The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-12-18

"Well, ma'am," l answered, "is
there anything peculiar about the case =?
1t appears, after all, to be nothing more
than a case of accidental drowning"
That is just the point sir. 1t ap-
pears to be that; but as q matter of
fact do not believe that Brightman
Ludlow was drowned at ALL"
What DO you suppose he has been
murdered ?" 1 inquired, in some as
tonishment.
I" I do not believe that he is dead"
May ask your reason
I" 1 learned only yesterday that his
business affairs were much involved
in fact that he has been Systematically
robbing his partner for months. They
have been keeping the matter quiet for
reasons of their own. Just put the
fact, however, beside another; viz, that
the day before the accident put into
his hands for deposit some forty thou
sand dollars in bonds, Of which he could
not possibly have disposed And yet
since his death they are not to be found,
nor any account of them he was not
the man to keep them on his person un-
der ordinary circumstances, especially
when he was going out upon the water.
Add to all this still further that Mr..
Ludlow was excessively timid about
boats, and without strong reason would
never have gone out alone, and in the
face of the light-keeper's warning. And
would not his body have been found be-
fore this, when so large a reward has
been offered ? 1 tell you, sir, Bright
man Ludlow is as much alive at this
moment as you and / are ~
May / ask your relation to the de-
ceased ?" 1 now said.
CT am his wife's sister,-Mrs. Grad
dock"
/ sat in silence for a while, thinking
over the affair. Here was the opinion
could see was a sharp-sighted, practical
person, and felt that it might be worth
a great deal. Her suspicious had been
breathed to no one except myself. She
wished me to go down to Watch Hill
and look into the matter secretly. If l
found nothing to confirm her view of
the case she would give it up; other
wise she could never rest satisfied. L
questioned her little while longer, and
consented to do as she wished.
A few days after that registered un-
der an assumed name at the l. House,
passing for gentleman of means spend
Ludlow family had returned to New
York, but the affair was still talked of,
and heard the story repeated several
times. By careful questioning here and
there gathered certain facts that, if
nothing more, served to convert me
thoroughly to Mrs. Craddock's theory.
The lighthouse keeper was my chief
source of information. After listening
to his account of the matter 1 asked
him.
Where did you say the wind was
that afternoon 20
Bout sou'east, sir, an workin'
round to nuth'rd m east'rd."
But how could he have been drifting
toward Block Island with the wind to
the eastward pn
"Who says he was driftin' toward
Block Island ?"
g He says so on that envelope"
The old man opened his eyes.
Why" said he, that's onpossible
Twas much as he could do to get theI
skiff off shore when he set out. Be.
sides, she was picked up neX' mornin'
over there to west'rd in Fishers Island
Sound He must IA ben considerably
mixed up in his reck min. An nc
wonder Eff he'd he'd his senses about
him, too, he'd knowed enutf ter lash
hisself to ther skiff's bottom. There
was plenty o. rope in her."
| 1 drew my own conclusion from all
this, and said nothing. Pretty soon the
man got to talking of his boat,-a large
one, moored off shore,-thinking per
haps to find a patron in me.
6 Is she fast ?'' / absently inquired.
Fast Wal, now, you've jest sale
it. There amt boat on the Sound thai
kin show the Norah' her heels,- less
mebbe, it's Kittridge's, over on Fishers
Island. Thet boat o. his kin go in 0
breeze, an no mistake. But the 'Norah
carries a tremenjus lot o. sail, yer see.-
Why, it's big es his'en is when I've go
two reefs in. He amt nowhar in {
light wind. Let's see: he ha'nt ber
over sence Mr.. Ludlow was drownded.