Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-23
SA3ASa6A8a.0A3A.3A A3aG 5 5 THE STURGIS WAGER 2
 3 A DETECTIVE STORY. z y By EDGAR NOR ETTE E W Copyright, 1S99 by Frederick A. Stokes Co. Sj SH&e&@&0N0 0NN&N&Nwse
CHAPlER VII. AGNES MURDOCH.

i-i d duS1I tCl ol tlc city WHICH +
 rapidly surrendering to the relentless 1 encroachments of trade. there stil
 stand a few old-fashioned houses, tn, ! sole survivors of what was once al aristocratic settlement.
 One by one their fellows have beer
 sapped and swept away by the resist less tide of commerce. until these an
 cient dwellings, stubbornly contest
 ing a position already lost, now real
 their sepulchral brownstone fronts il stiff and solitary grandeur-huge sar cophagi in a busy mart.
 One of these houses stands wei
 back from the street line. the tradi
 tional backyard of the ordinary New
 York dwelling having been sacri
 feed. in this instance, to make room
 for a tiny garden, which is separat ed
 from the street by tall spiked iron
 railing, behind which grows an ar
 Dor vitae hedge. The former serves
 as defense against the marauding
 of the irrepressible metropolitan gamin; while the latter confers upon the occupants of the garden a sem-
 blance of protection from the GU rious gaze of the passers-bv.
 This property, having been the sub ject of an interninabl lawsuit, had remained for many years unoccupied, and was even now beginning to be re- garded by some of the neighbors as haunted. when at last it was bought by Dr. Murdock. a wealthy widower with an only daughter. For some months masons and carpenters were at work; and then. one day, the new occupants entered into possession.
 The Murdocks lived quietly but lux uriously, like people accustomed to wealth. They had their horses and carriages. their house at LenoX and at Newport, and their yacht. Their cir cle of acquaintances was large, and included not only the fashionable set, but also q scientific, literary and art istic set. For Dr. Murdock was a chemist of national reputation. a member of several scientific bodies, and man of great intelligence and broad culture.
 On this particular New Years morn- ing Dr. Murdock was seated in his study, apparently abso. bed in read ing the daily papers, a pile of which lay upon his table. His occupation might perhaps more accurately be de- scribed as skimming the daily papers; for each journal in turn was subject ed to rapid scrutiny, and only few columns seemed occasionally to inter- est the reader.
 There was no haste visible in the doctors actions, each one of which appeared to be performed with the coolness and deliberation of man who is not the slave of time; and yet, 90 systematic were they, that, all lost motion being avoided, every operation was rapidly completed.
 In a short time the pile of newspa- pers had been disposed of, and the doctor, lighting a choice cigar, leaned back in his comfortable armchair and putfed the wreaths of fra grant smoke ceilingward. He was ap- parently satisfied with the world and with himself, this calm, passionless man. And yet a sharp observer would have noted an almost imperceptible furrow between the eyes, which might perhaps have indicated only the healthy mental activity of an or v SO little to outward manifestation of feeling as Dr. Murdock, might also oetoken more or less serious annoy- ance or displeasure.
 While the chemist sat in this pen sive attitude, there was a rustic of skirts outside, and presently there came a gentle knock at the door of .he study.
 Come in." said Murdock, removing he cigar from his lips.
 The door opened, admitting a tall and beautiful young girl, evidently lot long out of her teens.
 Did l disturb you, father?" she lsked, stepping lightly into the 'oom.
 No, Agnes," replied Murdock, 'as you see, am indulg ng in period of dolce far niente''
 The young girl laughed a clear, sil- cry laugh, as her eyes fell upon the pile of newspapers.
 If the reading of a dozen news papers is dolce far niente, should hink you would welcome hard work $ a pleasant change"
 ''Oh!" replied her father, 'the york I have done on those has not mounted to much. I have only 'een gleaning the news from the morning papers. "Yes," he added, answering her sur rised look, ''it takes a deal of skim milk to yield a little cream"
 The last paper which Murdock had cen examining lay upon the desk be- ore him. From the closely printed . olumns stood out in bold relief the laring headlines:
 MURDER IN A CAB. ASSASSINATION OF AN
 UNKNOWN MAN, IN BROAD
 DAYLIGHT.
 ABMAN REILLY DENIES ALL
 KNOWLEDGE OF THE CRIME.
 Miss Murdock's glance rested care essly upon these words for an in- tant. They aroused in her nothing lore than the mild curiosity which ttaches to events of palpitating hu- tr,fn