The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1902-01-02


u the calm, sardonical voice OF DR. Nur.
dock.
The reporter started inwardly, but
), gave no outward sign of surprise.
'Were you about to do me the honor
OF calling?" continued the chmeist.
"Yes," said Sturgis, deliberately:
II was about to seek an interview
with you. Can you spare a few min.
utes?"
"Who is it that asks for the inter.
view?" inquired Murdoch, with quiet
sarcasm. us it Mr. Sturgis, gentle.
man; Mr.. Sturgis, reporter, or -"
Sturgis met cold CLEAN from Muir
docks inscrutable eyes.
'Or Mr.. Sturgis, the famous de.
tective?" continued the chemist with
an imperceptible sneer.
II reiAesent the Tempest,' replied
the reporter, quietly.
Murdoch glanced carelesslv nm and
down the street. There was no one
in sight.
oh very WELL" he said, taking out
his latchkey and leading the wav TO
the house; "come into my study and
let me hear what / can do 10. tho
Tempest"
On entering the house Murdock mn.
toned Sturgis to the door leading
from the hall into the drawing-room
IF you will step into the parlor for
few minutes, shall be with vo,, al.
rcctly." said he.
| Stnrgis nodded acquiescence, and
while Murdoch walked toward his
study, which was at the extreme rear
OF the hall, the reporter opened the
drawing-room door. He did not open
it very wide, however, neither did he
enter; for although the room was
rather dark, his quick eye caught a
passing glimpse Of feminine head
cozily nestled upon a distinctly mas
culine shoulder, the owner of which
had his back turned to him. Bach
elor cynic though he was, Sturgis had
not the heart to interrupt so inter
esting situation; and, as the couple
were so absorbed that they had not
noticed the intrusion upon their tete-
a-tete, he discreetly retreated and
softly closed the door.
BY this time Murdoch had passed
into his study, so that Sturgis found
himself alone in the hall. He was
glad of short respite during which
he might collect his thoughts; for,
having been taken by surprise, he had
not had time to select a plausible
topic for the interview which he had
solicited from Murdoch. Not know.
ing that the house was that of the |
chemist, his sole object had been to
gain admittance, SO that he might be |
able to observe the Manhattan Chem.
ical eompany's Offices from the rear.
and if possible to ascertain how Chat.
ham had managed to give the detec-
tives the slip the first time he APP
peared to them.
Now that he was III the house the
reporter was confronted with the me-
cessity of explaining his presence
there without betraying his true pur-
pose. This would not have been n
difficult matter had the inmates OF
the house been total strangers; but |
he felt that it would be by no means
80 easy to offer an explanation which
would be satisfactory to man of
keen perception. And MUIR
dock was the last person to whom he
would have conflded the true reason
If his visit; not only because the
as his opponent in the wager
the Knickerbocker bank
mystery. was interested in thwarting
'ather than in aiding his investiga-
ion, but chiefly because he felt n
strong instructive distrust of the man,
As these thoughts were passing
through the reporters mind, he slow
y paced the long hall, back and
orth, with his hands behind his back.
N 30 doing, he passed a door which
Sas slightly ajar and caught
glimpse of long rows Of bookshelves
oaded with beautifully bound edi-
ions. The place was evidently the
library. 1t occurred to him that q
library is a public room and that he
would be more comfortable in there
han in the hall.
He pushed open the door and looked
n. The room was empty. He en-
cred.
The library occupied space be-
ween the parlor and the rear room
nto which Murdoch had entered, and
t was separated from each of these
'ooms by folding-doors over which
lung heavy portieres.
Sturgis was q lover of books; his
interest was at once aroused in the
collection before him. 1t was adj.
nirably selected from the standpoint
# a philosopher and man of sci
nee. Every department Of history,
Il philosophy and of science had its
ection in which the volumes were
and arranged with intelli.
,ent care. But curiously enough, po-
try and art were but mesgerly rep
esented.
One section specially attracted
turgis' attention. 1t was devoted en-
irely to the history of crime in all
Is phases and in all ages. Criminal
tatistics, criminal jurisprudence and
he DsycholOpv Of crime M well M