The Irish standard., 1897-05-22

thought it might tc some poor relation
in trouble, that master didn't care for
people to see about. showed him into
the parlor and went back into tho
kitchen. About Is minutes after that
I thought l heard loud words and a
scramblin' O. feet in the parlor. Their
voices would sink down and then rise
up again like they was quarrelin'.
was frightened. but was afraid o dis
Dlcusin' master if I went in, so l just
come as far as the room next to the par
DOR"
Ibid you then hear anything?'
"Thcy kept it up, sir. Master seemed
to be arguin' with him in low, steady
voice. and the stranger would break in
and beat the table with his fist. Oncel
heard him say he wanted half of some
thin, and just after master answered
I heard blows and the fallin' of chairs.
] thought had waited as long as
could, and, grabbin' old pistol that
always kept by me. rushed in. Mas
ter was on one side of the room. behind
sofu, and the fellow was holdin' a
Fchair by the back and just about to
rinse it. When he saw me and my pistol
he put down the chair, and. with an
oath, backed out of the room. l fol-
lowed him as far US the front door and
saw him spring over the fence and walk
away quick.
"Then went back to master. To my
surprise, he was tryin' to smile as it
,nothin' had happened; but he was as
white rs ghost. For minute he
couldn't say word. Presently he said:
Rather nasty temper he has, Mat
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" I
asked. I thought heard you fightin'.'
AND then noticed a 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 shown 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,
little. Yes, he did strike me, and reck-
on you were right to come when you
did
'Then he asked me if I was sure my
pistol was loaded, and told me to sleep
lin his room, and sea that the windows
iaud all the doors were locked"
"Was that ALP" asked the colonel,
deeply interested.
y A"Yes, sir, except lie made mepromise
mot 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 tumblin' 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
lanything?"
! 'Nothin', sir, except he bought flne
watchdog, the ono that died last win
tier, you know. He was always inter-
tested in him, and particular about leav-
lin 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 strengthening blue envelopes.
Once when gave him one ut break
fast he turned pale when he opened it,
and didn't finish catin'."
!. Col. Warrenton rose and knocked the
ashes from his cigar.
"1've got I'm appointment down.
town." he said. "See here, Matthews,
don't say anything about what you
have told me. am Investigating
little on my own account in this mat
ter and l don't want anyone to know
1T. Hold your tongue. and I'll see that
you don't lose anything by it."
A few minutes later the colonel was
lin his Office downtown. He had just
begun the dictation of letter to his
.stenographer when he heard the cry.
of a newsboy in the street.
.Extra! Extra Morning News! New
developments in the Leighton avenue
murder case! Extra! Extra!"
The colonel went to the door quickly.
'ond returned reading a newspaper still
damp from the press. Under large, sem
'sational headlines he read detailed &C.
count of a circumstance that seemed
ito bear strongly on the murder of the
might before No less than Is type
written notes had been picked up in
different parts of the city early that
ymorning; they had been found on tho
sidewalks, under the doors of private
residences. in the yards Of unoccupied
houses, in the mail boxes by letter-car-
lriers, behind the counters of shops, and
lone in, the coat pocket of Mr.. William
lRoundtree. the mayor, who had de-
iclared to a reporter that it must have
been put there while he was wearing
the cont.
The wording of all the notes was ex-
actly the same, and ran as follows:
.sNobody will ever discover who murdered
Richard N. Strong. 1t will be useless to
try. The secret lies IN the smile on the
dead mans face. Who put 1t there. and
how was 1t done? These questions will
remain unanswered till tho end Of time.
Hut this il not all. Before long others will
wear tho dead. white smile.
ZONE WHO KNOWS HIS BUSINESS"
Col. Warrenton hurriedly read the
rest of the sensational article, then
threw aside the paper, ind went down
the street for two or three squares and
up to the Office of the mayor. He sent
i'm his card, and was admitted ut once.
Mr.. Roundtrce was writing at his desk,
but he rosc and drew chair near him
for his friend to sit down.
II just ran in to see about, that note
YOU got" said the lawyer. SIS it fact