Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-04
CHAPTER X.

ItyWaS' an awful sight. There was an
expression of pain upon the gray upturned
face, and it is the sacred truth that my
feelings were those of a man upon whom
had fallen a most terrible and overwhelm-
ing blow. For few moments, support
ing in my arms the inSensible form of my
dear wife, this, and no other, was the i'm
preston produced upon me by the awful
incident. But it is the sacred truth as
well that my agitation presently assumed
another phase. My uncle was dead-he
had died before he could carry into execu-
tion the stern and ruthless design which
would have shattered the happiness of
my beloved ones. They had escaped the
sentence he would have pronounced upon
them.
lis it true Richard?" whispered my
wife. MY God!-is it true?'
cit is as true that he is dead" said Mr..
MorTlock, between his teeth, las that he
has been murdered"
An exclamation of horror burst from my
lips, aud from the lips of my wife. Mdlle.
Resale was silent.
1T is impossible" Isaid: at cannot ber'
Look herer said Mr.. Mortlock.
He turned down the bed-clothes, and
pointed to thin circle round the dead
mans neck.
He has been strangled," said Mr.. Mort
lock, lin his sleepr'
Heaven have mercy upon himf' muir
INJURED my wife, in a low shudderiEg voice.
1T will have" said Mr. Mortloek, mo
mercy upon his murderer"
at is strange" said Mdlle. Rosalie, find
ing her voice, that nothing has been seen
of Mr.. Samuel Fleetwood"
mo, nop' cried my wife, Mortified st the
suggestion.
But, said Mdlle Rosalie, with persist
ence, 1T is strange, is it not, sir?"
ut is" l mechanically replied; che must
be found
meanwhile" said Mr.. MortIock, this
is matter for the police"
For the policer exclaimed.
''For the police" repeated Mr.. Mortlock-
"a wicked murder has been committed in
your house. Do you propose to hush 1t
up?"
NO." replied, ST do not. Your insinu-
alton is injurious and offensive"
Perhaps" he retorted, with bitter en-
phasis, las injurious and offensive as you
have considered my presence in your house
to have been"
"Ah," / said, "you have observed that!'
"Oh, hush, hushl'' murmured my wife.
"We are in the presence of death"
felt the force of her reproof, and I
turned from Mr. Mortlock, and gazed
about the room. There were no signs of q
struggle visible, not trace of disorder.
The dead mans clothing was folded by
his bedside: the despatch-boX, locked, was
in its place on the floor at the head of the
bed; even the bed-clothes were smoothly
arranged.
1.-The first and instant thing to be done"
said Mr.. Mortlock, lis to lock these rooms
and to call in the police"
The advice was proper and practical.
The communicating door could not be
locked. having been broken in; but I
locked the door of Fleetwood's room.
With the key in my pocket, l and those
who were with me proceeded to the ground
floor. Whether it was brought about by
accident or design, know not, but Mdlle.
Rosalie and | were side by side moment
or two. in the rear of my wife and Mr..
MoruIocK.
.'Strangled, he said, SIR" she whispered
Eyes" replied, mechanically.
'aThe rope must have been thtn," she
whispered. did you notice how narrow
the mark was round his neckP
| nodded, and passed on, and, seeing
Mdlle. Rosalie's brother, Redwing, In the
garden, called to him, and babe him take
note, which hastily wrote, to the police
station. As soon afterwards, as was prac-
ticable three officers presented themselves
an inspector, an ordinary policeman,
and detectlve-and / conducted them to
the apartment in which the dead body of
my uncle was lying. At the inspectors re-
c1est, handed him the key of Fleetwood s
room. and he took possession also of the