Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-02-23


the headlines for the story of the murder.
"That | shall have to refuse to do"
said slowly.
"Refusel" shouted the night editor.
he is hasty man. you mustn't re-
fuse. You are the only man here who
knows her or who has been in the house."
Nevertheless" | said, II must refuse
to write anything about her or her
house for personal reasons. If can do
anything else"-
"Your personal reasons will prevent
you from doing anything at all for Tie
Daily Item if you don't do that" shouted
Mr.. Ferguson passionately, "for will
see that you are discharged at once"
"You may save yourself the trouble"
l said quietly. 81 will leave now," and
started for the door,
"There, don't be FOOL" said Fergu-
son, seeing that | was in earnest. "Yo1
know we must have the story, and you
know we will have it."
81 know that, but can't write it for
you," said |.
"Then yo1ll have to 60" said Fergu-
son, with an oath, and went. It was
serious step. but felt that there was no
alternative.
Half an hour later was seated in In
spector Wilson's private Office at police
headquarters.
81 sent for you" said the inspector,
"for two reasons-frst, because want
your help in this Gregory case, and, Sec
ond, because I'd rather have you here in
this way than to be obliged to arrest
you. We have been friends too long for
me to want to do that"
This was staggering. ARREST me for
WHAT" exclaimed.
"On suspicion in connection with this
case," said he.
! had been thinking as rapidly and
as closely as possibly could before he
said this, but when heard that within
two hours of the murder suspicion had
attached itself to me in some mysterious
way, entirely beyond my comprehension,
it became necessary for me to- think st i
harder and still more rapidly. 1t was
evident that there was to be a battle of
wits between the inspector and me at
once, and the question of advantage de-
pended largely on his sincerity in pro-
Tossing friendship for me. had known
him for several years and had always
been on good terms with him. More
over, had been of great service to him
more than once, as a newspaper man
may easily be to police officer, so thas
there was nothing very surprising in his
declaring himself my friend. Neverthe-
less he had never done so before in 20
many words, and | was suspicious.
Nothing was more probable than that
he was trying to confirm his own sus-
picions of me by leading me into some
damaging statement. determined to
ask as many questions and answer as
few as possible.
"It seems strange" said after very
short pause, "that you should desire my
aid in the case when you say | am under
suspicion. Moreover, do not see what
circumstances can possibly connect me
in your mind or in any ones else with
this murder"
"Then you think it was murder?"
said the inspector quickly.
II know nothing more about it than
what Captain Taylor said to our re-
porter, Hal Homiston," l replied as
quickly as he.
"Well, want your help because we
have worked together in more than one
mysterious case already, and | know you
for natural detective. The suspicion
which has been reported to me probably
arose from the mere fact of your being
an acquaintance of Mrs. Gregory's."
81 did not know that | was of sufficient
importance in the world to be reckoned
as one of her acquaintance" said l,
rather bitterly.
"That is fencing" said the inspector
promptly. "You certainly cannot deny
that you knew her. Now, Saunders, it
is your best policy to be frank with me.
You are suspected, though l do not my
self believe you have any knowledge of
the murder. Tell me all you know of
Mrs. Gregory and help me on the case.
1t is your best chance to avoid consider
able trouble"
While he was speaking decided that
it would be best to appear frank. Itwas
out of the question that should tell him
the whole truth, but l would be careful
to tell him nothing that was untrue.
II never saw Mrs. Gregory" l said,
until last summer, at least never to
my knowledge. Twas reporting yacht
ing cruise then for The Item, and was a
guest on board the yacht Mischief. The
owner entertained a party of friends at
and among the ladies was Mrs.
Gregory. I was introduced to her then,
and have met her at three or four social
events in the city since then. She was
pleased to remember me,
though have not been society man in
any sense for half dozen years past
and was present on those occasions sim
ply as reporter. That is the extent of
my acquaintance with Mrs. Gregory"
''H'm!" said the inspector, rather
as it seemed to me. ''Then
you didn't know her before you lost all
your money!"
Here was another surprise. I had not
that anybody in New York
knew that was once rich man. I,had
guarded that secret, / thought, very
but it seemed l was wrong.
The inspector was watching me as mar
rowly as was watching him, and
could see that he expected me to show
some surprise at his knowledge of my
affairs. ! disappointed him.
"No," ! said quietly. Il never met
her, as l told you, until I was intro
iuced to her on board the Mischief"
"Well, Saunders" said the inspector,
It seemed to me little sadly, II don't
want to force your confidence, for wheth-
sr you believe il Or not I am your friend.