Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-25
CHAPTER ".
Mr.. PADGER PAYS A CALL.

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 a 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 OF 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
It was in ms possession.
One course alone remained for him to
pursue, and after some elaboration he
decided to take it without further delay.
He would obtain the necessary authority,
and perhaps the promise of a substantial
reward from Mr.. Ennis himself, the
husband of the murdered woman.
It was already dusk when he entered
the gates of MonplaisiT. The house
stood back some distance from the road,
and was entirely surrounded by a large
garden covered for the most part with
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
far beyond it INTO the country, and it
now seemed nearly in the center of the
place.
a general air of gloom pervaded it de-
pressingly in the dim twilight, and Mr..
Padger, though not as a rule particularly
sensitive TO external impressions, was
struck by the dismal appropriateness of
the spot to the CHASTITY event that had so
recently cast a shadow over its inhab-
itants.
A man with down bent head and hands
clasDed behind his back was pacing
slowly up and down a small lawn on the
right Of the river, and Mr.. PadgeT was
glad to recognize the pale, stern face
and grizzled hair of the gentleman who
had that morning declared himself to be
MT. Ennis. He internally congratulated
himself on his good luck as he ap-
preached, for he wished if possible, for
good reasons OF his own, TO avoid for the
present being seen by any of the dOmes-
ties at MonplaisIT.
Mr.. Ennis, l believe, - said Mr.
Padger, when he was sufficiently near
Eyes, - said the other, with an air of
considerable surprise.
''My name is Padger, - he continued e.
''Indeed!'' remarked Mr.. Ennis in a
tone that conveyed as clearly as spoken
words, what is that to me?''
81 m a detective, - said Mr.. Padger
IN reply to the unuttered implication.
There was pause, slight but unmis-
taxable, before Mr.. Ennis once more re-
marked dTyIy-
Indeed! -
''Now with regard to this unfortunate
affair, - resumed Mr.. Padger, I'M
daunted by tins cool reception, 81 take
it for granted that it is your wish to have
il thoroughly cleared up
Mr.. Ennis did not reply for some time
but as Mr.. Padger intimated clearly by
his persistent silence that he intended TO
wait for an answer, he said at length:
''Nes-Oh, yes--Of course -
EXACTLY, . said Nj. Padger briskly.
Now l happened by a singular piece of
good fortune to obtain one or two small
pieces Of information which may turn
ont subsequently TO be of considerable
value. -
Indeed, - SAID Mr.. Ennis again, who
seemed TO resolve to cOnfine himself as
much as possible to that sIngularIy safe
remark.
Now what propose is that you give
me your permission to continue the iu-
vestigation. "
lis my permission necessarily
ono, mo. IN one sense, of course
not, but 'lly permission l also imply as
sIstauCe ''---
Mr.. Padger fixed his eyes Eigfdly on
Mr.. Ennis as he said this, and perceived
in spite of the gathering darkness a spas
modic twitch of the eyelids.
In what way?'' The words were
spoken slowly as if screwed out.
Do yOu agree? insisted Mr.. Padger ,
determined 10 extract an answer.
Look here, - said Mr.. Ennis, seeking
refuge in a certain rOughness from his
evident embarrassment, ''what do you
expect to get by this?''
"Wen, - replied Mr.. Padger blandly
81 imagine you viii offer some reward. -
''Reward.'' cried NIr. Ennis, as if
startled by the suggestion. ''Yes-yes.
] suppose I must mean, shall. -
" Nov I take it that you would wish as
much as possible to avoid all unnecessary
publicity.
Eyes, yes, certainly, - exclaimed Mr.
Ennis, eagerly.
''Precisely. Now you commit the con-
duct of this affair to me. You give me
all the assistance I ask-It won I be much
and when l come TO You and say There
is the murderer, - you pay me fIO0. -
You think you can find hump
Mr.. PadgeT paused. There was q Pc
cu!iar drawing accent in the voice
which puzzled him. 1t might have been
accident, IT might have been mockery
or even apprehension. What was the
cause of the reserve, of the marked un-
Willingness Of this man? Why was he 50
obviously anxious to shun inquiry?
''Do you agree?'' said Mr. PadgeI
once more.
''Yes-I suppose so-it viii be best
perhaps. -
Very well, - cried Mr.. Padger.
Now for your assistance.
THAT can be but slight. l know
nothing Of the case, l was in London on
haF do