Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-31
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
II was not 50 long ago that the vicar
II Chudleigh Salterton on saints days
that were also hunting mornings would
read prayers with his surplice thrown
over his pink coat and his spurred and
booted feet in full evidence, but no one
ever thought Pin the worse Of him,
and we may DO sure that neither tho
quality ot his life nor his sermons was
impaired by the healt}iful exercise 90
dear to his soul.
The only doctor now in the place, to
its honor and glory. was also a relic Of
bypone timos, who in summer wore
white kicksics and cutaway tweed
coat, and when he made professional
visits nc a distance always rode on
horseback with his only daughter
mounted on pillion behind him.
She minded the horse while he went
within. and thus with great simplicity
he combined economy. health and affec.
tion, and many pleasant hour did tho
two little bodies spend jogging along
tho Devonshire lanes. or climbing the
hoRbacked hills. even enjoying now
and ngain springy gallop across the
ling and heather of the all embracing.
glorious Muttcr's moor.
He was abroad ON one Of these pleas.
mt expeditions when sent for to the
scene OF murder, and when he arrived
the police were III possession of the
place. If the sole custodian Of the Chud.
leigh Salterton safety, as represented by
o ruddy faced and frightened young
man, could be so designated.
Tho little garden, choked with sum-
mer flowers. was crowded with peppers,
who pushed each other away to look
through the window at the dead man
huddled mp in his chair. his open eyes
staring out straight before him with q
curious blending Of mocksry and sur.
prise overriding the physical agony Of
his death.
Ho had been taken mt disadvantage.
The peculiar shape Of the chair holding
him down as in q trap, so that once
seized he had found it impossible to
rise. and he had evidently been reading
when Nemesis came mp with him. for a
French book lay open at his elbow, and
che table was heaped with others, while
Che only furniture in the room consisted
OF long. peculiarly shaped couch and
n shelf laden with what looked like the
chemical contents Of a laboratory.
The little doctor looked ut the man
md shook his head. Il was n case of
etrangulation, Of course, but the marks
were 80 slight rs TO suggest that heart
failure had set in before the murderer
had half done his work. but tho inquest,
Ut course. would decide that point.
He heard all the frightened policeman
Ind 20 say. which was little; also tho
Charlady, which was much. but nothing
In the least relevant to tho case save
chat the good woman had left letter
behind her when she went away that
morning. and though forbidden to enter
save mt stated hours had stolen in to
fetch 1t, and through the window saw
the old conference.-the here came hys-
terios and a full enjoyment Of the situ-
ntion, 50 she was promptly suppressed
and led away weeping.
where is the young Lady," said Dr..
Martin.
"A chorus If voices came from tho
window. she do he with the great
lord, she be. and she says she's glad u
DIR. Martin shuddered. There was
something oerie, horrible even. in the
room and its belongings that he could
not tathom. Does indeed the
earth. tho air record secrets that, close
hidden. were best left uprevealed?
He lifted book from the table and
glanced ut its subject, ut another and
another. They were all the same. The
name written upon each was Silas
Gregorias.
He investigated thu contents Of the
shelf. glanced ut the couch, shook his
head, and II he had been Roman Cath.
ole would have crossed himself. As il
was, the color in his hefi,hy old face
paled. and he muttered Victim" under
his breath rs he turned to the door.
III sec to the coroner. and So on, &"
no said to the young policeman, land
send some woman in. You've wired to
sidmouth? Quite right. I'm going down
now TO Miss Gregorias.
He stumbled little over the name,
Tor he had never heard it before. In the
place the strange pair were known only
as the wizard and his daughter. aud the
very landlord. who was paid week by
week IN advance. was as ignorant as the
rest Of who his tenants were.
They received no letters. no visitors,
save the single one who had come and
gone IN such haste that day The stran-
Ger had been seen by a grea. many peo-
pie. as clamor Of soft Devonshire
tongues fastened to inform the doctor
when he issued from the door, and they
oil thought he had come after the poor
young lady. but she was out. aud he
didn't stop half an hour.
Sounds Of quarreling had been heard.
but not very loud. and Dr. Gregorirs'
voice bad not even been raised. and then
out the young nan had rushed and down
che steep path headlopa