Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-08

OlbOl4l III W A4SAA Az AA'aNA - N@' ''''-
well, it's no use talking of the past.
I followed him into the cottage and
up the stairs until We came to the room
where the dead barOnet lay.
l went slowly toward the bed on
which my poor old friend and client
rested, and drawing aside the sheet
which covered the dead face, took a
last, long look on the features l knew
so well.
l was aroused from my reflections
by the entrance of young Renwood,
who came up to the bedside and
pulled out his cigar case, several pa
pers dropping from his pocket at the
time.
Have cigar" he said as I stopped
to pick up the papers. And then see
ing a shade of annoyance that | could
not conceal cross my face at the
thought of smokingat such time and
in such a place he said hastily: Per
haps we'd better not smoke, though.
It's hardly decent in room with death
in it"
His sudden GLOW of proper feeling
did not impress me, and | merely
handed him the papers he had dropped
in silence.
One of these he handed back to me.
You'd better look at that, Mr..
Geary," he said abruptly. THAT is
DR.. Holiness certificate Of death. "
I glanced at the document Yes, it
was all in order. Douglas Kenneth
Renwood, aged Go, and so on. But
when l came to the heading, Cause
of Death, I gave a violent start.
Good heavens" l said to myself.
"Can this be possible? Can this be
possible ?"
For something | had seen IN that
certificate had connected itself with
something l had seen in another docu-
ment that morning, and the sight of
the two things filled me with an awful
suspicion.
And | determined to act on that sus-
picion and to act at once Asking Rem
wood to excuse me for half an hour, as
| wanted to call on legal friend who
lived in town, l hurried away.
I was going to call on>Dr. Holmes,
whose name was at the foot Of the GER
tifcate recording the death of Sir
Douglas Renwood.
had to wait some time at the physl-
clans house, as he had numerous con-
sultations in progress After an hour
of terrible anticipation in the dull
waiting-room I was at length ushered
into the doctors presence.
"Dr. Holmes, ! said, 81 have not
come to see you professionally, but
rather to ask you question. Did you
sign a certificate of the death, through
Inflammation Of the lungs, of Sir Doug
las Renwood, who now lies dead at
the place called - Cottage p
He jumped from his chair in his
amazement.
"My dear sir" he cried, what on
earth are you talking about? l know
nothing whatever of Sir Douglas Rem
wood except that he was reputed to be
a man of eccentric habits, as he re-
fused 10 have any servants in his
house.
The suspicion which had been dark
ening in my mind grew darker as he
spoke these words.
In moment l had risen from the
chair, and, walking quickly to the
doctors side, l said
Doctor, there has been some foul
play in this business. Sir Douglas
Renwood lies dead, and have just
seen certificate of his decease bear
ing your name at the foot.
The doctor looked astounded.
Then it is forgery" he cried. "I
have never signed a certificate of this
mans death. More than that, l did
not know even that he was III. D."
thought for moment and then
said:
"Our way is clear. we must 90 al
once to the police station and get a
warrant for the arrest of the man who
produced that certificate as coming
from you. That man is Mark Rem
wood, Sir Douglass nephew and
heir"
The doctor gave me quick glance.
His heir, eh ?" he said Come,
perhaps we are on the brink of a dis
covery. It seems TO me that there Is
more in this business than meets the
eye"
I thought so too.
An hour later DR.. Holmes, couple
of plain clothes policemen and myself
entered the cottage. Bidding the two