jeffrey got angry. Heedless of who might be within hearing, he spoke up very plainly in these words:. "You are all of a kind rank money worshipers and self seekers or you would not be so ready to see greed in my admiration for Miss Moore. Disagreeable as I find it to air my sentiments in this public manner, yet since yon provoke me to it I will say once and for all that I am deeply in love with Miss Moore and that it is for this reason only I am gfing to marry her. Were she the penniless girl her sister is, and Miss Tuttle the proud possessor of the wealth which, in your eyes, confers such distinction upon Miss Moore, you would still see me at the latter's feet, and at hers only. Miss Tuttle's charms are not potent enough to hold the heart which has once been fixed by her sister's smile." This was pointed enough, certainly, but when at the conclusion of his words a tall figure rose from a near corner and Cora Tuttle passed the amazed group with a bow I dare warrant that not one of tbe men composing it but wished himself a hundred miles away. With this incident filling my mind, I returned to Washington. I had acquainted myself with the open facts of this family's history. But what of Its Inner life? Who knew it? Did any one? CHAPTER TIL fl HE next morning my duty led me directly in the way of that little friend of mine whom I have already mentioned. It is strange how often my duty did lead me in her way. She is a demure little creature, with wits as bright as her eyes, which Is saying a great deal, and, while in the course of our long friendship I had admired without making use of the spe-Ji-t T mmwm mm V T fa.it: ti.aiJ

tne time bad now . come wnen they might prove of inestimable value to me. Greeting her with pardonable abruptness, I expressed my wishes in these possibly alarming words: "Jinny, jou can do something for me. Find out 1 know you can, and that. Jinny aids the detective

too, without arousing suspicion or conpromising either of us where Mr. Moore of Waverley avenue buys his groceries, and, when ou have done that, whether or not he has lately resupplied himself with candles." The surprise which she showed had a touch of naivete In it which was very encouraging. "Mr. Moore," she cried, "the uncle of her who who" "The very same," I responded and waited for her questions without adding a single word in way of explanation, v She gave me a look oh, what a look! It was as encouraging to tbe detective as it was welcome to the lover, after which she nodded, once in doubt, once in question and once in frank and laughing consent, and darted off. I thanked Providence for such a self contained little aid-de-camp and proceeded on my way in a state of great self satisfaction. An hour later I came upon her again. It Is really extraordinary how frequently the paths of some people cross. "Well?" 1 asked. "Mr. Moore deals with Simpkins, just two blocks away from his house, and only a week ago he bought some candles there." I rewarded her with a smile which summoned into view the most exasperating of dimples. "You had -better patronize Simpkins yourself for a little while," I suggested, and by the arch glance with which my words were received I perceived that my meaning was fully understood. Experiencing - from this "moment an increased confidence not only in the. powers of my little friend, but in the line of investigation thus happily established, I cast about for means of settling the one great question which was a necessary preliminary to all future action whether the marks detected by me in the dust of the mantel in the southwest chamber had been made by the hand of him who bad lately felt the need of candles, albeit his house appeared to be fully lighted by gas? The point aimed at was this: To obtain without Mr. Moore's knowledge an accurate impression of his finger tips. ) The task presented difficulties, but these served only to increase my ardor. Confiding to v the lieutenant of the precinct my great interest in the mysterious house with whose suggestive interior I had made myself acquainted under such tragic circumstances, I asked him as a personal favor to obtain for me an opportunity of spending another night there. He was evidently surprised by the request, and being, as I have intimated, favorably disposed to me, he exerted himself to such good effect that I was formally detailed to assist In keeping watch over the premises that very night. As I prepared to enter the old house at nightfall I allowed myself one short glance across the way to see if my approach had been observed by tho man whose secret. If secret he had, I was laying plans to surprise. I was met by a sight I had not expected. Pausing on the pavement in front of me stood a handsome, elderly gentleman whose appearance was so fashionable and thoroughly up to date that I should have failed to recognize him if my glance had not taken In at the same instant the figure of Rudge crouching obstinately on the edge of the curb, where he had evidently posted himself in distinct refusal to come any farther. In vain his master, for the well dressed man before me was no less a personage than the whilom butt of all the boye between the capitol and the treasury building, signaled and commanded him to oross to his side. Nothing could inouce the mastiff to budge from that quarter of the street where he felt himself safe. Mr. Moore, glorying in the prospect of unlimited wealth, presented a startling contrast in more ways thanone to the poverty stricken old man whose curious garb and lonely habits had made him an object of ridicule to half the town. I own that I was half amused and half awed by the condescending bow with which he greeted any offhand nod and the affable way in which he remarked: "You are making use of your prerogatives as a member of the police, I see." The words came as easily from his lip as if his practice in affability had been of the very longest"I wonder how the old place enjoys Its present distinction," he went on. running hiseye over the dilapidated walls under which we stood, with very evident pride in their vast proportions and the air of gloomy grandeur which signalized them. "If it partakes in the slightest degree of the feelings of its owner, I can vouch for Its impatience at the free use which is made of Its time worn rooms and halls. Are these intrusions necessary? Now that Mrs. Jeffrey's body has been removed, do you feel that the scene of her demise need hold the attention of the police any longer?" "That is a question to put to the superintendent and not to me," was my deprecatory reply. "The major has issued no orders for the watch to be taken off, so we men have no choice. I am sorry if it c -nds you. Doubtless a few dura wiil end the matter,

