The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-09-25
From Clue to Climax.
BY WILL N. HARLEM.
rcOprirh, 1906. by J. B, LlppIueOr Col
CHAPTER ~.

ChAflEh Nv.
When Warrenton left WILDLY he
went downstairs. He knew the room
where WILDLY had slept the previous
night, but he found the door closed and
locked.
Hearing the voices OF the undertaken
and his men in Strong's room, he en-
tered IT, Tho men looked up from the
coffin at him, and Hodson, the under
taker, bowed and said good morning as
Warrenton approached and looked at
the dead mans face.
'Ive never seen anything like that
smile, colonel" said Hodson, "and I've
been in this business over 20 years. 1t
was all could do 20 get my men TO go
TO work when they first saw him. We
tried to close his eyes; but the lids are
as stiff as whalebone."
The colonel shuddered ut the coarse
ness of the mans words.
"How do you explain the smile?" he
asked.
at can't explain IL at ALL" answered
the undertaken. ~ don't think such
thing ever happened before"
Warrenton bent over the coffin for
a moment. at seems to me to be
genuine smile, unmixed with any SEN
sation OF pain, or even surprise"
"He was laughing, colonel, IL ever a
man laughed in his life. / amt par
ticularly superstitious. / once un-
screwed n box and let man out that
had passed for dead SO hours. was
alone with II at midnight. You can bet
that gave me a shock; but, frankly, I'd
hate to spend night with this one"
WILDLY slept in that room, didn't
hep" asked the lawyer. glancing indif'
ferently towards the portiere.
ayes, sir, but the indications are that
the deed was done very quietly. Per
haps Mr.. WILDLY was drugged."
Hodson turned 20 give some orders
10 his men. The colonel went into
Whidby's room and let the curtain fall
behind him. The room had not beer
put TO rights. A chair stood between
the portiere and the bed. It's back was
towards him. w arrenton listened
Hodson was still talking to his men. and
the colonel could hear them using their
tack-hammers. Quickly and stealthily
he stepped 20 the chair and turned ia
back 10 the light from the window. HI
found what he feared was there--a faint
smear Of blood just where WILDLY hac
caught the chair with his right hand.
Enough to draw the halter around
bis neck" thought the lawyer. "1hop'
Il escaped that detectives eye" He hat
iust replaced the chair. when the por
there was drawn back and HodsoI
looked in.
ST beg pardon, colonel, but Capt
Welsh nked me to allow no one TO come
in here. / thought you went into th'
hail."
at was Just wondering how Whidb!
could have slept so soundly unless n
was drugged," said the colonel. :"
would not have come in II had though
u was forbidden. WILDLY and are s.
intimate, you know. I feel as IL 4 wer
at home here"
"Oh, no harm done" said the under
taker. as he held the curtain aside 10
Warrenton 20 pass out.
The colonel went into the hall an'
turned into the parlor. Here he looke'
about aimlessly for a moment, and then
seeing an open door which led TO tn
seryants' rooms In the rear. he passe'
out.
In a little room adjoining the kitchen
ne found Matthews.
'I want 20 see you, Matthew'S sal
the colonel. II want 20 ask you som
questions. Mr.. WILDLY Is so excite
and upset that I don't wish 20 distur
him, and yet / must get some light o
this subject"
ct don't know much about IL, sir,
replied the gardener. "I'vc told al
know 10 the jury"
The colonel sat down on window-si
and lighted cigar.
"You can trust me, you know, Ma
thews. am an old friend of the fan
ily."
"Oh, know that. sir, well enough.
"You have been in Mr.. Strong's SER
ice long time, Matthews, and you ma
row remember some things that yo
did not think Of when you were test
fyinr. For instance. have you any re-
election of ever having seen anythin
which might tend 20 show that Nj
Strong had an enemy"
Matthews stared at the lawyer fC
momen. In silence and then sat dow
ona chair and folded his hands nervou
" over his knees.