The Washington critic., 1886-06-04
THE ALDEN MYSTERY.


sternly, II may be wrong, but l
somehow feel as If had been en-
ployed by the wrong side, and / don't
like it, Mind" ne added, stopping in
his rapid walk up and down the
room, 'it may be all right-if 1t ain't
l can drop it. But you mark my
words, something will occur in con.
nection with this case that will affect
my life or reputation"
/ laughed softly. Jack Wilmarth
was not generally suspicious. "What
do you suspect?" / asked.
lie dropped lazily back into his
chair and his face resumed its usual
impassivo expression. 81 suspect"
he replied, coolly, chat I am en-
ployed in behalf Of Charles Alden's
murderer.
The case that provoked our present
discussion was rather peculiar. Nearly
n year before this a brutal murder had
been perpetrated in one of our Western
cities. A young man, scarcely more
than boy, had been shot down at the
door of his house.
True, one man had been detained by
the coroner, but he stood his examina-
tion well and was discharged. No cause
for murder had been found.
The local police had done what little
they could to unravel the crime. But
they had only succeeded in adding to
the fog of mystery that surrounded the
case.
And now, after lapse of year,
ny friend had been retained to solve
he Alden mystery If possible. First
had received letter inquiring If he
as at liberty. Replying in the affirm
i've he received second letter con-
lining large retaining fee and re.
Nesting his immediate presence.
18th this came a bulky parcel con.
lining clippings from the local pa
ors, report of the coroner's inquest,
nd full description of all persons
mentioned as connected in any way
With the case.
But-and here was the first mystery
both of the letters and the check &C.
ompanying the second one were in
voman's handwriting-rather pretty
writing, too, 1t was. They were all
hree signed "Claire Norton" and
here was no mention of any such per.
son as being connected with tho case.
Jack was not given to writing. Six
months after he left New York found
him in our old quarters, smoking
placidly.
"W6y, Jack, old man - exclaimed; 4;
"when did you come? How are you?
Why didn't you write to me ?"
zone at time, Fred, one at time"
he laughed, shaking hands energetic.
ally. II just got in. I'm hungry. And
now. my dear boy, If there is anything
eatable around just call 1t out, will
you p
We had neat little cupboard in con.
nection with our modest establishment,
where we generally stored a few things
suitable for light lunch. / set out all
could find in Il, and then turning on
the gas and drawing the blinds close,
turned and watched him while he ate.
That's good" he said at last, push
ing his chair back from the table and
lighting cigar, and then squared him
self in front of me to tell the story.
"You remember, Fred, that when /
left here was in some doubt as to
which side had employed me? Prob
ably you will recall my fear that was
to be employed to shield the assassin"
nodded.
"Well," he continued, "that is just
what | have done"
stared at him, but made no reply
"Yes," he replied, "that Is Just what
/ have done. You see, on my arrival
at Detroit l called at once on Mrs
Morton. She is widow, Fred, and
just as-but pshaw There is no use in
my trying to describe her. Anyway, l
called on her and found out why she
had employed me.
"You see," he continued, sat the
time of the murder certain person
one Isaac Sharpley-was found bend
ing over the body. He submitted to
arrest and was detained until after the
inquest. Claire-that Is, Mrs. Nor
aforementioned that messenger had
come from the station for her husband,
and that Mr.. Morton had called on
Sharpley in his cell, but as they were
well acquainted with both him and the
murdered man she paid no attention tc
1t at the time.
"After her husbands 8 death, how
ever, which occurred some months
later, she found among his papers
proof that Mr.. Morton had paid this
Sharpley $4,000. This aroused hel
suspicion that all was not right, and
without waiting to consult her friends
she had sent for me-"
"After considerable trouble / found
that Sharpley's family had left Detroit
for Saginaw, and as they had taken
some of their household goods with
them thought II pretty sure that they
could easily be found. f"
Before starting after them, how
ever, | had another interview will
Claire-with Mrs. Morton, | mean"
Il told her that l mnst know more
about her late husband. Had he beer
| good to herr"
"She looked at me tearfully. Can
you do without this?' she asked softly
he is dead now
81 hated myself for persisting, bu
my theory of the case was formed, ant
could not help 1t. So after somC
trouble l found out that her late hus
band had been very unkind to her a
times. She is very beautiful and h,
was jealous-not of auy one person
but of every one that came near her.
with this additional information
started for Saginaw, and without diff
Guilty located my man in little tow
near by.
HE was in drunken delirium whei
| got there, and 1t required time an,
some skill to open his mouth. 1t wa
only when he knew that he could no
live that could induce him to talk
Then found that my theory was tn
right one.
This man had witnessed the mur
der Of Charles Alden. lie had beel
lying under tree on the opposite sid
of the street, waiting until the cool al
| Of ihn nucninn shnnll snhnr him IL