The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-02-12
CHAPTER I.

The milkman left can of milk on the
front veranda and drove on to the next
house in the street. The iceman came
along half an hour later, looked curious
at the closed door, as he unfastened
the hooks from block of ice, and
raped loudly on the step, but no one
came to answer his call.
An hour later young man sleeping
in the front room downstairs awoke
suddenly and sat up in bed. He was
astonished to note that the sunlight on
the carpet extended from the window
far into the room. indicating that the
sun had risen above the tall buildings
across the street. He felt a strange
heaviness in his head, and IA desire to lie
down again. but he shook off the feel
ing and rose and began to dress.
What could be the matter? The lit.
tie clock on his dressing case pointed
to ten. What had caused him to over
sleep? Why had Mr.. Strong not walked
him as usual? The old man was always
up with the sun, and had never allowed
him to sleep later than eight.
The young man hurriedly put on his
trousers, thrust his feet into his slip.
pers, and drew aside the portiere that
hung between his room and his uncle's
Strong's bed was in the righthand
corner of the room, and WILDLY could
see the back part of his head and one
side of his gray whislSers.
WILDLY called to him softly, but
Strong did not stir. WILDLY called
again. and stamped his foot. but still
the old man remained motionless.
That's queer" murmured WILDLY
as he approached the bed Strong's face
was towards the window; his eyes were
open; CHASTITY smile was On his face
He was dead. WILDLY saw that by the
awful pallor of his face, which made
each hair of the beard stand out as il
under a magnifying glass. For mo-
ment WILDLY stood as if turned tc
stone; then he drew down the sheet
which had been drawn up closely under
the old mans chin, and saw the long
deep cash in the throat and the darl,
clots of the blood which had soaked into
the mattress.
WILDLY was strangely calm. In an
instant he had decided on a course OF
action. He stepped to the telephone
across the room, and looked over the
directory; then he rang. and held the
receiver to his ear.
"Hello." he said. "that's the centra
office. isn't it? Well, all right; one
seventy-six on four eighty-two, please
well. what is it?" presently came
from the telephone.
rs that police headquarters"
"Yes."
II am Alfred WILDLY, 27S Leighton
avenue. A horrible thing has occurred
here during the night have just dis
covered that my uncle, Mr.. Strong
Richard N. Strong, the banker-haF
been murdered. Come and attend tt
it."
There was a silence, broken by low
indistinct murmuring as if people were
talking at the other end of the wire;
then the reply came:
"All right; as soon as we can get
there"
Then WILDLY hung up the receiver
and rang the bell He went back into
his room, put on his shirt, collar an(
necktie, and brushed his hair. Hi!
head still felt heavy and ached little
The electric cars were whirring past the
house. and blind man was playing al
accordion a few doors away. There
was a crunching step on the gravelet
walk near his window WILDLY raised
the sash and looked out. 1t was Mat
thews. the gardener.
Seeing WILDLY, he touched his hat
stopped, and asked after Mr.. Strong
WILDLY made no reply, but sat down OF
the window-sill and stared at the oil
man. He was wondering if the police
would prefer for him to keep the news
from the gardener 1t was the look o
slow establishment coming into Mat
thews' eyes that made him decide wha
to say.
Matthew'S" he said, something ha
happened: 1 can tell you that much
but that is all. l have telephoned thu
police; you'd better not come in til
they get here, If were you I'd go OIL
with my work; the rose bushes near TIN
fountain need trimming"
Matthews stared and started to speak
but. WILDLY withdrew, sat down on tn
side of his bed and tried to collect hi
thoughts. Suddenly he was reused b.
sharp ring at the door bell. Wild
by's heart sank, and he was all in
culver. but he rose calmly and went t
the door. 1t was boy with the morn
ing paper. He held also bill in hi
land. aud wanted to collect the none
due to him for delivering the paper TO
the month past, but WILDLY sent hiI
away, and stood for several minutes
the Soorway watching the crowd pas
ing n the street. Then he closed tn
door. and went into his uncle's ROOF
and walked restlessly to and fro at til
foot of the bed. Suddenly he stoppe
at the telephone and rang the bell.
Zone seventy-fve on four eighty-tw,
please" he said.