The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-20

|
| gether. nay, more: there had been a
| suggestion of revenge for a lost
| game!"
Doubtless 1t was a question of money.
| The fact that the doctor had himself
| sent for an investigator went for moth
! ing; the doing so might simply be a
repetition of the blind used by Captain
Meldy in the Cats Eye robbery.
Money. then, was the motive for the
Oldby murder. and from the well-head
of this motive John Bridger deemed it
would be easy to track the murderer.
Whistling contentedly. he looked from
the window, and seeing Arthur Whit
croft driving some DullOckS from the
street into Back Lane, strolled forth
to join him.
Prime beasts" he remarked, by way
of greeting.
"Ay, ay, sir" replied the lad, with the
customary brevity of the English vii
lager
Makes me feel young again: takes
me back twenty years: and it's good
for man to step back sometimes" he
said to the boy. who began to take L
liking to DR. Settles fresh visitor.
My father had a farm in the north
right up in the dales, and | and my
brother Jim used to drive our COWS to
pacture down by the neck, and there
we would lie about for hours, watching
the water OuZels and the kingfishers.
and fishing for craytish and nevis. I
sharpened my power of observation
down by that stream" he continued,
with a sigh of sentimental remem-
brance, at the same time switching
tagging bullock with an adroitneSS
that won his companions admiration.
Lea farm you're going to. aren't you?
All no. of course not. | know you live
at the Hollow But let me see; how
long will 1t take me to walk over 10
Lea"
by the bridle-path, twelve minutes,
SIR"
The bridle-path I suppose most
folks go that way"
Yes. sir, 'cept in mucky weather;
then they takes the road"
"Ah. well. It's not mucky weather
now. The Lea people must find a nice
step saved when they can come to
church that gamer cut"
Yes: and it's handy-like for the doc
tor now the missus is bad
"Ah." said Boss Tee softly. Its
swampy here" he continued. as they
passed the stile that leads into British
Field. "Kinkcups and milkmaids
grow here in May. don't they?"
'Ay. sir and frogs. too
Not the place for a patent-shoed
Frenchman TO. limb over" mused the
detective. unless he happened to meet
Il friend who knew the way. I'll have
another look at the knoll and nod
ding farewell to the lad, he crossed into
the now noted field.
\ few PAGES brought him to the spot
wherep poor NJ. d'Himbu had been found.
a crushed cluster of peoples showed
the exact place where the body had
something bright that lay beside the
poppies.
Mr.. Bridger stopped and picked this
something up.
1t was string of five minute jet
beads.
Part of fringe" muttered Boss
Tee. whose keen eye noted even the
frivols displayed by Jay and Peter
Robinson.
tiny matched British cottage that
stood off from the path, there lay an
other string-one of three beads only.
Hunt" said the detective. 'hum!
Less than this has hanged man. They
may have come off the dress of some
Sunday sight seer; but I'll keep them.
all the same"
Good evening. You're making the
most of your time"-this to a white
capped old dame who sat knitting
within the rosebowered porch of
British cottage
''Ay. sir! days is never too long for
willing fingers"
And ] dare say you're a bit lonely
"Why. sir as for that. I've my
thoughts, and thoughts is grand COM
paniOns. And the ladies from the rec
tory most ways gives me a look-one or
the other. Miss Marchden. she've been
here hours lately. for she's adding of
my picter''
And with a sign of invitation she en-
tered the cottage and took down
block.
1t was a wonderful bit of water-color
drawing. and reminded Mr.. Bridgcr of
Cooper's Nancy Macintosh He
prided himself on knowing something
of art.
"Ah comes often. does She"
Yes. sir: and glad am to see her.
The last time was on the evening the
poor French gentleman was killed.
F;h. sir! it's sad | am to think he was
80 near-just behind the mound-and |
never heard his cry for help. Going in
my eighty-six though I be. I'd have
done summit for him.
Was Miss Marchden here at the
time"
u
minutes-yes it must have been about
ten minutes-before.
"Ah"
"And If she isn't here now" eX-
claimed the old woman. with look of
genuine gladness.
John Bridger turned. and came face
to face with Miss Marchden.
She wore black cloth cape trimmed
with jet fringe
Nhnp 4, 10, c..... -
to the right shoulder.
'Ah! once again calculated Boss
Tee"
'Well?' queried the doctor that even
ing. 1t was his usual after dinner Oues-
tion and hitherto Mr.. Bridger had re-
piled by a shake of the head. Tonight,
however. he paused. and DR.. Settle, no
ticing the pause, looked up quickly
Any clue"
Yes"
"Not-not-you can't suspect her."
said the young man vehemently, thus
betraying her fears.
My dear fellow, I'm here to suspect
ANYBODY and everybody-even you"
The expression of his hosts face as
sured the detective that he was guilt
less or the Staying of NJ. d'Himbu; he
could no longer hold the theory he
StuIteu lfoli tne motive OF money.
But don't be overtrOubled. OF course
the whole thing Is trouble. but still.
much has to be proved yet: much may
nave 10 be improved. Light may come
with tomorrow's post Mrs. Bridger is
working like a sleuth hound in Paris.
L believe you know my wife is a French
woman: she was governess at Limby
Abbey. and met her when went down
there about the poisoning of his lord
ships mare Warpaint. She's taken to
the tee business like duck to water.
ana always helps me in my foreign
Mork IN TACT. 1t was really my wife
who ferreted out the first clue in tbe |
Nangirard-Vannes affair. l believe in
q woman helning her hlisha nd ...a., l..