The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-03-10

"hu otae tue taoie with his INST. Once /
heard him say he wanted half OF some
Tim. and just after master answered
heard blows and the fallin' of chairs.
l thought | had waited as long as
could, and, grabbin' a old pistol that l
always kept by me, l rushed in. Mas
ter was on n side of the room. behind
a sofa. and the fellow was holdin' a
chair by the back and Just about to
raise 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 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 if
nothin' had happened; but he was as
white as n ghost. For n minute he
couldn't say a word. Presently he said:
Rather nasty temper he has, Mat
thews. My friend was n little upset,
but he would have come around ali
right. You frightened him away with
that pistol
Didn't he strike YOU, masterT |
asked. i thought I 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. Il think his mind is wrong. too. a
little. Yes, he did strike me, and l reck-
on yon we're right to come when you
did
Then he asked me If | was sure my
pistol was loaded. and told me to sleep
in his room. and see that the windows
and all the doors were locked"
WAS that all?" asked the colonel.
deeply interested.
Yes. sir. except he made me promise
not Il mention the affair to Mr.. Wild
by o anyone else. I'm sure he didn't
sleep Il wink that night, for ] heard
him rollin' and tumbiin' in bed, Il he'd
get up every now and then ard 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
anything?"
"Nothin', sir, except he bought n fine
watchdog, the one 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 a letter 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 it,
and didn't finish catin'."
Col. Warrcnton rose and knocked the
ashes from his cigar.
I've got al appointment down
town. he said. See here. Matthews,
don't say anything about what you
have told me. / am Investigating a
little on my own account in this mat
ter and | don't want anyone to know
it. Hold your tongue. and I'll see that
you don't lose anything by it."
A few minutes later the colonel was
in his Office downtown. He had just
begun the dictaticn of Il 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! Extrai"
The colonel went to the door quickly.
and returned reading a newspaper still
damp from the press. Under large, SEN
sational headlines he read a detailed ac-
count Of a circumstance that seemed
10 bear strongly OF the murder of the
night before. No less than rs type
written notes had been picked up in
different parts 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 mail boxes by letter-car-
riers, behind the counters of shops, and
one in the coat pocket of Mr.. William
Eoupdtree, the mayor. who had de-
clared to a reporter that Il must have
been put there while he was wearing
the coat.
The wording Of all the notes was ex-
actly the same, and ran as follows:
Nobody will ever discover who murdered
Richard n. Strong. IL will be useless TO
try. The secret lies In the smile on the
dead mans face. Who put it there. and
how was 1t done? These questions will
remain unanswered till the end OF time.
But this Is not all. Before long others will
wear the dead. white smile.
ONE WHO KNOWS HIS BUSINESS"
Col. Warrenton hurriedly read the
rest of the sensational article, then
threw aside the paper, aud went down
the street for two or three squares and
up to the office of the mayor. He sent
in his card, apd was admitted at once.
Mir. Roundtree was writing at his desk,
but he rose and drew a chair near him
for his friend to sit down.
Il just ran in TO see about that note
you got" said the lawyer. us it a fact
that you found il ia your pocket?'
The mayor thrust his right hand into
the pocket of his sack coat. "He put
it right there. colonel. l could show il
to you. but | sent it to the police. 1
thought it was the only one till | read
the extra just now"
How could it have got into your
pocket?" asked Warrenton. Have you
been in any crowds to-day"
Several, as it happened. At the post
Office this morning there were a great
many people waiting for the mail.
stopped at the Imperial hotel in q
tarong of politicians, and at the corner
L "a All. - -- .4 T.