Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-25
Copyrighted 1889 by s. S. Mcclure.

naturally, but his brain was busy with
doubts and suspicious.
"Have you no suspicious, Mr.. Ennis! -
he went on.
"No, none.
The answer came prompt and resolute,
but Mr.. Padger recolIected the hesitation
he had noticed in the reply to the same
question that morning, and wondered
more and more.
"What do you know about your wife's
previous history?' he asked.
(Which wife?'' said Mr.. Ennis.
Mr.. Padger looked at him without re-
plying.
''Have 1 got to deal with a simple,
clumsy fool?'' was the reflection aroused
in his mind by this childish evasion, and
Mr. Ennis read his meaning so plainly
that he flushed.
"Of course, - he stammered. ''YOu
mean my second wife? Nottingham s
very little.
"Hump!,' thought Mr.. Padger.
"'That IS strange, - he said.
''I met her at Chettenham. She was
Mrs. Ford, widow. 1 took a liking
to her and married her. -
"Knowing nothing of her antece-
dents?' queried Mr.. Padger.
''No; why should I?'' said Mr.. Ennis
irritably. ''They were nothing to me.
She was a lady, and that was all Ircared
for -
"Quite so, quite so, - remarked Mr..
Padger soothingly, seeing that it was
useless to push his enquiries further in
that direction. ''WilI you allow me to
inspect the rooms she Occupied?'
''Now?''
cat once, if it would be quite conyen-
lent. -
''Why?''
''I should like to take a look round. 1
might come across something to give me
q hint in which direction to look. -
ooh, all right, if you particularly
wish It, assented Mr.. Ennis grudg-
ingly.
He led the way and Mr.. Padger fol-
lowed in silence up the broad wooden
staircase to a suit of three luxuriously
furnished rooms.
''These are the rooms,'' said Mr..
Ennis, as he lighted the gas.
Mr.. Padger threw round him a quick,
! comprehensive glance, which seemed to
linger on nothing, yet noted everything.
| One fact alone impressed him. On the
hearth lay a heap of blackened ashes,
| the remnant of burned papers. He
| looked at them and turned to Mr.. En-
mis-, who flushed strangely as their eyes
! met.
''Some unimportant papers of my
wife, - he murmured.
g Which she destTOyed?''
! t'No-I.''
| Mr.. Padger made no further remark,
! but devoted himself to a seemingly eX-
! haustive examination of various Indiffer-
! ent triles, while he was really engaged
! in devising some scheme for being left
alone for awhile in the apartment. MIR
! Ennis relieved himself of the necessity
! by making some lame excuse and with
! drawing.
With d spring like a tigers Mr.. Pad
! ger Ieaped to the hearth, but the flames
| had done their work thoroughly, and the
! ashes crumbled TO fragments in his hand.
''Too late, Pa1ger, my boy, he said
! ruefully, as he carefully wiped the tips
| of his fingers.
A moment afterwards Mr.. Ennis re-
! entered and Padger, whose observant
/ faculties were now at full stretch, saw
! him cast a hasty and furtive glance at
! the hearth, followed by a look of in
! tense relief.
well, MIR. Ennis, - said Padger, "I
! need detain you no longer.
Won't you take something's said
| the old gentleman, Hospitality.
mo; thank you.
''Then | will ring for the servant. -
''Pardon me, - said Mr.. Padger,
| quickly iuterposing., lit is Important
! for the present that none of your house
/ hold should see me. If it is not too much
trouble would you kindly show me out
/ yourself. -
"Oh certainly, certainly. "
''Then l may depend upon your said
/ hn IN
''You may depend upon me-, - echoed
! Mr.. Ennis slowly.
! There was discreet, carefully sup
! pressed, but undoubted merriment in
the servants hail at Monplaisir that
night.
Parkes, the goodman, had strolled
/ over in the evening as was his invariable
custom after his days work, to the
| Three Pigeons, an adjacent public house
| kept by a landlord of sporting tendencies
! to take n quiet pipe and a glass of whisky
and water.
| AS he was enjoying this expensive lux
| ury together with the pTOgnOstications
OF a sporting paper a pleasant spoken
| stranger entered, and, having ordered q
| drink, inquired of his companion the
latest odds against particular horse en-
| tered for an approaching great event in
| the racing world. Ine Information
/ given led naturally to n discussion of the
| peculiar merits and failiugs of that and
! other horses, and of their respective
chances of coming in first, and this to
| racing matters in general.
Their opinions agreed so remarkably
| that PaTkes quickly warmed to his new
| acquaintance, and before long the latter
! had offered to stand q drink, and the
proposed refreshment was graciously ac-
! cepted, speedily procured and as
promptly consumed. Finally Mr.. Parkes
had invited his friend of an hour, who
gave his name as Mr.. Brander, TO step
| over to their place and have bit of sup
| per, an immense AMI unwonted conde-
! scensiou which the fascinating stranger
| fully appreciated and to which he at
| once acceded his full assent.
On his arrival he soon made himself at
home with the company, and devoted his
attentions particularly to Miss Ennis ;
maid, a very pretty girl named Mary
! Carue.
After some general conversation the
| agreeable visitor casually referred to the
! murder which was one absorbing topic
of conversation throughout WeStciiffe