Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-01-11
CHAPTER VIII.
Captain Arne,vood Stir. Us Up.

Early in the forenoon next day. Il
card was brought to me in my private
Office, with q request for an interview
upon urgent business. A glance at the
pasteboard revealed the fact that my
visitor was Captain Richard Arne'
wood, Of the Ninety first Fusileers, and
of the Junior Naval and Military Club,
and ordered the clerk to admit him
forthwith.
A tall, slight somewhat sickly-look-
ing man, his preliminary greeting did
not give me a very favorable opinion
of either his tact or good-breeding.
Can you explain this messagc:" he
demanded, abruptly; at the same time
thrusting telegram into my hand. Il
received it twenty miuteS ago ut the
club
"Your cousin Luke returned. but be-
lieved dead and foul play suspected.
Call on Hawkins 4 Co., Exeter street.
Strand, for details.
"O'Brien & Grudgery.''
Eyes" l replied. after reading this
terse dispatch. but it will take some
little time. Pray be seated
Not he. He stalked up and down the
room like Gagged hyena, while l mar
rated the story of Luke Arnewood's re-
turn and terrible fate as clearly and
briefly as I could. He appeared to be
greatly agitated by the recital; indeed,
his emotion struck me as rather excess
i've, considering that he had never
seen his late cousin and would benefit
so greatly by his death.
ut is awfulH' he almost moaned.
tsPoor fellow! Just as he was about to
enter upon his Inheritance, upon the
very day of his arrival in England-to
be murdered by some common footpad
for the sake. doubtless. of such valu-
ables as he may have had about him!
1t is terrible business!"
every terrible, indeed" l assented,
gravely. But such crimes are. unfor-
tunately. of frequent occurrence"
Eyes, he replied. bitterly, land five
times out Of six the criminal eludes
capture. If it has taken the London
police all this time merely to identify
the man they found strangled in Soho
and even that with outside help. the
odds must be long, indeed. against
- ~
theOrizing asseS!"
"Gently, if you please" 1 protested
eff you will be at the pains of thinking
out the facts of the case little calm
dy, you will perhaps alter your
views
'Not T." he interrupted almost III.
much of the police and their methods
hot P,1t av%os ,,11y II
Intend to let my unfortunate cousins
gan prevent it. And my first move will
ibe to offer reward Of $4,000 for his
capture. How does that strike you?'
GAS an entirely admirable idea," re-
piled. ''The authorities are, 1 belieye.
about to offer f1OO in the usual way:
and, as they possess exceptional means
of giving publicity to rewards, would
suggest your placing the sum you have
named in the hands of the Chief Com
missioner Of Police"
'Yes," he said, after pause, as
though distrustful Of the force even as
advertising agents, there can be no
harm in that. I will do so. You are
perhaps aware, as my solicitors agent,
that am heir-at-law to the murdered
man,
Eyes replied. 'I know something
of the family history
'Then you will understand that this
terrible affair has made me a rich
man. he continued. land that I deem
it a sacred duty to spare neither effort
nor expense to bring the assassin of
my unfortunate cousin to justice. I
am satisfied from what you have told
me, Is well as from my lawyers refer
ence, that cannot do better than
leave the matter in the hands of your
firm. my only stipulation being that
you pursue your own Independent in
quiries rather than trust blindly to the
police"
felt sudden gust of sympathy to-
wards this sickly soldier. whose man.
ner had at first repealed me. Was he
not affOrding me the very chance
longed for, of taking n personal share
IN the case?
6 You may rely upon 1t that we shall
& 10 our best" made answer. MAY I
- II you reside In Lond0n?"
only occasionally, when I'm on