Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-29
CHAPTER ".
MP. PADGER PAYS 4 GAIL.

That afternoon Mr.. PadgeT held long
consultation with himself. HIS position
with regard to the inquiry he was bent
upon making into the circumstances of
the Westcliffe murder was, he felt, most
unsatisfactory Owing, fortunately. to
the intelligence displayed by the coroner
he had been enabled, unknown TO the
outside public, TO arrange the conduct of
the inquest to suit his own aims. but if
he was to continue his Investigations with
any chance of ultimate success he must
obtain some authority to support his ex-
ertions. As plain, Independent, unOf-
fetal seeker for the truth many sources
of important information would be closed
to him of which he could avail himself
without let or hindrance if he was en-
ployed by some one directly interested in
the matter.
The police would naturally engage
their own agents, but under the circum-
stances he did not fear much from their
rivalry. There had been as FAR as he
knew, but one clue in the machine itself.
That had altogether escaped the notice OF
the constables when they visited the
place, and had now long since disap-
peared for ever, while the only record of
il was in his possession.
One course alone remained for him to
pursue, and after some elaboration he
decided to take it without further delay.
II Z would obtain the necessary authority,
and perhaps the promise of a substantial
reward from Mr.. Ennis himself, the
husband Of the murdered woman.
1t was already dusk when he entered
III
stood back some distance from the road,
and was entirely surrounded by a large
garden covered for the most part with a
thick growth of somber lex trees and
smaller evergreen shrubs.
At one time it had probably been
upon the extreme outskirts of the town,
but more recent buildings had spread
lar beyond it INTO the country, and 1t
now seemed nearly ii the center of the
place.
A general air Of gloom pervaded it de-
pTessingly in the dim twilight and Mr..
Padger, though not as a rule particularly
sensitive 10 external impressions, was
struck by the dismal approprlff teaesS4 hot
the spot to the CHASTITY event nat HAD. 50
recently cast a shadoFgpver NA inhaD-
itants. f.
A man with down bent -neJ3sS, and hagds
clasDed behind his back las pac7kE
slowly up and down q small lawn on the
right Of the river, and Mr.. Padger was
glad 90 recognize the pale, stern face
and grizzied hair OF the genSIGfua9 who
had that morning declared kllnseleSSo be
1iT. Ennis. Re intera2Iy coSSratulated
himself on his good Buck asAsshe ap-
preached, Tor he wishedS&f possible, for
good reasons OF his own, t& avoidsfor the
present being seen by any of the domes-
ties At MonplaisIr.
Mr.. Ennis, I believe, - said Mr..
Padgcr, when ne was sufficiently near,
Eyes, said the other, with an SIR q /
considerable surprise. H.. =.
''liy name is Paagera., faEcontifEsd.
Indeed remarked; 3Lr Kanis nF$a
tone that conveyed as clearly as spok efiS.
words, - What Is that TO me?' 7
81 IN a detective, - said Mr.. Padger
in reply to tie Unuttered implication
There was a pause, slight but unmis-
taxable, before Mr.. Ennis once more re-
marked dryly-
''ludeed!''
''Now with regard to this unfortunate
affair, - resumed Mr.. Padger, IN /
daunted by this cool reception, 81 take /
il for granted that il is your wish to have /
II thoroughly cleared up. -
Mr.. Ennis did not reply for some time, /
but Is Mr.. Padger intimated clearly by /
his persistent silence that he intended to /
wait for an answer, he said al length:
"Yes-oh, yes-of course -
"Exactly, - said Nj. Padger brislzIy. /
''Now / happened by q singular piece Of /
good fortune to obtain one or two small
pieces of information which may turn /
out subsequently, to be of considerable !
value. - aGS$FA /
Indeed, - said Mr.. Ennis agstn, Who'll
seemed to resolve to cesfne hiasE elf as
much as possible to tha& .sIngulaSzg safe
remark 81 y
Now what propose IS that you give
me Your permission to continue the in
yestigation -
90 Is my permission necessary?''
"No, no. In one sense, of course
not, but 10y permission 1 also imply as
slStanCe. -
Mr.. Padger fixed his eyes rigidIy on
Mr.. Ennis as he said this, and perceived
IN spite of the gathering darkness d spas
mode witch of the eyelids. 49,
In what way?' Th9i w6TdsesEere
spoken slowly as if scTeweaksut. W
''Do you agree?' insisted Ns.. Padger,
determined 70 extract an answer
Look here, said Mr.. {9s6fS Seeking
refuge in a certain rougfness from hfs
evident embarrassment, bat Go you
expect to get by this - Is.
"Weu, - replied Mr. Pad9&g baahdly,
II imagine you viii offer sSgfe reward -
"Eeward." cried Nr. sEnnis, as -; {
startled by the suggestion. ''Y es-sSfEes.
I suppose I must mean, shall a..
''Eow i take it that you would wishLas Il
much as possible to avoid al unnecessary
pubHcty.' ,, i
90 les, yes. certainly 3, excla4'ned+s9R As855
Ennis, eagerly y.
rBrr..fsa4-- ~ 800 A..
Duct of this affair 10 me rSou give me
all She assistance I asl-It won I be much /
and when I come 10 you and say There 7
Is the murderer, you pay me 500. -
on think yoU can lind hIm?'' K
Ir. PadGeT paused. There was pc
cu!iar drawing accent in the voice Is
which puzzled him. Il might haze bean &
accident, it might have Reen nSSkerys
or even apprehension. .4shat rs 40
cause of the reserve, of the maflSSd III
willingness OF this man? why was he so
obviously anxious to shun inquiry: