Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-09-19


| know no more than you do. AL
though, added Jen, with an after
thought, you may be able to explain
No. | have no idea why Dido
should serve Etwald."
Evidently. it was impossible to ex-
tract information from so impenetrable
a man. Jen was thoroughly enraged
by the display of obstinacy in quar-
ter where he least expected to find it.
Usually sweet mpered-espec ially
! toward his boys-the Major quite lost
control Of his passion at the moment.
Take care, David" he said, in an
angry manner You IRE forcing me
to believe that you are acting this
way from an unworthy motive 1t
! is your duty to aid me in discovering
I and Furnishing the murderer of Maui
| rice. Yet you leave me to do all the
] work and refuse your assistance in any
| way Unless you alter your manner
and take me into your confidence re-
/ garding the reason Of this strange be-
haVior, breach not easily mended
may occur between u.s.
He paused, waiting for his ward to
| make some reply in defence of his
y
ed nor spoke, but, paler than usual.
he stood before the Major with his
eyes on the ground More in sorrow
than in anger, Jen looked at him, then
turned On his heel with a shrug and
walked into the house. David looked
after him with quivering lips.
IF he only knew the truth" said
he, wiping the perspiration from his
face, what would he say? He blames
me now; would he blame me them"
In the meantime, while Sarby was
indulging in this enigmatic soliloquy,
Major Jen was pursuing his way to-
ward the room Of Jaggard Despair
ing of obtaining information from
David, he thought it possible to learn
the truth-at all events Of that fatal
n1ght-from Jaggard. Honestly speak
ing, the Major was puzzled by the con-
duct of his ward. Hitherto, he had
always considered David to be an hon
est man, but at the present time his
conduct savored Of duplicity Did he
know of anything relative to the
triple crime which had been commit
ted? II so, why did he not speak?
FINALLY, was David also under the in
tuence of Dr.. EtWald-the man who,
Jen verify believed, was the source
OF all these woes? To none of these
questions could the Major find FEAST
Die answers; therefore, fer the time
belng-i. e., pending thu narration of
Jaggard-he dismissei them from his
mind. 1t was possinle that the story
of the invalid might throw light on
The darkness which overshadOWed the
case
AS Jen anticipated, he found that
Jaggard had recovered from his faint,
and having had a steep during the
long absence of his master, was much
tetter. AS usual Anne, the ill-favored
housemaid, was watching by his bed
side; but on a sign from Jen she left
the room. Finding himself alone with
his servant, Jen addressed himself i'm
mediately to the business in hand.
do you feel stronger, Jaggard?" he
asked.
Much stronger, sir"
''Are you able to TALK"
81 think so, Major-for half an hour,
at least"
Half an hour will be sufficient"
said the Major, in a serious voice. Il
wish you to tell me what took place
on the night you were drugged."
"About Dido, sir?'
Eyes, Jaggard, about Dido"
The invalid remained silent for a
time, then began to speak slowly and
with some difficulty.
after you left me, sir" he said, in
weak voice. Il remained seated in
my chair beside the bedside of my
poor young master. If you remember,
there was only one candle in the room,
which was placed on the table, some
little distance away. | examined the
window and found it closed"
you are sure of that?" demanded
Jen, anXiOusly.
quite sure, sir. It was bolted and
barred. The door was simply closed
for | never thought of locking it, as L
fancied, sir, that you might return after
midnight to see if all was right"
Il did not, however, Jaggard. I fell
asleep in the library, after Mr. Sarby
had gone to bed; and, of course, l had
every confidence in you"
please don't say that, Major" said
Jaggard, implOringly, as I did my
! best. 1t was not my fault that Dido
| drugged me. I'm sure l don't know
why she did So continue Jaggard,
| half to himself. Il never did her any
| harm"
The Major looked fxedly at the man.
DO you not know what occurred
during the time you were insensible?''
he asked. gravely.
mo, sir. I've only got my wits
about me now
HAS not Anne told your"
{ she hasn't told me anything. sir"
We'll, said Jen, seeing that the man
spoke in all good faith, 1.-The body OF
Mr.. Maurice was stolen on that night
The body stolen,' repeated Jag
| gard, in amaZement. For why, sir?'
Il can't tell, nor can anybody else
All we know is that at three o'clock il
the morning we entered Mr.. Maurice;
| room and found the window open. the
body gone, and you insensibe.'
The window OPEN said Jaggard
thoughtfully. Then it must have
been opened from the inside, sir"
by Dido, no doubt"
I'm certain of it. Major: and it wa.
that black witch who stole the body.
How did she get into the room?"
"She was hidden under the bed, sir?
Under the bed! Are you sure?
said Jen, greatly startled by this in
formation.
Yes, Major. 1t was this way.
was seated by the bed at the foot of il