Evening star., 1896-02-22

". ~z
1--WE have taken the liberty of call
ing to see yOu, DIR. Stone.'
limbs and speech. and If administered in
large quantities, would prove atal to the
patient-hut mind you, / am only giving
you this information under protest and
without the slightest suspicion that any
such drug, or any poisonous matter at all
was given to the late baronet-in fact 1
am certain there was not, and that he died
natural death, or else i should not have
given the certificate did,
I'VE feel assured of that, sir, but in the
interest of justice, we are bound to stop at
nothing. We intend to demand an exhuma-
don of the late baronet's body, and shall
require your assistance in the mater"
The doctor sat down, shaking from head
to foot An eXhl ation-and OF one of his
own patients! Such a thing had never been
feard of in Manningford before! 1t would
be a scandal-a disgr2Ce-he would have
done anything in his power to prevent it!
Remember, gentlemen" he said, that
this application Will be made against my
express wishes or consent, You must do it
on your own responsibility! will have
nothing to do with the matter, Sir Henry
Ellesmere died from a stroke of paralysis.
and nothing else. II will be iniquitous If
he is disturbed from his last repoSe,''
"Ohi it won't hurt him." said Ben, cheer
fully; "and / don't think We shall need to
trouble you any further. sir either. I've
took down your remarks in my little book,
and I think they will be sufficient. If not.
it's easy to apply to you again. Good
morning! And taking a polite leave, we
bowed ourselves out of the doctors prem
ises.
Il can't see the good of this. Ben said
we strolled back to our inn. Whatever
do you want to rake Up the old gentleman
for? If he was murdered, which dom,
seem likely. it won't help us on with our
jewel case. Only going out of the way,
call it. for nothing.'
you bide bit, Jack" was his reply
I've got a little roundabout way. perhaps
but l know what I'm coming to! You're
such an impetuous fellow. You haven't the
patience to see a thing through
IF I'd stopped as long as you do. to zee
thing through" I retorted, I'D never
caught those two rascals. Mears and All
cock, at Chicago!"
''Ccckadeodledoo"' cried Ben. and then !
felt bit ashamed of my Dragging before
man who was worth two of me. When ]
Understood what Ben would be at. want
ed tc interview the little humpback again
at once, hut he said il wasn't necessary
I've got all out Of her that I want" he
replied. She struck the match and the
fire is kindling all over mel But this will
be long business, Jack. and we must take
Sir Charles into our confidence at once. Let
us go on to The Cables
AS soon we met the baronet Ben star
tied me by saying:
Have you the certificate Of Sir Henry's
death. which was written by DR.. Stone, Sir
Chares?'
1T is. I believe: in the library drawer
with other papers,
Have you seen it yourself?'
Il have only glanced at It cursorily.
did not arrive here till an hour before the
funeral. Lady Eilesmere, my stepmother
received the certificate from DR.. Stone for
the benefit of the undertakers and locked
it away Immediately afterward."
We should like to see it. if You have nc
objection, Sir Charles
None in the world" replied the young
man: that is. if 1t can be of any possible
use to you in tracing my property" Ard
he rang the bell, and desired a servant to
fetch his bunch of keys off his toilet table
In few minutes the certificate was in
Ben's bands
'On what day did the funeral take
placer" he asked
"On the 18TH" replied Sir Charles
"And when was the coffin closed?'
"The day before. I believe" was the an
At all events. I did not see my father
again.
''Why is this certificate then dated the
18th, sir? Can you tell me that?''
II had not noticed that it was, but 1t may
have been because DR.. Stone was called
away at the time of my fathers death and
did net return till the morning OF the
funeral
"And consequently did not see the body
before giving the certificate?" persisted
Ben.
II suppose so. But was that informal:
He knew perfectly well what Sir Henry
died Of He had seen him at the first, bu,
did not believe in his danger. 1 know moth.
right
Doubtless. Sir Charles hut Dr. Stone
should have known better. However, he has
rendered our task easier. Busby and I, We
are going to apply for an exhumation of the
body"
WHAT" exclaimed the baronet. in tone
Of horror. you surely do not suspect"
1--WE suspect nothing. Sir Charles. but I,
would be satisfaction to US to view the
body. It's all in the matter OF business sir
and we hope you won't object
''On the contrary, If there is likely to be
any good in it I shall help you all in my
power. What do YOU intend to do?'
Then put myself forward.
with your leave. Sir Charles, shall stay
here" said, whilst Crewe goes hack te
London to make the application. dom,
feel that my work Is finished. I must take
more soundings before I shall be satisfied
ford"
II feel convinced they arew chimed In
Ben.
OF course we had not confined our pre
cautions to the place itself For miles
around search had been made at pawn.
brokers and all places where stolen goods
were likely to be disposed of-and informa-
ton of the loss, with description of the
article, had been sent to every seaport towr
and principal railway station In the king
dom. But no news of any sort had arrived
Of it. or anything like it. confess I was
beginning to be fairly puzzled and Ben's
behavior puzzled me still more
What in the name of all that's holy"
said to him, as soon as we were outside The
Gables, "are your plans, Ben? What are
you going to do next?"
lnavA that m hr,r- - h.
Piled; you don't approve Of my action II
the matter. SO you stick to your own. You
shall stay here and look for the Jewels under
the beds and Ia the maids pockets. and I'll
q a frax