The Holly chieftain., 1898-03-11

come as far as the room next TO the par
'lor.~
Did you then hear anythipg.~
They kept il UP. sir. Master seemed
10 be arguin' with him in low. steady
voice. and the stranger would break in
Rnd beat the table with his INST. Once
heard him say he wanted half Of some
thin. and Just after master answered
] heard blows and the failin' Of chairs.
| thought ! had waited us long MS
could. aud. grab0in' old pistol that
always kept by me, l rushed in. Mas
ter was on one side Of the room. bebind
a sofa. and the fellow was hoidin' a
chair by the back and just about to
rnise it. When he saw me and my pistol
he put down the chair, and, with an
oath. backed out of the room. fol-
lowed him as far US the trout door and
saw him spring over the fence and walk
away quick.
Then went back to master. 70 my
surprise. he was tryin' to smile M If
nothin' hud happened; hut be was as
white as a ghost. For u minute he
couldn't say u word. Presently he said:
Rather nasty temper he has. Mat
thews. My friend was little upset.
hut he would have come around ali
right. You frightened him away with
that pistol
Didn't he strike you. mnstcr?'
asked. 4 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 Iookin' at It, and put
HIS hnnd over 1t. but he was SO excited
he couldn't keep from showin' that he
didn't wnnt to let me know whnt the
cause of the trouble was.
That fellow was drunk master
said I think his mind is wrong. too, u
little Yes, he did strike me. and ] reck-
on you were right to come when you
did
''Thcn he usked me II 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"
"Wns 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 be didn' I
sleep wink that night, for heard
him rollin' and tumb'in' 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
anythtngw
"Nothin,, sir, except he bought fine
watchdog, the ono 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 q 9et4er that would
excite him. somewhat They always
came In strengthening blue envelopes.
Once when ! gave him one at break
fast he turned pale when he opened 1t,
and didn't finish catin'.''
Col. Wsrrenton rose and knocked the
ashes from his cignr.
I've got an appointment down
town." he said. '.Eee here. Matthews,
don't say anything about what you
have told me. am investigating q
little on my own aecOunt in this mat
ter and don't want anyone to know
| It. Hold your tongue, snd III see that
you don't lose ything BY It."
A fgw minutes later the colonel was
in his Office downtown. he had just
begun the dictation, Of letter to his
stenographer when he heard the cry
of q .newsboy in the street
"Extxpi Extra Morning News! New
Developments IN the Leighton avenue
murder case! Extrn! Extrn!"
Thecolonel went TO the door quickly
nnd returned reading q newspaper still
dump from the press. Under lnrge, SEN
sational headlines he read o detailed &c
count Of . circumstance that seemed
to bear strongly on the murder of The
night before. No less than 25 type
written notes had been picked up In
different part. of the city early that
morning; they had been found on the
sidewalks, under the doors OF private
residences, In the yards of unoccupied
houses. in the mall boxes by lettcr-car-
riers, behind the counters Of shops, and
one in the coat pocket of Mr.. William
Eoundtree, the mayor, who had de-
clnred to . reporter that 1t must have
been put there while he was wearing
the coat.
The wording Of all the notes was cx-
actly the same. and ran as fellows:
Nobody will ever discover who murdered
Richard N. Strong. 1t will be useless Ia
try. The secret lies In the smile on the
dead mans face. Who put II there. and
how Was It dcne7 These questions viii
remain unanswered till the end of time.
Hut this Il not all Before long others win
wear the dead. white smile. sii
ONE WHO KNOWS HIS BUBlNEaS."
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.
AIR. Roundtree was writing at his desk,
but he rose and drew . chair near him
for his friend to sit down.
Il just ran in 10 zee about that note
yon got" said the lnwyer. "Is 1t 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. ! could show it
to you. but sent it to the police I
thought it was the only one till read
the extra just low" a '''s..' re-
''How could It have got into your
pocket r asked Wurrenton. Have you
been in amy crowds to-day -
Several, az It hnppeucd. At the post
office this morning there were n rreat