Arizona republican., 1898-01-20
From Clue to Climax.
By Will N. Harben.
CHAPTER I.

ly at the closed door. as he unfaStened the hooks from a block of ice, and rapped loudly on the step, but no one came to answer his call.
 An hour later young man sleeping III tue front room downstairs awoke suddenly and sat up in bed. He was sstonished to note that the sunlight on ttie 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 Aeaviness in his head, and desire to lie, doEn 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 MT. 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. Stxeng's bed was in the righthand corner of the room, and Whidby could see the back part of his head and one side of his gray whiskers.
 Whidby called to him softly, but Strong did not stir. Whidby called again. and stamped his foot, but still Che old man remained motionless.
 That's queer" murmured Whidby. as he approached the bed. Strong's face was towards the window; his eyes were
 !, f-a He was dead. Whidby saw that by the awful pallor of his face, which made each hair of the beard stand out as if under a magnifying glass. For mo- | ment Whidby stood as if turned to None, then he drew down the sheet,
 iclf had been drawn up closely under
 Ild mans chin, and saw the long
 gasEl in the throat and the dark
 f the blood which had soaked into
 [ttress.
 idby was strangely calm. In an
 he had decided on course of
 He stepped to the telephone
 the room, and looked over the
 Gcory, then he rang, and held the Vfeceiver to his ear.
 ssHeIlo," he said, 'that's the central cffice, isn't it? We'll. all right; one seventy-six on four eightytwo, please" @We1l, what is it?'' presently came from the telephone.
 ''Ts; that police headquarters?
 ssYes
 -V ann Alfred Whidby. PTS Leighton zvenue A horrible thing has occurred heTe> ltrTing the night. I have just dis 4J ficiiaEEi N Strong, the banker-has aeen murdered. Come and attend to a-,'
 There was silence, broken by low, mdistincb murmuring as if people were talking, at the other end of the wire; zIeuz the reply came:
 -Alli right; as soon as we can get tfere.,''
 Them Whidby hung up the receiver ard rang the bell. He went back into his. roon,- put on his shirt, collar and nccaztie-. and brushed his hair. His iicatf s4i1E felt heavy and ached little. T he etfei ric ears were whirring past the house, and blind man was playing an accordion few doors away. There was q eruncling step on the graveled walk redr his window. Whidby raised the sash and looked out. It was Mat fi,ews bhp gardener.
 Seeing Nhidby, he touched his hat, siorpcd,. and asked after MT. Strong. Vhidby made no reply, but sat down on \ the window-sill and stared at the old \man- He was wondering if the police i"oald prefer for him to keep the news -(l 1a1 H. @f How astonishment coming into Mat vtrews' eyes that made him decide what tossay-
 '<Matthews," he said, something has Happened; I can tell you that much, 6ut that is all- I have telephoned the police; you'd better not come in till Fbey get here. If I were you I'd go on with my work; the rose bushes near the fountain need trimming"
 Matthews stared and started to speak, Eut YThidby withdrew, sat down on the side Of his bed and tried to collect his saiou1f1ts. Suddenly he was reused by T sharp ring at the door bell. Whid- 5y's heart sank, and he was all in a quiEer, but he rose calmly and went to the door. It was boy with the morn ing paper. He held also bill in his Hand, and wanted to collect the money due to him for delivering the paper for tine month past, but Whidby sent him away, and stood for several minutes in the doorway watching the crowd pass tug III the street. Then be closed the door, and went into his uncle's room and walked restlessly to and fro at the foot of the bed. Suddenly he stopped at the telephone and rang the bell.
 1One seventy-fve on four eighty-two, please" he said.
 "HeIIo there," was the reply.
 "WeIl?" said Whidby.
 "You are one seventy-six instead ot one seventy-five, aren't you?"
 'Yes. Did say one seventy-fve? meant one seventy-siX."
 All right; there you are, MT. Whid- Ay