Wichita eagle., 1889-11-24

nao not been pH any means coiAWnsC&
tive, had adruldy avoided direct answers
to direct questions, and had tried TO draw
upon Dolwen fer recollection OF the pa
pers of Pierson WHEN in tha office.
As these principally related 70 htiga-
ton over the collecting of business debts,
and the settling II partnership enterprise
and specalations, wholly commercial and
financial affairs. Doiweu's recollection
had interested him 6ttfe.
| He had asked how much Pierson had
left, and Dolwel thought over two mil
Ions. His only significant question was
| this:
Had Mr. Dolwen reason to suppose
| that Pierson had ever borne any other
| name;"
"Ah.' cried Tom, ''that is getting
warm What was Dolwell's reply:'
mo, upon the contrary he had every
reason to believe he had not; he had first
known of Mr.. Pierson twenty-five years
| ago, and ne then bore that name, and
was known as reputable merchant"
This thing is very perplexing," re-
marked Tom thoughtfully. Il cannot
make out the connection. Messing is
here making inquiries with regard to
Pierson's papers: Fountain makes the
same inquiry, and vet so far as we are
enabled to ascertain there is no relation
between the two.
Holbrook was pacing up and down his
narrow room in profound thought. FL
naliy he said:
tom, the case stands like this. Now,
follow me closely: Templeton is murdered
in the open streets and there is no APP
parent motive for the deed. Circun-
stances, wholly arising from Flora Ash
groves manner and words, point the way
| to suspicious of Fountain"
'.Good, follow you"
'As soon as we set inquiry on foot we
run against the dead Person. Messing
inquiries for his papers, 80 does Fountain. ]"
Eyes, and so does Parker"
"Oh. that is nothing; he is an attorney.
probably acting for one brother of them.
| Don't interrupts NE. You destroy the con-
tinuity of my thought. To get back-so
| does Fountain Now. III the talk be-
| tween Flora and Fountain, overheard by
| you, there are three points made-first,
| Fountain is ;nillegitimate son: second,
he is proposing to engage upon an enter
prise in the following of which is in
! volved the exposure of his illegi1macy;
third, Providence has removed Temple
ton from his path"
| "Oh, no, ] begin to see your drift.
"Now to weave these facts. Let us
make some suggestions. Suppose Pier
son was one of those men who, having a
/ fair and reputable business exterior,
lived double or even triple private life.
| This is not wild supposition-there are
| plenty of such instances; the records of
| the courts are full of them. Now TO pro-
! coed: Note that Messing is making in
! ouiries hecause-now mark-because his
mofner-his mother mark you, thinks
then she is An heir"
| Good. / follow; follow"
''Now, suppose Messing should be a
son of Persons under another name,
| that would account for his inquiries af-
ter Persons property in SO guarded a
manner, wouldn't it?'
Eyes"
"And suly,ese since Fountain &C
knowiedges thai he Is an 1hegitimate
son. he was another son of Persons by
another mother, that would account fol-
his inquiries.
Eyes, but don't follow you closely
now"
"And suppose that Pierson was an as
sumed name in middle life to escape the
consequences of a devious way of living,
and that, having had two illegitimate
sons, he had third, Legitimate son,
whose mother he had abandoned, and
that son was Templeton-Templeton,
whom Providence had removed from
Fountains path-that is to say, Provi-
denoe in the shape 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?"
81 don't bring him in; he is there only
from the fact that he inquiries for Pier
sons papers"
"And that he was present at the muir
! der; don't forget that in your theoriz-
ing"
Il don't; it is nothing, mere coinci-
| dence, but ore Of those curious joining
Of lines and crossing of paths, which il
not carefully avoided confuse the judg
ment and mislead you-which makes
truth always so mnch stranger than nc
/ 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 wonld
pursue any point 10 death and who could
! do deliberate murder; glance is sufh-
( cient 10 determine tiIat-he is weak. On
the contrary, Fountain would. We have
| both agreed to tllat."
/ But" said Tom, "H not your theory
| fanoifaE There is a great deal 70 sup
| pose. / admit that, so far as Fountain
Is concerned, IT is plausible"
"Only plausible above the rest because
| you have certain ascertzined facts OF
statements Of himself and Flora TO rsa-
son upon. Fountain Is proposing 10 seek
/ fortune; Persons fortILs lies waiting
to he sought; Fountain inquiries here
j about Persons papers, and aduli,s tc
Flora that he called upon me ID refer
j ence TO that enterprise. Flora il horror
stricken q. the idea Of his coming 70 ne
I "A 4