Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-14
CHAPTER xI.
THE label BRoTHERs.


who wore long boards. A list was made
of these and handed to the coroner,
who regarded II with grim smile.
Not man, whose name is here
would be guilty of a misdemeanor, let
alone a crime. You must look outside
of our village population for the muir
derer of Agatha Webb"
Every likely, but tell me something
flrst about these persons,' urged
Knapp. "Who is Edward Hopper"
"a watch repairer. A man OF estima-
BILE character"
And Sylvester Chubb?"
! IA farmer who, to support his moth
e.. wife and seven children. works
from morning until shutdown on his
farm and from shutdown until IL
o'clock at night on little fancy arti-
cles he cuts out from wood and sells
In Boston,"
"John Barker. Thomas Elder. limo
thy Sinn? 2"
can good men. can vouch for every
one
And John label, James Zabelf"
"Ah! You might as well ask about
ourselves. Irreproachable, both of
them. Quite famous shipbuilders once,
but the change to iron shipbuilding
has quite thrown them out Of that.
Pity, too, for they were remarkable
builders. BY the by, Fenton. we don't
see them at church or In the docks
any more"
"No. They keep very much to them
selves 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 names, knapp
But Knapp had slipped out.
We will follow him.
Walking briskly down the street he
went up the steps Of certain house
and rang the bell. A gentleman with
. face not entirely unknown to us
came to the door.
The detective did not pause for pre-
! Nminaries.
'.Are you Mr.. Crane" he asked, '.the
gentleman who ran against a man
coming out of Mrs. Webb's house last
nightY'
4 II am Mr.. Crane" was the slightly
surprised rejolnder, '.and was run
against by a man there. yes"
Every WELL" remarked the detective
quietly. .'NIy 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 Sutherlandtown. Who was this
person who came in contact with you
70 violently? You know. even If you
have been careful not to mention any
names"
you are mistaken. don't know.
cant know. He wore a sweeping beard
and walked and acted like man no
longer young, but beyond that
"Mr. Crane, excuse me. but I know
men. II you had no suspicion as-to who
that person was, you would not look SO
embarrassed. You suspect or at least
associate in your own mind name
with the man you met. Was 1t either
of these you see written here?'
n Mr.. Crane glanced ut the card on
which the other had scrubbed couple
81 names and started perceptibly.
you have me-" said he. You must
be man of remarkable perspicacIty. y
The detective smiled and pocketed
his card. The names he thus conceal
ed were John label, James label.
You have not said which Of the two
Il was" Knapp quickly suggested.
"No." returned the minister. land /
have not even thought. Indeed am
mot sure that have not made dread
ful mistake in thinking 1t was either.
A glimpse such as I had is far from
satisfactory, and they both are such
excellent men,
"Rightl You did make mistake Of
course. I have not the least doubt Of
: Il So don't think of the matter again.