Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-05-01
BY Fred M. 0hite
CHAPTER IN.
In l.XtrellliS.

tive ideas
His mind began to move at length.
The more he thought of it the more al
sclutely certain he was that he fast
ened the door before leaving the house.
True. the latch-key was only an ordin-
airy one, and a key might easily have
been made to fit it. AS matter of fact,
David had two. one in reserve in case
of accidents. The other was usually
Kept in jewel drawer of the dressing
table. Perhaps
David Went quietly up stairs. It was
Just possible that the murderer was in
the house. But the closest search re-
vealed nothing. He pulled out the jew
ell drawer lin the dressing table. The
spare latch key was gone. Here was
something to go upon.
Then there Was rumbling of an
electric bell somewhere that sci David's
heart beating like a drum. The hall
light Streamed upon policeman IN uni
form. and an Inspector in a dark over
Goa: and hard felt hat. Or the pave
E.ent was a long. shallow tray, which
David recognized, mechanically. as an
ambulance.
Something very serious, sir?" In
spec1or Marley asked, quietly. i've
brought the doctor with me-
David nodded. Both the inspector and
the doctor We're acquaintance of his.
He closed the door and led the way into
the study. Just inside the conserva-
tory and not far from the huddled fig
ure. lay Davids cigar case. Doubtless,
without knowing it, the owner had
whsked it off the table when he had
sprung the telephone.
Unit" Marley muttered. rs this
clue. or yours, sir??''
He lifted the case. with it's diamonds
cleaning like stars on dark night.
David had forgotten all about it for the
time. had forgotten where it came from
or that it contained G250 in bank notes.
Not rnine,'' he said. Il mean to say,
of course, it is mine. A recent present.
The shock of this discovery has de-
prived me of my senses pretty well.''
Marley laid the cigar case on the ia
bic. 1t seemed strange to him, who
could follow a tragedy calmly, that Il
man should forget his own property.
Meanwhile, Cross was bending over the
body. David could see a face, smooth,
like that of a woman. A quick little
exclamation came from the doctor.
"a drop of brandy here. and quick as
possible" he commanded.
''You don't mean to say" Steel began;
'<'you don't -"
Gross waved his arm impatiently. The
brandy was procured as soon as posi-
BILE Steel, watching intently, fancied
that he detected slight flicker of the
muscles of the white, stark face.
Bring the ambulance here Cross
said, CURLY. eff We can get this poor
&c i,,st a
chance for him. Fortunately, we have
DOT many yards t. go"
AS far as elucidation went. Marley
naturally looked to Steel.
81 should like to have your explana-
ton. SIR" he said gravely.
POSITIVELY, I have no explanation to
Offer" David replied. about midnight
I let myself out to go for stroll, care
fully closing the door behind me. Nat
orally, the door was on the latch. When
I came back, an hour or so later to my
horror ana surprise, 1 found those
marks of a struggle yonder, and that
Door fellow lying on the floor of the
conservatory"
Cum. Was the door fast on your re-
tturn?"
'No: it was pulled to, but it was
open. all the same"
You didn't hapien to lose your latch
lkey during your midnight stroll, sir?'
mo; it was only when 1 put my key
in the door that 1 discovered it to be
open. I have o spare latch key that
keep for emergencies, but when l went
to look for it just now, the key was not
to be found When 1 came back the
house was perfectly quiet
e'What family have you, sir, and what
Kind of servants?'
..There is only myself and my moth
.er. with three maids. You may dismiss
any suspicion of the servants from
your mind atsonce. My mother trained
them all in the ole vicarase where l
was born, and not one of the trio mas
been with us less than twelve years"
"That simplifies matters somewhat"
said Marley, thoughtfully. Apparent
Iy your latch key vas stolen by some
body who has made a careful study OF
your habits. Do you generally go for
late walks after your household has
gone to bed, sir?'
David replied, somewhat grudgingly,
that he had never done sucn thing
before. He would like to nave con-
cealed the fact, but it was bound to
come out. sooner or later. He haG
strclled along the front and round
Brunswick Square. Marley shrugged
his shoulders.
well, it's bit of a puzzle to me- ne
admitted. you go out for midnight
walk-a thing you have never done be-
fore-snd when you come back you find
somebody has got irto your. house by
means of stolen ,atch-f1ey and E1ur"
dered somebody else in your conserva-
tory. According to that, two people
must have entered the house"
That's logic" David admitted. There
can be no murder without the slain an
the slayer. My impression is that
somebody who knr.ws the ways of the
house watched me depart. p. Then he
lured his victim in here under pretence
that it was his own house-he had the
purloined latch key-and murdered him.
Audacious, but a far safer way than
doing it out of doors"
But Marley's imagination refused to
go so far. The theory was plausible
enough. he pointed out. respectfully. If
tho ASA SSin had been assured that the