Telegram-herald., 1889-11-25


Yes, but l don't follow you closely
now"
And suppose that Pierson was an as
sumed name IL middle lie 20 escape the
CONSEQUENCES Of a devious way OF living,
and that, having had two llleglumate
sons, he had third. legitimate son,
whose mother he had abandoned, and
that son was Templeton-TemPleton,
whom Providence had removed from
Fountains path-thzt is % say, Proyi-
dence ii the shspe Of a sharp knife in
the hands Of Harry Fountain.
You take my breath away. And
what them
why, you have the motive for the
murder"
"But how do you bring Messing in?'
Il don't bring him in; he is there only
from the fact that he inquiries for Pier
sons papers"
And that he was present al the muir
der; don't forget that in your theoriz-
ing"
Il don't; IL is nothing, a mere coinci-
dence, but one Of those curious joining
OF lines and crossing of paths, which if
not carefully avoided confuse the judg-
ment and mislead you-which makes
truth always SO much stranger than fic-
ton"
Messing would have the same mo-
tive for getting Templeton out Of the
way!'
But he didn't do the deed; and be-
sides, Messing is not a man who would
pursue any point TO death and who could
do deliberate murder; a glance is sufii
cient 10 determine that-he is weak. On
the contrary, Fountain would. We have
both agreed TO that"
But" said Tom, lis not your theory
fanciful? There is a great deal to sup
pose. / admit that, so far as Fountain
is concerned, it is plausible"
"Only plausible above the rest because
YOU have certain ascertained facts or
statements OF himself and Flora TO rea-
son upon. Fountain is proposing to seek
fortune; Persons fortune lies waiting
to be sought; Fountain inquiries here
about Persons papers, and admits to
Flora that he called upon me in refer
ence TO that enterprise. Flora is horror
stricken at the idea of his coming to me.
who saw the murderer at a distance, and
who pretended to see more than did.
These are the connecting links which
make the reasoning seem plausible as to
Fountain. You seem TO stumble over
the idea that there must have been some
knowledge of Messing by Fountain, and
of Fountain by Wessing."
Il confess it"
at is not necessary TO the truth of my
theory that they should not have knowl
edge or that they should See here:
Suppose Fountain did know of Messing,
which / wholly doubt, and that he was
an illegitimate son also, it would make
no difference in his enterprise of killing
Templeton. II would be the legitimate
heir he would have 10 be rid of before
he or any other illegitimate heir could
pretend 10 have claim on the unclaimed
fortune"
There is q true reasoning in that.
But you have no basis for supposing
there was any abandonment of Temple
tons mother"
Holbrook had been pacing up and
down as he was thus reasoning. Upon
Toms remark he turned quickly around
and bringing his hands together with
resounding whack he exclaimed:
"Yes, by Heaven, have! Mrs. Tenn
pleton told me that her father had left
her on her mothers death to the care of
an aunt, and went to Philadelphia; that
subsequently a rumOr of his marriage
had reached them. but was never veri-
fed. That was after they had heard of
his death abroad"
1.-The facts in this case come out slow
"" said Tom. The line of inquiry to
follow is the Pierson line. Why not
push your inquiries with Mrs. Temple
ton. See if it is not possible to connect
the Templetons with Pierson."
"Ill do it. and at once. You'll go
with me too. won't your
Yes. I'll 90 with you, and would be
glad to-"
Bot haven't we already ground
enough to begin a judicial inquiry"
"No: wait until have established the
Identification Of Fountain with the man
who purchased the clothes. "T'H 20
about it now and then meet you"
"But I say. Tom, if Fountain don't
own the gold button. who does?"
III be hanged II I can tell-that il
one Of the puzzles in this most puzzling
Of all cases
Tom hurried OF to bis friend, the
l., H. 4
obtain a surrePtitious portrait Of Foun-
tain.
"weIl, how did you make out?T asked
Tom.
First rat,- got two views Of him
profile and fulI face" de took them
from his desk
Tom inspected them closely. "Capi
tai, he said. perfect pictures
What are You going - do with
themY' asked the leader writer.
Pardon me- said Tom. II am in =
desperate hurry, and if do not vait 70
explain and thank you Tor them you vii
ercufe me- I know
Then be went 20 The clothing store and
found the olork
What k.nd = time did you have on
Youu eianln nake'"
Bang up." said Tom '5es here. vou
rrroi'eet my asking yea if you could
ideaufY ths man ~ha hntsht thst sult--
ths aiAn outside ~ q S 7 80
Yes
"W su here's ths naa suspeet r.
fou f- .ell s- htalf
Tie slefh taas fhs photographs sad
exaafa-.f cham rafafatlF