The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-01-23


ana In due course called at the 3, lea
ria hotel, but learned to our chagrir
that the widow and her daughter had
!, already left with friends. Where had
they gone? The hotel officials did not
know, but suggested that we should
make inquiries at Great Scotland Yard
which was just round at the back. We
thanked them, but did not take their
advice. Unlike the police, we knew
who had committed the murder: at
least We had very few doubts How.
ever, we thought that a glimpse of the
weapon might confirm any lingering
suspicion and with that object In view
called at the police office and begged
permission to inspect the knife, per.
mission which was peremptorily refus.
ed by red faced savage clothed in o
little brief authority.
But l am not without information
which may throw considerable light
upon this crime" said my uncle
The red faced one smiled superior
official smile.
"Yes: l know" he said. 'I've 'ad Is
ere already who can lay their 'ands
the murderer ut moments notice"
DO you know" said my uncle that
your tone Is hardly the one to adopt
when speaking to gentleman"
III gentlemen will come ERE with
such yarns'- he muttered as he turn.
ed his great back on us. The sentence
WAS left unfinished, but it really re.
auired no completion. The tone, the
movement and the shrug Of the mass
I've shoulders finished it as no words
could.
You arc an exceedingly Intelligent
fellow" said my uncle. you ought to
succeed"
After the first vain attempt to diScov-
er the whereabouts Of the widow aud
her daughter we abandoned our in
quiries. After all, We could only have
heard what we knew or imagined, and
our story, If accepted, would render
us anything but desirable acquaint-
ances. Therefore. after duly taking all
things into consideration, we decided
not to intrude upon the privacy of the
ladies'. but from a distance watch the
efforts of the law, rendering such aid
as we could. Indeed. our suspicious
were written out and dispatched to
Scotland Yard. and i'll due time we
were waited upon by one Of the chief
inspectors. but as our story would
public it accordingly never reached the
newspapers. But the police were duly
informed of the society and its do
ings, and for some time aftcrWard
their vigilance was such that we ate,
slept and walked in safety, knowing
that our house was watched at night
and that wherever we went police
officer was at our heels.
Unfortunately Scotland Yard had
met its match in the society. Nothing
that could by the greatest stretch Of
be construed into sus-
piCiUus incident occurred during the
three months we We're under police
protection. The reason was naturally
Il subject of much conversation be-
tween my uncle aud me-, he contend
ing that the fear of detectives had |
rendered them impOtent, | airing my |
hopeful views as TO the grim dyer Of |
society being at last satiated. But he |
refused to share In the hope. Indeed, |
harb0red the belief that he |
had no wish for the enemy to with |
draw. So far he had done nothing but |
stand upon the defensive, and bis soul |
OF receiving thrust and STAB. |
He ioIged TO hear the advance sound
ed-to do some emitting and thrusting
IN his own account.
As there had been no sign Of the en-
nmy during the whole OF the period we
were under police surveillance think
of'iciaiism came to the conclusion that
1t had attached undue Importance to
our story. for we were somewhat curt.
y Informed from headquarters that
here being no longer evidence Of dan
ger our guard would be withdrawn
forthwith. And II il not little singu-
ar that two days after this notification
as we sat ut dinner in well known
house off Coventry street the waiter
brought letter to our table, in1uiring
rs he looked from me to my uncle for
Mr.. Kingston"
| held out my hand and took the mis-
'ive and with but an ordinary amount
If curiosity opened it, A sheet of pa
Der somewhat curlously folded met my
gaze. This | opened gingerly. for it
seemed to me that the paper was a
blank, and was getting just trife
weary of mysterious communications.
However, it was not all a blank, for in
he middle Of 1t were these words,
Hold this up to the light" did so
md saw at once the reason of the re-
luest.
The paper had been 80 folded that
he crease Of the line made a perfect
val. 1t was the fatal sign once more.
I passed it on to my uncle, and he,
Who had been intently watching me,
,uessed the bad news from my face.
lie read the words and accordingly
eld the thing up to the light.
Yes" he said. '"rhere can be no
oubt as to the meaning. l wonder
rhere the gentleman Is who sent it!"
'ut though he spoke nonchalantly
aw his mouth harden, and | knew
hat the old fighting blood was bub-
ling once more to the surface. He
ad long since passed the terrified
tage and lived now in the hope Of one
ay meeting the enemy. And I, too,
'as slowly gaining some of his spirit,
he constant companionship Of the
error lessening the horror whHh sur
,rplaI 1nn't thipb Il >tWc tho /