Evening star., 1899-03-11
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.

IJust after bal at the Sutherland mansion Agatha
Webb and her servant are found dead. and
Philemon Webb. Agntha's husband. who for
years has been growing demented. is discovered
asleep at the dinner table. A Of blood
Mr. Sutherland and the local marshal Fenton,
Investigate Agatha Webb is known to but few
drawer is found cIutched in her hand. Miss
Page. the niece Of Sutherland's housekeeper,
persists in remaining about the Webb premises
and discovers blood ON the grass The money
dTawsr % Is found to be empty = and T"s6ery is
wayward youth. calls his father To witness his
determination TO be better man. and promises
not To marry Miss Page. by whom he has been
fascinated Miss Page tells Frederick that she
followed him the night of the murder and Knew
where he had secreted n Thousand collars. She
gives him week t" decide whether to marry
her or be proclaimed as the murderer Of Agatha
Webb The whole town is stirred up by the
double murder. and every cDe tells of the
goodness Of Mrs. Webb Six children I5d been
horn to her and all died in i,ranrr. 1t is
learned that the money was in new bills and
the keeper Of a small produces that
strange man gave him late the night of the
reports Simple case Murdered for money
Find the man with flowing beard-'l
CHAPTER NJ.
There were but few men in town who
wore long boards. A list was made of
these and handed to the coroner who re-
garded II with grim smile
Not a man whose name is here would
be guilty of a nisdemeanor. let alone
crime You must look outside of our vii
lase population for the murderer Of
Agatha Webb
Very likely. but tell me something first
about these persons urged Knapp. Who
is Edward Hope"
"A watch repairer; a man of estimable
character"
And Sylvester Chubb?''
a farmer who to support his mother
wife and seven children works from morn
ing till sundown on his farm and from
sundown till IL o'clock at night on little
fancy articles he cuts out from wood and
sells in Boston.
John Barker Thomas Elder Timothy
Snn?''
''An good men; can vouch for every
one
And John label. James Zabelrs'
''AhI you might as we'll ask about our
selves IrrsprOachabie. both of them.
quite famous shipbuilders once but the
change to iron shipbuidinS has quite
thrown them out of that. Pity, too. for
7hey were remarkable builders. BY the by,
FentOn. We don't see them al church or in
The docks any mOre?'
No. they keep very much to themselves;
getting old like ourselves. Talbot"
Lively boys once We must hunt them
up. FentOn- Can't bear to see old friends
drop out of good company but this isn't
business You need not pause over their
na mes. Knapp"
But Knapp had slipped out
We will follow him
Walking briSkly dow n the street he went
mp the steps of a certain house and rang
the bell. gentleman with face not en-
tirely unknown To us came to the door.
The detective did not pause for prelmin-
aries.
Are you Mr.. Crane?' he asked. "the
gentleman who ran against man coming
out of Mrs Webbs house last night?''
II am Mr.. Crane" was the slightly sur
prised rejoinder. "and / was run against
by man there. yes
Very WELL remarked the detective
Quietly, my name is Knapp. / have been
sent from Boston to look into this matter
and 1 have an idea that you can help me
more than any otl@r man hera in SIIther-