AS PIECE OF BEEF Suffered For Three Years With Itching Humor Doctor Did No Good Cruiser Newark, U. S. N. Man Cured in Three Weeks( SPEEDY CURE BY CUTICURA REMEDIES "I suffered with humor for abqnt three years, off and on. I finally w a doctor and he,gave me remedies! hat did me noTgcod, so 1 tnetuticura when nilimb lielow t l.nee to t he Rnktief as as raw as iece of beef. used was the lttcura Soap anl e Ointment. L bathed with the Soap evi dav id used about six or seven xes Ointment. 1 was the humor in three thorough! weeks an n't been affected with it since. Cuticura no other Soap than remain, vours respectfully, II Myers, U. S. N., U. S. S. Newark, New iork, July S, 1905. I . a. Publish if vou wish. CUTICURA GROWS HAIR Crusted Scalps Cleansed and Purified by Cuticura Soap Assisted by light dressings of Cuticura, the great Skin Cure. This treatment at once stops falling hair, removes cru:ts, scales, and dandruff, destroys hair parasites, soothes irritated, itching surfaces, stimulates the hair follicles, loosens the scalp skin, supplies the roots with energy and nourishment, and makes the hair grow upon a sweet .wholesome, healthy scalp when all else fails. Complete external and internal treatment for every humor, from pimples to scrofula, from infancy to age, consisting of Cuticura Soap, Ointment, and Pills, may now be had of all druggists for one dollar. A single set is often sufficient to cure the most distressing cases. Sold throughout the world. Cutirur np, Vr., Olrt fnDl,.'VT., uil Keolvrnt,JM)r. fin form of liocol.tr Co ted Pill. 2Ae- per of tl. l'otter Irtujr Chnn. Corp., Kola frop., ikxloa. auT iXJvX tur " 11m Urvi Uiuku Car." and the keys will le given Into your hand. I suppose you are anxious to move in?" He cast a glance behind him at his dog:, gave a whistle, which passed unheeded, and replied, with dignity, if but little heart: "When a man has passed his seventh decade he is not apt to be so patient with delay as when he has a prospect of many years before him. I am anxious to enter my own bouse yes. I have much to do there." I remounted the steps, carelessly remarking: "I'll see you "again after taking a turn through the house. If I discover anything, ghost marks or human marks which might be of interest to you, I'll let you know." It was necessary for the success of my plan that some time should elapse before I reapproached Mr. Moore. I therefore kept my word to him and satisfied my own curiosity by taking a fresh tour through tbe house. Naturally, In doing this, I visited the library. Here all was dark. The faint twilight still illuminating the street failed to penetrate here. I was obliged to light my lantern. r . My first glance was toward the fireplace. Venturesome bands had been there. Not only had the fender been drawn out and the grate vet aside, but tbe huge settle, had been wrenched free from the mantel and dragged into the center of the room. Itather pleased at this change, for with all my apparent bravado I did not enjoy too close a proximity to the cruel hearthstone, I stopped to give this settle a thorough investigation. The result was, disappointing. To all appearance and I did not spare It the experiment of many a thump and knock it was a perfectly innocuous piece of furniture, clumsy of bulld.'but solid and absolutely devoid "of anything that could explain the tragedies which had occurred so near it. I even sat down on it musty old cushion and shut my eyes, but was unrewarded by alarming visions or disturbance of any sort Nor did the floor where it had stood yield any better results to the inquiring eye. Inspecting lh library firaplaaa Nothing was to be seen there but the marks left by the removal of its base from the blackened boards. Disgusted with myself if not with this object of my present disappointment. I left that portion of the room In which it stood and crossed to where I had found the little table on tbe night of Mrs. Jeffrey's death. It was no longer there. It had been set back against the wall, where It properly belonged, an! the candelabrum removed. Nor was the kitchen chair any longer to be seen near the bookshelves. This fact, small as it was. caused me an Instant of chagrin. I had intended to look again at the book which I had examined with such unsatisfactory result the time before. A glance showed me that this book had been pushed back level with the others. Dut I remembered Its title, and had the means of reaching It been at band I should certainly have stolen another peep at IL Upstairs I found the same sims of police interfc-fenee. The shutter badbeen fastetK-d in the southwest room and the bvi.-jaet and wrap taken away from the l ed. TLe handierch!ef also was mining from the mantel where I had left it. and when I t led the closet door it was to End tbe floor bare and the second candelabrum and candle removed. "All gone." thought I "each and everr clew

L

1MB

RAW

CTo Be Continued.)