Daily camera., 1897-07-17

theWS. My friend was little upset,
but he would have come around all
right. You frightened him away with
that pistol
Didn't he strike you, master?' !
asked. Thought heard you fghtin'.
And then | noticed bruised spot on his
forehead which showed mighty plain
under his white hair an on his pale
skin. He saw me lookin' at it, and put
his hand over it, but he was so excited
he couldn't keep from showin' that he
didn't want to let me know what the
cause of the trouble was.
"'That fellow was drunk master
said. 4 think his mind is wrong, too, a
little. Yes, he did strike me, and reck-
on you were right to come when you
did
''Then he asked me if l was sure my
pistol was loaded, and told me to sleep
in his room, and see that the windows
auu all the doors were locked"
WAS that all?' asked the colonel,
deeply interested.
''Yes, sir, except he made me promise
not to mention the affair to Mr.. Whid-
by nor anyone else. I'm sure he didn't
sleep wink that night, for l heard
him rollin' and tunblin' in bed, an he'd
get up every now and then and eau
tiously look out of the window"
After that, did you see anything to
Indicate that Mr.. Strong was ever
frightened or greatly excited about
anything?"
'Nothin', sir, except he bought fine
watchdog, the one that died last win
ter, you know. He was always inter
ested in him, and particular about leav-
in him unclaimed at night. Then | do
seem to remember that now and then
master would get letter that would
excite him somewhat. They always
came in strange-looking blue envelopes.
Once when l gave him one at break
fast he turned pale when he opened it,
and didn't finish catin'.'
Col Warrenton rose and knocked the
ashessfrom his cigar.
I've got an appointment down
town" he said. "See here, Matthews,
don't say anything about what you
have told me. l am investigating
little ON my own account in this mat
ter and 1 don't want anyone TO know
it. Hold your tongue, and I'll see that
you don't lose anything by it."
A few minutes later the colonel was
in his office downtown. He had just
begun the dictation of "a letter to his
stenographer when he heard the cry
of a newsboy in the street.
'sExtrfs. Extra Morning News! New
developments in the Leighton avenue
murder case! Extra! Extra!"
The colonel went to the door quickly,
and returned reading newspaper still
damp from the press. Under large, SEN
sational headlines he read detailed ac-
count of a circumstance that seemed
to bear strongly on the murder of the
night before. No less than 25 type
rtten notes had been picked up in
different parts of the city early that
morning; they had been found on the
sidewalks, under the doors of private
residences, i'll the yards of unoccupied
houses, in tAe mail boxes by letter-ear-
riers, behind the counters of shops, and
one in the coat pocket of Mr.. William
Eoundtree. the mayor, who had de-
clared to reporter that it must have
been put there while he was wearing
the coat.
The wording of all the notes was eX-
actly the same, and ran as fellows:
Nobody win ever discover who murdered
Richard N. Strong. 1t will he useless to
try The secret lies insthe smile on the
dead mans face. Who put it there, and
how was it done? These questions will
remain unanswered till the end of time
But this is not all. Before long others will
wear the dead, white smile.
"ONE WHO KNOWS HIS BUSINESS"
Col. Warrenton hurriedly read the
rest of the sensational article, then
threw aside the paper, and went down
the street for two or three squares and
up TO the office of the mayor. He sent
in His card, and was admitted at once
MrsRoundtree was writing at his desk,
but he rose and drew chair near him
for his friend to sit down.
Il just ran in TO see about that note.
you gotss' said the lawyer. rs it fact
that you found it in your pocket?'
The mayor thrust his right hand into
the pocket of his sack coat. He put
it right there, colonel. l could show it
to you, but l sent it to the police. /
thought it was the only one till l read
the extra just now"
! "How could it have got into your
pocket?" asked Warrenton. "Have you
been in any crowds to-day?"
"Several, as it happened. AT the post
Office this morning there were great
many people waiting for the mail. |
stopped at the Imperial hotel in
tilrong of politicians, and at the corner
of Main and Broad streets l was in a,
1crowd around the. driver of cab who
had been thrown against lamppost
rand considerably injured. 1t could have
been put into my pocket at any one of
Al L., ~