Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-12
Copyright, 1899, by S. S. Mcclure Coz
XI

case. Murdered for money. Find the man
with a flowing beard
Copyright, 1899, by s. S. Mcclure Coz
CHAPTER XI.
There were but few men in town who
wore long boards. A list was made of these
and handed to the coroner, who regarded 1t
with n grim smile.
mot a man whose name is here would
be guilty of a misdemeanor, let alone a
crime. You must look outside of our viii
lage 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 ii o'clock at night on little
fancy articles he cuts out from wood and
sells in Boston,
John Barker, Thomas Elder, Timothy
Sinn?"
"All good men; 1 can vouch for every
one"
"And John label, James Zabel?"
"Ah! you might as well ask about our
selves. Irreproachable, both Of them. Quite
famous shipbuilders once, but the change
to iron shipbuilding has quite thrown them
out of late. Pity, too, for they were re-
markable builders. By the by, Fenton, we
don't see them at church or in the docks
any more"
mo, they keep very much to them
selves; getting old, like ourselves, Tai
bot"
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
names, Knapp"
But Knapp had slipped out.
We will follow him..
Walking briskly down the street, he went
up the steps of a certain house and rang
the bell. a gentleman with a face not en-
tirely unknown to us came to the door.
The detective did not pause for prelimi-
naries.
Are you Mr.. Crane?' he asked, 1.-THE gen.
tleman who ran against a man coming out
of Mrs. Webb's house last night"
IT ar Mr.. Crane" was the slightly sur
prised rejoindeT, land l was run against
by a man there, yes"
Very WELL" remarked the detective,
quietly, my name is Knapp. ] have been
sent from Boston to look into this matter,
and l have an idea that you can help me
more than any other man here in Suther-
landtown. Who was this person who came
in contact with you so violently? You
know, even If you have been careful not
to mention any names"
you are mistaken. l don't know; l can't
know. He wore a sweeping beard, and
walked and acted like a man no longer
young, but beyond that"
Mr.. Crane, excuse me, but 1 know men.
IL you had no suspicion as to who that
person was you would not look so embar-
raised. You suspect, or, at least, asso-
ciate in your own mind a name with the
man you met. Was it either of these you
sea written here?"
Mr.. Crane glanced at the card on which
the other had scrubbed a couple of names
and started perceptibly.
you have me-" said he; you must be a
man of remarkable perspicacity."
The detective smiled and ~pocketed his
card. The names he thus concealed were
Jchn label, James label.
you have not said which of the two 1t
was" Knapp quickly suggested.
NO. returned the minister, land | have
not even thought. Indeed, | am not sure
that l have not made a dreadful mistake in
""''''' - '"' go - bAHil''V SUM 40
i had is far from satisfactory, and they are
both such excellent men"
Right! You did make a mistake, of
course. | have not the least doubt of it.
So don't think of the matter again. l will
find out who the real man was; rest easy"
And with the lightest of bows Knapp drew
off and passed as quickly as he could, with
out attracting attention, round the corner to
tho confectiOner's.
Here his attack was warier. Sally Lotion
was behind the counter with her husband,
and they had evidently been talking the
matter over very conndentially. But Knapp
was not to be awed by her small, keen eye
or strident voice, and presently succeeded in
surprising a knowing look on the lady's face,
which convinced him that in the condolences
between husband and wife a name had been
used which she was less unwilling to i'm
part than he appeared to be. He, conse-
quently, turned his fun attention toward
her, using in his attack that older and most
subtle weapon against the sex, ~fattery.
"My dear madam" said he, II see what a