The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13


dapper little man with an air of import
ant business writ large all over him.
"a brief" thought Tom with delight
and he became unpleasantly conscious of
his gay dressing gown and the white table
cloth Uttered with the the remains of his
meal Certainly the room looked most I'M
lawyer-like. II was session time, too, and
he wished ne had been caught reading
some Jaw book or at least the Times, in
stead of that condemning yellow boarded
novel.
II beg pardon for intruding," said the
man. MY name is Craig, and l come on
behalf of Mr.. Dallas"
"Oh" replied Tom, relieved yet disap-
pointed; it was only a message, not brief.
pray take a seat"
1T has not been a case of early to
bed and early to rise" remarked Craig
wagging his head and looking at the ia
BILE.
I'VE lawyers have sometimes to keep
late hours and then catching a smile on
Craig's face, Tom added with a laugh,
Fact is, was at call dinner and am
afraid we kept it up rather late"
"Or rather early, was it not?"
We'll 1t was after q"
I'm that case you will have no difficulty
in proving where you were"
Il beg your pardonw cried Tom, sitting
up and speaking sharply.
"Oh, that's all right. You see. I am a
detective
"What?''
Just so. It isn't in the papers, and I
see you have not heard of 1t. am sorry
to have to inform you that your uncle
Mr.. Dallas was murdered somewhere be-
tween - and this morning"
Murdered! The blood left Toms cheeks
and he stared at Craig
The detective told his story quickly and
succinctly. What he wanted was to get
information, not to give it.
This morning, at 1:45 O'clock or there
abouts, policeman on the beat in Thistle
down road, Clapham found the street
door of Mr. Dallas house standing open
Rang the bell and reused out of her bed
the old woman name of Sarah Mundy.
who does for Mr.. Dallas. She couldn't
tell how the door came to be open. There
was a light in the front floor back win
dow. Policeman X45 suggested that the
woman should go see If her master knew
anything about it. Woman went upstairs
Screamed for help. X45 ran up. In a room
furnished like an Office with desk safe
and ledgers, found Mr.. Dallas iying on the
floor Summoned assistance, surgeon. SO
on. Mr.. Dallas been killed by single
blow, inflicted probably by heavy ruler.
Give us any clue?"
Tom shook his head. He could not
think clearly. His wits were all astray.
Think. Know anybody who had
quarrel with Mr.. Dallas? Say about
money!"
Tom again shook his head, and said
His clerk, Sharpe, knows all Mr.. Dali
las business. He would be the best man
to go to-
Seen him. He's of little assistance.
perfect mailman he is, ravlng about losing
his situation. You won't keep on the bust
ness, he says"
He's right there"
Talks of nothing but his situation. You
might look him up ~and see If you can
make anything cut of him. I can't
Tom sat thinking for a little and then
said:
"Of course, / will give a reward for
the discovery of the murderer"
Craig bowed
The amount will be" and he scrib-
bled some figures on a piece of paper and
threw IL over the table.
Craigs eyes glistened as he saw the
sum.
"In do everything that mortal man
can do but the Scotland Yard people
swallow up so much of these rewards"
Scotland Yard won't know anything
about it," said Tom. lie had not attend
ed the Central Criminal for nothing.
"
1t was little that Tom Robe could make
out of Sharpe. The old man was 50 taken
up with anxietes as to his situation that
ne had no thoughts for anything else
Make up a statement Of the money
lending business. with the details in ev-
cry case" ordered Tom.
"And the houses-the little houses that
bring in such big returns?"
Il shall sell them"
"But other people will buy them and
get the enormous profits" whimpered
Sharpe.
They are welcome 10 own the houses
In the slums. II the houses were all In