Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-22

ting to ask by what means he had effect
ed his unexpected appearance. ''The
best thing you can do is to go for the po-
lice. -
"Send for them, I think you mean
| sir, - said Mr.. Padger. "Not go, not
/ go. There are several little things I
must look at here before we have a crowd
tramping in and out.
AS Mr.. Padger, from the platform in
| front, requested some one to fetch the po-
lice and a stretcher the excitement out
| side increased a hundredfold, but there
was an expression of determination on his
| eyes which effectually prevented anyone
| from attempting to satisfy his curiosity
by forcIble entrance, and he was only
! followed by murmur of dissatisfaction
as he disappeared once more i'll the in
| terror.
The silence was unbrOlen for some
time, save by the banded questions and
! ordinations from outside, drowning the
whisper of the waves. The doctor was
| reyeTentIy wrapping the BODY of the I'M
| fortunate woman III towels while Mr..
| Padger was busily occupied with a piece
| of paper, and something that interested
| INN upon the floor.
q beg your pardon, sir, - he re-
marked at length. a. wound like that
would probably bleed good deal, would
| it not?
'sProbably, - replied the doctor, who
was now merely awaiting the arrival of
the police.
81 thought so. Thank you. -
And Mr.. PadgeT plunged once more
into his note book.
Presently decided increase was per-
ceptible in the volume and tone of the
| hubbub outside, and moment after
wards a heavy knock fell upon the door,
and the tramp of feet sounded upon the
steps without
''Hho is there?'' said Mr.. Padger, as
the doctor awoke with q startled look
from 4 reveTie in which he had been alb
sorbed for some time.
''Police, - w&s the gruff answer.
8. Come in.
The men entered letting in an almost
painful glare OF light when fell upon the
mob of pale upturned faces Oh the beach.
The body was placed upon the stretcher.
the poor woman : clothes were gathered
into a bundle, and the mournful process
sion set out, followed by the crowd of
eager wOnderers.
The doctor having given his name and
address to the superintendent went his
way. and two rHeu alone remained be-
seals upon the doors of the machine, and
Mr.. Padger.
81 say my man. said the latter to a
fisherman who strOned up TO look al the
scene Of such thrilling event, after the
departure Of the officer, ''is the tide COM
ing in or going out?''
''What's the tirne?'' said the man,
after a leisurely look a the sea.
''Ten minutes to two, - replied Mr..
Padger consulting his watch
1.-The tide begins TO make at quarter
past -
''Then it will be low water about ten
minutes past, eh?'
Between five and that, - said the
man, lUating of as his curiosity was sat
flied.
The water had ebbed away from the
wheels, leaving dry path all round the
machine, and Sir. PGlger walked round |
and round it, regarding it from every
point Of view as if il were a work Of art,
ana making an occasional entry III his I
notebooks. To an ignorant bystander !
his proceedings would have appeared |
meaningless, not to say idiotIc, but he |
knew very well what he was about, and |
was carefully taking bearings SO as 10 be |
able to exactly locate the position of the |
machine at any future time.
When he had concluded this operation /
TO his complete satisfaction he once more
looked at his watch.
Ten minutes past two, - he muttered |
TO himself, with glance OF disapproval
at the undulating margin of the sea.
He returned 20 the machine, and sit
ting on the back steps deliberately took
off his boots and socks and rolled his
trousers up above his knees.
1t is not unusual at some of the cheaper
seaside resorts to see men and even wO-
men of mature age padding like infants
and with rs much simple enjoyment, but
MIR Padger did not look like the one to
indulge in such a frivolous amusement.
1t was, however, obviously his inten-
ton.
Slowly he waded out into the clear
green water. II it was madness, there
was evidently method in it, for he
wandered backwards and forwards in
parallel lines Of increasing length, ad-
yaucing further and further out, like u
dog quartering a field for game, with a
strange eXpectant expression on his face
He was nearly at the limit of his range,
the rlpples already Tapped above his knee
when he suddenly stopped, and began
cropping on the firm white sands with the
he east a quick glance round, and bal
lucing himself on his left leg while
slowly raising the other to the surface,
hastily clutched something which he held
firmly gripped between the toes and the
sole, and after quick glance al it thrust
t all dripping into his pocket.
81 thought as much, - he said, as he
Yaded back 20 the beach.
That afternoon, after he had finished
lis dinner, he carefully locked the door
# his sitting room, and taking from his
pocket the object he had been at so much
pains to obtain, laid 1t on the table be-
ore him.
1t was a sharp-ponted Spanish KNIFE,
uch as are sold As souvenirs liz the south
# France, with a strong curved blade
about i've inches long, and a mother-of-
pearl handle.
''Pretty toy, said Mr.. Padger grimIy,
Is he examined the point. Looks like
woman.
Number one, - he added after long
pause, during which he was buried in
meditationS. and Eeturning the
Weapon to his pocket% he went out to
lave an interview with the coroner.
CHAPTER II.