Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-02-01

clerk to the solicitors Office, where VIC
found Mr.. .O'Brien upon the point OF
starting for the Shelborne Hotel to
pick up his client. A clean-shaven,
portly, hard featured man, little likely
to be upset by even a sudden death.
Nor was he. He simply removed his
overcoat, issued such instructions as
the occasion demanded. and expressed
regret that my mission SHOULD have
such an abrupt termination.
oddly enough he remarked, cap
tain Arnewood had strange forebod-
ing of impending death, which he
seemed to think your presence would
| somehow avert. He was, neyerthe-
less. prepared for the worst, and only
Yesterday signed a codicil to his will,
which l drew up at his request.
may. without indiscretion, inform you
that this codicil provides for the pay
mcnt of the reward as we'll as OF all
inquiry fees; and l may congratulate
YOU upon bequest of one thousand
pounds to Ralph Weston. Esquire. as a
mark of personal esteem My late eli
ent thought very highly of you.
You astound me! l exclaimed.
MY acquaintance with Captain Arne-
wood was so brief that such a bequest
is absolutely bewillering.
mo reason for declining it when the
will is proved" was the dry rejoinder.
MAY ask whether YOU see any hope
of Il speedy termination Of the Soho
AFFAIR."
impossible to say ut present." re-
piled, guardedly: 'but l must. if pos
sible. be back in London within four
days"
Nothing to prevent you. as far as
the inquest is concerned. from return
ing tomorrow. You will merely have
to give evidence as to the death in
your presence. The doctors will do
| the rest"
| l was not so sure of that. Dr. Red
woods opinion had not been a reassur-
ing one, and it was bound to carry
great weight i'll the inquiry. Almost
certainly | would be cross-questioned
as TO the subiect-matter of our CONVEX
sation Immediately preceding death.
And how could bring myself to make
admissions that would besmirch my
unfortunate patrons memory with al
most obvious completely in Il terrible
crime? 1t was not only that he had
been throughout model client; It was
not that he had made Il handsome pos
thumous provision in my favor AS 4
man of the world, these facts could
not fail to enlist my sympathies on his
behalf living or dead. But, quite
apart, 1 had an underlying belief
against the weight of evidence and
my own jrdgment) that Richard ATne-
wood had been guiltless of his Cousins
blood: and, for once in a way. 1 re-
solved to Obey instinct rather than rea-
son. Mr.. O'Brien looked at me curl
cusly. and the hard. stern face grad
ually softened.
"See here, Mr.. Weston" he resumed.
Il have no wish to pry into your af-
fairs, but your manner leaves me I'M
der the impression that you do not ex-
actly court an inquiry into the decease
Of Captain Arnewood."
Sir" I exclaimed, ''what do you
mean?'
mo harm, I assure YOU" he re-
joined, placing friendly hand upon
my arm. "The position is simple
enough. For many generations the
ArneWoods have been valued clients
of our firm, and we would go very far,
indeed. to save the old family name
from the breath of scandal. Do you
follow me?"
Scarcely" I answered. "Sure1y no
scandal attaches to the sudden demise
of a man known to be suffering from
disease of the hearth"
"You are fencing with me, Mr.. West
on.''
This was so true that, had he spoken
with even a trace of sarcasm in his
tone, I should have retorted holly.
But his words were uttered in such
kindly fashion that I could not.
sWill you please tell me exactly what
you would suggest?' asked.
EYES," he replied, II will. Let me
compliment you, also, upon your use
Of the word Suggest 1t exactly fits
the case. What would suggest, then,
is, tkat-you have ascertained more
about the facts of the so-called Soho
Mystery than you have yet made pub
lic''
WELL admitting that, what more?r
"That-were Captain Arnewood still
alive-you would, say, dissuade him
frcm pursuing the inquiry, with the
same zeal as heretofore, lest results
disastrous to the family name should
ensue.'
''Were he alive. 1 should simply obey
his instructions" I replied. 81 could
scarcely offer advice implying doubt
of his own innocence, especially as
am convinced that he had no hand or
part in the death of his cousin.'
Mr.. O'Brien gave deep sigh of re-
lief.
Your words take load off my
mind,'' he said earnestly. THE fact
is that Captain Arnewood's manner
had been so strange, ever since that
terrible affair. and his references to it.
so mysterious. was driven to con-
clude he was somehow mixed up in it.
| even vcntured to hint as much once.
and was by no means favorably i'm
pressed by his incoherent reply. The,
reward l came to regard as merely a
herring across the trail. In short. 1
have been in daily dread Of some aW-
full exposure. and my anxiety has been
fully shared by my partner. May /
take it that no real cause exists for
this anxiety as regards our late eli
ent!''
Il hope So and believeso." l replied,
still strong in my conviction that Rich-
ard Arnewood was innocent. despite
appearances. But even should it
nroye otherwise. would YOU ask me to