Daily camera., 1897-07-16
THE DAILY CAMERA.

hep" asked the lawyer, glancing indif-
ferently towards the portiere.
''Yes. sir, but the indications are that
the deed was done very quietly. Per
hans Mr. WILDLY was drugged."
Hodson turned to give some orders
10 his men. The colonel went into
Whidby's room and let the curtain fall
|ehind him. The room had not beer
ut to rights. A chair stood between
the portiere and the bed. Its back was
'owards him. W arrenton listened.
1lodson was still talking to his men, and
the colonel could hear them using their
tack-hammers. Quickly and stealthily
he stepped to the chair and turned its
hack to the light from the window. He
found what he feared was there-a faint
smear of blood just where WILDLY had
caught the chair with his right hand.
Enough to draw the halter around
his neck" thought the lawyer. 81 hope
Il escaped that detectives eye" He had
just replaced the chair, when the por-
there was drawn back and Hodson
looked in.
'T beg pardon. colonel, but Capt
Welsh aked me to allow no one to come
in here. I thought you went into the
hall"
"1 was just wondering how WILDLY
could have slept so soundly unless he
was drugged," said the colonel. 81
would not have come in if I had thought
it was forbidden. WILDLY and are so
intimate, you know, I feel as if were
at home here"
"Oh, no harm DONE" said the under
taker, as he held the curtain aside for
WarrentOn to pass out.
The colonel went into the hall and
turned into the rarlor. Here he looked
about aiml"ssly for moment. and then.
seeing an open door which led to the
servants rooms in the rear, he passed
out.
In little room adjoining the kitchen
lie found Matthews.
Il want to see you. Matthew'S" said
the colonel. Il want to ask YOU some
questions. Mr.. WILDLY is so excited
and upset that l don't wish to disturb
him, and yet l must get some light on
this subject
Il don't know much about it, sir"
replied the gardener. 1--we told all l
know to the jury"
The colone! sat down on window-sill
and lighted cigar.
''Iou can trust me, you know, Mat
thews. l am an old friend of the fam
ily."
'Oh, l know that, sir, well enough. y
You have been in Mr.. Strong's serv-
ice long time, Matthews, and you may
row remember some things that you
did not think of when you were testi-
flying. For instance, have you any rec
election of ever having seen anything
which might tend to show that Mr.
Strong had an enemy?"
Matthews stared at the lawyer for
a moment in silence and then sat down
on chair and folded his hands nervous
ly over his knees.
81 can't say have, colonel" he said:
"and yet-well, you know, my master
was very excitabie, suspicious sort of
man."
81 never knew that"
"Well, he was, sir He used to have
spells of it, sir-spells | call 'em. He
didn't seem able to sleep we'll at times
He has once in awhile had me sleep or
the floor at the foot of his bed"
"Ah! Is that so"'
"Not often, sir, but perhaps twice a
year, or thereabouts.'
"Do you recall anything that might
have caused him uneasiness at those
times?"
"Wen, I did have sort of idea that
he might "a brought home some money
and was afraid O. bein' robbed of it.
Can you remember ever having seen
anyone about just before or after those
spells?'
Matthews was silent, deep in thought,
for moment, then he said:
Yes, | do remember somethin rather
odd. sir. 1t was when Mr.. WILDLY was
at the seashorc in the summer, and mas
ter was rall;n' me sleep in ms room
every night while he was gone. One
eyenin' master told me he was lookin'
for visitor to see him on important
business, and that | was to stay back
here till he left"
Did you see the man?"
Eyes, sir. l opened the door when he
rang"
'EHow did he look?"
"Nery queer-lookin' individual, sir, it
struck me. He looked Ike he might be
Il drnRin' man. He was tall and thin,
and had dark eyes and white hair. He
was SO queer-lookin, sir, that thought
strange O master havin' a appointment
with him. To tell the truth SIT, | kinder
thought it might be some poor relation
in trouble, that master didn't care for
people to see about. | showed him into
the parlor and went back into the
kitchen. About Is minutes after that
| thought | heard loud words and
scramblin' O feet in the parlor. Their