The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-08-02

| Jooh
An exclamation of horror burst from my
TIPS and from the lips of my wife. Mdlis.
! Rosalie wRs silent,
at Is Impossible" said at cannot bel"
Look here" said Mr.. MGrtlock.
| He turned down the bedclothes, and
pointed to II thin circle round the dead mans
mock.
''He has been straugied," said Mr.. Mort.
lock, 'in his Sleep"
Heaven have mercy upon him?" mur-
mnrod my wife, in low, shaddering voice.
1T will have" said Mr. Mortloc&, "no
mercy upon his murderer"
| 1T is strange" said Mdllo. Rosalie, finding
her voice, that nothing has been seen of Mr..
Samuel Fleetwood"
'No, y" cried my wife. Mortified at the
suggestion.
"But," said Mdlle. Rosaic, with persist
ence, "it is strange, is it not, sir?"
! at is mechanically replied; "ho must
be found"
Meanwhile" said Mr.. Mor'lock, "this ia
matter for the police"
For the police p exclaimed
| "For the poAce," repeated Mr. Mortlock.
GA wicked murder has been committed In
your house. Do you propose to hush it up?"
| ''No," replied, Il do not. Your insinu-
alton is injurious and offensive
! Perhaps" he retorted, with bitter empha-
| sis, 'as injurious and offensive as you have
considered my presence in your house to
| have been"
"Ah," said, "you have observed that!"
| ."Oh, hush, hush I" murmured my wife.
| ''We are in the presence OF DEATH"
! felt the force Of her reproof, and turned
| from Mr.. Mortlock, and gazed about the
room. There were no signs OF u struggle
visible, not a trace Of disorder The dead
mans clothing was folded by his bedside; the
! despatch-box, locked, was in it's place on tho
| floor at the head OF the bed; even the bed
clothes were smoothly arranged.
| The first and instant thing to be DONE"
said Mr.. Mortlock, sis to lock these rooms
and to Gail in the police"
The advice was proper and practical. The
communicating door could not be locked,
having been broken In but locked the door
OF Fleetwoods room. With the key In my
| pocket, I and those who were with me pro-
ceeded to the ground floor. Whether it was
brought about by accident or design, know
not, but Mdlle. Rosalie and I were side by
side a moment or two, in the rear OF my
wife and Mr.. Mortlock.
'Strangled, he said, STRIP" she whispered.
Yes" l replied, mechanically.
"Thc rope must have been thin," she
whispered. "Did you notice how narrow
the mark was round his neck2"
nodded. and passed on, and seeing Mdlle.
Rosaiie's brother, Redwing. in the garden.
called to him, aud badc him take a note.
which hastily wrote, to tho police station.
As soon afterwards us WIS practicable three
officers presented themselves-an inspector,
an ordinary policeman, and detective -and
l conducted them to the apartment In which
the dead body of my uncle was lying. At
the inspectors request handed him the
key OF Fleetwoods room, and he took pos
session also of the key of my uncle's room,
which was In the lock, inside.
"These rooms are now in your charge, sir
said the inspector to me, land no one must
enter them without permission"
Il understand that" said.
At the examination which they then pro-
ceeded to make only Mr.. Mortlock and 1 were
present of uny household. My wife had no
wish to accompany us. Mdlle. Rosalie had
expressed her willingness to do so, but she
WIS not allowed
did not require prompting TO relate to the
officers Ill that l knew concerning my uncle's
movements which, in my judgment, had any
bearing upon the matter l said nothing of
tn" conversation which so vi,ally affected my
future prospects in life. for l deemed II
purely private affair. Mr.. Mortlock then
supplied the officers with information, and
learned that he had been with my uncle In
his bedroom after they had both wished us
good might. He had remained with my uncle
half an hour or so in private converse, and,
to my relief, nothing fell from his lips as he
spoke to the officers with respects to Eunice.
He had concluded his narrative when be
made remark which, had l not kept q
strong guard over my feelings, would have
brought the tell-tHlc blood to my face. The
officers had turned down the bedclothes, and
my uncle's hands were lying by his side.
Mr. Mortlock stopped and looked at them.
"Mr. Wilmot," he said, had diamond
ring on his finger last night. 1t was a single
stone ring, and the diamond was of fine
sparkle. and attracted my attention"
They searched the room for tho ring, and
assisted them, the ring being all tho time in
my pocket. l dared not produce it, fearing
the construction that might be placed upon
Its being in my possession.
THAT looks" said the inspector, "as II
robbery were the motive. The murderers is
in DANGER the ring can be identiaed?"
II will swear to it, said Mr.. Mortock.
"You sec, gentlemen" remarked the in
spector, "these fellows generally supply us
with clew. That ring discovered, We shall
soon lay hands on the murderer"
And yet" observed Mr.. Mortlock, "u
hardly looks rs ii robbery We're tho motive.
! Mr.. Wilmot's watch and chain have not
been touched"
THAT doesn't matter" said tho inspector !;
ait is left to put US off the scent What is In
that despatch-boX?"
"a large sum OF money!" replied, land
some valuable jewels. On the night of Mr..
Wllmots arrival here-that is, the night be-
fore last--l assisted him to count the money.
There were five thousand pounds"
! The inspector gave II low whisper of as-
constituent. That's large sum TO carry
ubout--a dangerous sum. 1t is putting
temptation into mems way"
1T was Mr.. Wiimot's whim," said Mr..
Mortlock. II travelled with him abroad for
some time, and he seldom carried less than