Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-31

The inspector looked dubious, then
enlightened visibly. you being the
unan you are, Mr.. Stanton" he said
SSociably, over his third glass OF old
Scotch, Il can't see that there'd be
anything amiss in my answering you
so far. Our surgeon Mr.. Potter, re-
ported that the corpse was that Of a
%ell-nourished man probably between
Forty and forty-five years OF age, all
she organs healthy. though there were
traces OF opium in the system-not,
however, enough to have caused death.
The head had been severed from the
beck by skilled anatomist, who knew
exactly where TO strike; but 1t had
peen separated after death, not before,
also, the mutilation of the left hand
Dad been done in the same way. 1
suppose that is, roughly, the sort of
thing you wanted 10 know?"
Exactly" l returned, "and every de-
Gail you have mentioned goes to
strengthen my suspicious. Being an
amateur, l was obliged to judge prin-
cipaily by size and height. The surge
bn's report fits in with my theory ex-
Actly. Still, 1t does not comprise every
thing. 1t would be a great assistance
" l might know whether the police
pave as yet had any reliable informa-
Gsn to work upon
We had grown very friendly. indeed.
fSnncst fraternal now, and the inspec-
Tor kindly allowed me to refill his glass.
I'D you know who Mr.. Carson VIII
pred. or the house OF the lock, is Mr..
Stanton?" he inquired confidentially.
Yes. not only know who he is. but
cave slight personal acquaintance
with him." l said, conservatively.
81 ct ~ IL
yDctson-"Mr. Wildred has been tina
toly one so far-not counting What
fcu yourself may have TO say present.
ty-who has given any information or
ssioe."
"lndeed? He has given information Y'
= could not eliminate the establishment
skno perhaps something OF the disaD
seintfnent from my voice.
Yes, sir. As you know Mr. Wildred
you're probably aware that his country
Aouse is close by our town, and close,
too, to the spot where the body was
found. He was in yesterday evening,
IS soon as the matter got noised
about, and asked to see the body"
"lncredibler' The word sprang to
my lips, bat forced it back, and re-
trained from uttering it.
He was unable to identify it, but he
Etke OF having seen something in the
neighborhood of the small backwater
not far from his house, just before
Christmas, which seemed likely to
throw light on the matter. The surge
on's idea is, as L think / forgot to men,
Gon. sir, that the body has been IN the
water since Christmas time, or there
abouts, which made Mr.. Wildred's
supposition the more feasible.
cit seems that the gentleman had q
Friend staying with him at the House
by the Lock until a week or so ago-a
Ar. Farnham, an American-who has
since sailed for home. They were in
the habit of taking daily walks to-
gether whenever they were not in
Down, and week before Christmas
noticed that close to the little back.
water two men were living in tent.
1T was a quiet place enough in
Winter time, and the fellows might
have expected to escape observation
perhaps, but 1T was the smell Of their
smoke which first attracted Mr.. vii.
bred and his friend to the spot, and
as 1t was his land Mr.. Wildred at first
thought OF ordering the chaps away
BE thought better OF 1T, though, as he
&eems good-natured gentleman, and
said 1t didn't really matter to him
whether they stayed or went A stric,
watch was kept on all the locks up a
Ghe house. however, as it occurred tc
Mr.. Wildred the men might ,:ave some
Nceer designs. A day or tvc went by
and the tent was still :. but OF
---- -----anA.