Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-12
9. That Is nn1knnw-

w yuuudm stTOue 10 the WinCOW ana
let the old man sob on uhheeded. while
he drummed with the ends OF his fin
gers upon the pane and stared into the
darkness.
When James sobs ceased. Craig
Wyndham turned back into the room
and, placing one hand gently upon the
old mans shoulder spoke kindly, but
with an intensity that had an instant
effect The power OF the man shone in
his eyes at that moment. and, although
his face was pale and drawn. he was
outwardly as calm as If nothing unto
ward had occurred.
James," he said 81 believe you loved
your master very dearly"
"As II be were nay own son, sir. or
more perhaps, l never had a son, so
do not know"
''You would sacrifice much for him,
would you not James?'
Everything, sir-life itself. II that
could do any good"
"YOu loved his father also, James?"
with all my heart, sir"
Would you be willing. James, In or
der that justice may be done not only
to your dead master, but to his fathers
memory, and for the sake Of the family
name, to permit great shadow to fall
upon you for timer
Il don't know what you mean. sir"
replied James humbly, 81 only know
! that am willing to do anything that
1 can do If in doing ii can serve him."
| Il believe you, James. Now, listen
| closely to what 1 have to say. Your
| master is dead and by the act of an
| assassin. A great crime has been COM
mitted, and that crime is the result of
events that happened long ago. l know
something of the history that led to
this deed. but my information is very
| meager. ! have no doubt that you are
aware OF many things connected with
| this strange history which will assist
me to unrsyel this tangled skein. We
/ Will talk OF that later. The death of
Mr. Pendleton must be reported to the
police and to the coroner at once. II
we say anything concerning the visit
| OF this stranger and the subsequent
| open door. as you believed you had
| closed and latched It, suspicion will
/ point its finger at him, but we cannot
| say one thing or prove one circum-
stance to convict him OF the crime, and
be would therefore escape. BY con-
Meeting him with the affair at all we
would strengthen the position he is In,
for you may be sure that he has plan
4 ned thoroughly TO save himself. On the
! other hand, James, there are those who
| will suspect you of the crime"
James started back with a cry OF hor-
/ nor.
Suspect mer' he almost shouted.
"Yes, James. II you look at it calm
~. you will see that am right, and,
lSmes, that is precisely what 1 want
the world 20 believe. I want you sus-
pected or this crime. but only for a
time"
But why. sir. whyT'
80 that the person who really did
IL may be thrown OF his guard: so that
| will have time TO work out TO the
end all OF the facts connected with the
crime that now know so little about;
so that | may have time TO guard
against the revelation OF things that
am sure Burr Pendleton desired never
10 be known; so that may be enabled
10 fulfill what / know would be his
wish were he still alive to direct US
what TO do. and finally so that may
In the end palsy the hand that struck
your master TO death. Mr.. Pendleton
lived In a shadow. James-a shadow OF
the past He guarded Il jealously, even
from me, his closest friend. Now II
becomes my duty TO work II out until
know all that am sure he meant to
tell me tonight. Lastly. James, there
is one reason more vital than all. 1t
Is more than probable that suspicion
will fall upon me also. | think the
man who committed the deed will en-
deavor 10 bring that about. II you
disappear. thus convincing Others that
you are guilty. 1t will leave me free to
work: IL ! am hampered in any way,
that fact will play into the hands OF
the enemies OF Mr.. Pendleton. Will
you do what wish you to do, James?"
II will do whatever you think best,
Mr.. Wyndham." replied tho old man
simply. II know that Burr loved you
and trusted you more than any other
person In the world. Tell me what |
am to do, sir. and will do it,
Then you must leave the house at
once, taking nothing with you. win
write an address upon this card where
you are to go. Assume the name OF
Thomas Judson. Wait; 1 Will write a
line for you to take with you"
"Wyndh2m tore a leaf from his note
book, wrote rapidly upon it and passed
1t to the old servant.
! 'Give II to the lady who will admit
| you at that address. Wait there for
me until 1 come, no matter how long
that time may be. VIII you do it,
| JamesT
Yes, sir"
James. very much in the manner of
one who is stupehed, found his hat and
then returned to the room where
Wyndham was awaiting him. The
\ friend of his master was still standing
in the middle OF the floor and evidently
had not moved after the instant when
James left him.
II am ready, sir" he said. "Can l.
would it be possible-I mean are you
willing that l should see-him-before
! I e,o