Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-05-28
CHAPTER VII.


week went by. The body of Richard
N. Strong had been buried, and Alfred
WILDLY was considered the legal posses
sor of his effects. WILDLY had not been
seen Oh the streets or at his club since
the murder. 1t was on the eighth day
after the burial that Col Warrenton
called to see him. He was shown up to
Whidby's room.
The young man rose from the table
at which he was writing, and shook
hands with his friend. He was pale,
thin and nervous. His eyes were sunk
en-, his hair and dress untidy.
still up here in your new quarters"
said the colonel, sweeping the rather
small room with glance. 81 thought
you'd move back to your old room"
WILDLY shuddered. II don't care to
sleep there; by Jove, 1 don't believe l
could close my eyes,"
The two men had taken seats oppo-
site each other, and the lawyer empha-
sized his next remark by laying his
hand firmly on Whidby's knee. my
boy, this will never do. You'd never
make soldier. You've got to rouse
yourself and shake it off. You'll lose
your reason if you go brooding over
this thing. To tell the truth, you are
looking worse and worse every day.
Did you sleep last night?"
about two hours, all told" replied
WILDLY. 81 know am in bad shape. |
can see it and feel it,"
"Lools here, my boy" the colonel
slapped Whidby's knee soundly, 81
want you to pull up and take trip to
Europe. 1t will give you change OF
scene and something else to think
about. You'll be a new man in month";
WILDLY rose and began to place his
papers in order on the table. I'D never
be able to think of anything else, no
matter where was; and then it would
be like running away; by Jove, it would
be running away. / am sure that I've
done wrong in keeping back that matter
from Hendricks. It's cowardly."
"You could tell them nothing that
would help them, and it would only
place You under deeper suspicion" the
lawyer replied.
"My God! I'd Just as soon be in a
prison cell as here under the awful un.
certainty rs to whether did it or not. >
What did you say? What do you
mean?"
WILDLY walked slowly from the able
and laid his hand on his friends shout.
der.
II am afraid had something to dc
with the murder. l can't figure it out
any other way. The blood on the cur.
tain; the stain you found on the chair;
my dim recollection of taking hold OF
the chair; the drop of blood on my cuff
why, my hand-it was the right hand
you know-must have been absolutely
wet with it."
"Are you fool enough to think you
could have killed man in your sleer
without being conscious of the act? Be.
sides, remember the smile on Strong's
face; you're obliged to admit"
That's exactly what puts me on this
line" WILDLY interrupted. ~ noticed
in New York paper an interview with
DIR. Henry Lampllin, the famous hyp.
motto expert. in which he said casually
that from what he read of the case he
Judged that my uncle was hypnotized
by the murderer. Well, Warrenton,
am sure if | were to tell him what oc-
Cured to me that night he would say
that l was also Observation-Disclosures
haps-I was made to do the deed for
some one else. Such things have been
done. Old man, that is what is trou.
bling me. 1t is awful"
There was silence for moment; then
the colonel said:
III tell you what would do, Alfred
| don't think you could have been un.
der any influence that night; but if you
are going to brood over the matter this
way till you are insane, propose that
we have DR.. Lampkin to come down
here and give lis his opinion. He is said
to be wonderful man, and he may, at
all events. give you some peace of mind
He is said to be making marvellous cures
among Incorporate people, and chill.
dren naturally oepraved, through wha
he calls hypnotic suggestion. From
what hear of him believe he can b.
trusted even in such delicate matter a
this"
Whidby's face frightened. That
just what want" he said. "Anythin.
is better than suspense. He may b.
able to tell me whether actually die
the deed. If he can assure me that i
was not my hand that held the knife
he is welcome to every dollar of m,
uncle's estate"
"Oh, he won't break us; his prices ar
not high; he does a great deal for no pa,
at all. But shall write him at once
and report to you as soon as his repl.
comes. believe hypnotism is a wonder
| full thing, but something tells me tina
it could not be carried to the extent you
fear. Besides, you may not have beel
hypnotized at all; you may have beer
slightly disturbed by the fellows move
ments in Strong's room, and gotup hal
awake and gone-after the murder-t
his bed to reassure yourself. 1t ma,
have been then that you got your hand
in the blood without knowing it,"
"Ah, you give me the first bit of hop
have had," cried WILDLY. Write t
him at once. l wish he We're here now.
I'll get him as soon as he can come,
the colonel promised, and he rose to &C
AT the door he turned back.
II am trying to work up little cley
for myself" he said. II am fond of thi
sort of thing. I'd give anything to bea
this expert detective and run our man t
the ground without consulting him
by the way, you and might try t
think of some motive for the crime. TIL
others are doubtless losing valuabl