Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-10-20
CHAPTER |.

~ AZ tue closed door, rs ne unidStcneu
The hooks from a block of ice, and
raped loudly on the step, but no one
Cline TO answer his call.
Ar hour later "a young man sleeping
In the front room downstairs awoke
suddenly and sat up in bed. lIe'was
zsionished TO note that the sunlight ON
The carpet extended from the window
Tar into the room. indicating that the
sun had risen above the tall buildings
across the street He felt strange
hesyiness in his head. and desire TO lie
down again. but he shook of the feel
ing ard rose and began to dress
What could be the matter? The lit
tlc clock on his dressing case pointed
Ia ten. What had caused him TO over
sep? Why had Mr.. Strong not waKcd
him rs usual? The old man was always
Up with the sun. and had never allowed
him 10 sleep later than eight.
The Young man hurricdlN put on his
sroCscrs. thrust his feet into his slip
:.ers. and drew aside the portiere that
hing between his room and his uncie's.
Strong's bed was i'm the righthand
corner of the room. and WILDLY could
sec the back part of his head and one
side OF his gray whiskers
WILDLY called TO him softly. but
Strong did not stir. WILDLY called
again. and stamped his foot, but still
Inc old man remained motionlcss.
That's queer" murmured WILDLY.
Rs he approached the bed. Strong's face
was towards the window; his eyes were
npen; a CHASTITY smile was On his face.
He was dead Wildly saw that by the
awful pallor of his face. which made
each hair. OF the beard stand out as if
under Il magnifying glass. For n mo-
ncnt WILDLY stood rs If turned to
ytone: then he drew down the sheet.
which had been drawn upclosely under
the old mars chin. aud saw the long
deep cash in the throat and the dark
clots of the blood which had soaked into
tic mattress.
WILDLY was strangely calm. In an
instant he had decided on "a course of
action. He stepped TO the telephone
across the room. and looked over the
directory; then he rang and held the
receiver to his ear.
Hello" he said. that's the csutral
cftiee. isn't it? Well all right: one
Seventy-siv on four eighty-two. please"
Well. what is ?" presently came
from the telephone.
rs that police headquarters
YES"
Il am Alfred Wildly. 25s leighton !
avenue. y horrible thing has occurred |
here during the night ! have just dis /
covered that my uncle. Mr. Strong
Richard y. Strong. the banker-has
been murdered. Come and attend to
IT."
There was silence. broken by a low.
indistinct murmuriug rs II people were
talking at The other end OF the wire;
Ih"n the reply came:
All right; rs soon as we can get |
there"
Then WILDLY hung M the receiver
and rang the bell. He went back into
hrs room. put on his shirt. collar and
necktic. and brushed his hair. Iii.
head ttill felt heavy and achcd little.
Tue electric cars were whirring pn.tthc
house. and blind man was uiavino am
acccrdion a few doors away. Theqo
'vas crunching step on the graveIed
\ walk near his window. WILDLY raised
& hFws. the gardener.
SEEING WILDLY. he touched his hat
stopped. aud asked after Mr. Strong.
WILDLY made no reply. but sat down on
STE windOw-sill and stared al the Old
man. He was wondering II tine police
would prefer for him 10 keep the new :
from the gardener. II was the lopl, of
sip" astorishmsnt coming into Mat
fhews' eyes that made MIN decide what
So say
Matthews" ne said. Something has
Happened: I can tell YOU that much.
Out that is all have iciephoned tho
I'olice. you'd better not come in till
ihcy get here. " we're you rd 90 ON
with my work; the rose bushes near the
fountain need trimming"
Matthews stared and started 20 speak.
hut WILDLY Withdrew. sat down ON the
side 81 his bed and tried 10 collect hi.
fboughts. Suddenly be- was reused ~,
sharp ring ut the door he'll. Wild.
Sys heart sank. and be- was an I'm
TDver. but he rose calmly and went. 10
she door IT was q boy with The morn
rig paper. lie held also a bill I'm his
Ls0d. and wanted 10 collect the money
Sut 70 him for delivering the paper for
the month past. but WILDLY sent him
sEzy, and stood for several minutes in
fbr doorway watching the crowd pass
mr. IN the street Then he closed the
sloor. and vent into his uncle'- room
ssd walked restiessly 10 and FRO 2 the
Zoo, Of the bed Suddenly he stoned
~ RE telephone aud rang The bell
~ODe sevcniy-fye on four eighty.tvo.
Gisase,' be said
Hello there" was the reply.
-Well?" said WILDLY.
You are one scyenty-six instead Of
Unsssventy-fi aren't youg''
Yes. Did I say one seventy-Rve? J
sscsnt one seveuty-six."
An right there YOU are. Mr.. wAid.
by
WILDLY" thought The young man.
y wonder how he knew my name. An.
hs must have overheard me speaking 10
Az police
h. bell rang.
Hello" said WILDLY. rs that police
b. adquarters?'
YES. What Is if2',