Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-16
v.
DIncIoaes n MYstery.

DIscIoses n Mystery.
The mans amazing announcement held
me speechless.
Murdered" l cried when l found tongue.
''Impossible!"
"Ah! sir. It's too true. He's quite
dead"
But surely he has died from natural
causes-eh?"
"No, sir. Ny poor master has been
foully murdered"
How do you know that" I asked breath
lessly. Tell me all the facts"
l saw by the mans agitation, his white
face and the hurried manner in which he
had evidently dressed to come In search OF
me that something tragic had really oc-
Cured.
I'VE know nothing yet, SIR" was his
quick response. II entered his room at
2 o'clock, as usual, to see IL he wanted any
thing, and saw that he was quite still, APP
parently asleep. The lamp was turned
low, but as l looked over the bed l saw a
small, dark patch upon the sheet. This l
discovered to be blood, and a moment later
was Mortified to discover a small wound
close to the heart, and from 1t the blood
was slowly o~ozing."
Then he's been stabbed, you think? ?" l
gasped, springing up and beginning to dress
myself hastily.
1--WE think so. sir. It's awful!'
"Terrible!" ] said, utterly dumfounded by
the mans amazing story. After you made
the discovery how did you actT"
II awoke the nurse, who slept in the
room adjoining. And then we awoke Miss
Mivart. The shock to her was terrible
poor young lady! When she saw the body
20 ,Ao r1or ola oautIanan aha hnrQt intO
tears, and at once sent me to you. l didn't
find a cab till ia walked almost to Ham
mersmith. and then / came straight on
here"
But is there undoubtedly foul play,
Ehort?"
No doubt whatever, sir. I'm nothing Of
a doctor, but / could see the wound plainly
like a small, clean cut just under the
heart"
mo weapon about?"
81 didn't see anything, sir"
'Have you called the p~olice?"
mo, sir. Miss Mivart said she would
wait until you arrived. She wants your
opinion"
And Mrs. Courtenay? How does she bear
the tragedy"
THE poor lady doesn't know yet"
Doesn't know! Haven't you told her?'
mo, sir. She's not at nome.
what? She hasn't returned?"
"No, sir" responded the man.
That fact was, in itself. peculiar. Yet
there was, l felt sure, some strong feason
II young Mrs. Courtenay remained the night
with her friends, the Hennikers. Trains
run to Kew after the theaters, but she had
possibly missed the last. and had been in
duced by her friends to remain the night
with them In town.
Yet the whole Of the tragic affair was
certainly very extraordinary. It was Shorts
duty to rise at 2 O'Clock each morning
and go to his masters room to ascertain
II the invalid wanted anything. Generally,
however, the old gentleman slept well;
hence there had been no necessity for a
night nurse.
When l entered the cab. and, the man
having taken a seat beside me, we had
set out on our long night drive out to
Kew. l endeavored to obtain more details
regarding the Courtenay menage. In an
ordinary way l could scarcely have ques-
toned a servant regarding his master and
mistress, but on this drive l saw an occa-
sion to obtain knowledge. and seized it.
Short. although a well trained servant,
was communicative The shock he had
sustained in discovering his master made
him 50.
After ten years service he was devoted
to his master, but from the remarks he lei
drop during our drive l detected that he
entertained a strong dislike OF the old
gentleman's young wife. He was, OF course
we'll aware of my affection for Ethelwynr
and carefully concealed his antipathy to.
ward her, an antipathy which l somehow
felt convinced existed. He regarded both
sisters with equal mistrust.
Does your mistress often remain in towr
with her friends at night"
sometimes. When she goes TO balls"
"And is that often7'
mot very often"
"And didn't the old gentleman know o
his wife's absenee2"
Sometimes. He used to ask me whethe
Mrs. Courtenay was at home and then
was bound TO tell the truth"
BY his own admission, then, this MAJ
Short had informed tho invalid Of his wife
frequent absences He was an informe
and az such most probably the enemy @
both Mary and Ethelwynn. l knew hir
10 be the confidential servant of tn
old gentleman, but had not befor
suspected him OF tale-telllng. withou
doubt Mrs. Courtenay's recent neglect ha
sorely grieved the old gentleman. He dote
upon her. INDUCED her in very within an
fancy, and like many an aged husban
who has a sweet young wife, dared nC
complain OF any OF her actions. There
a deal Of truth In the adage. There's q
fool like an old fool"
But the mystery was increasing and
we drove together dow that long. intel
minable high road through Hammersmii
10 Chiswick. wet. dark and silent at thu
hour, / reflected that the strange presal
Of insecurity which had 80 long oppresss
ne was actually being fulfilled. Amol'
JeVOns had lGnShed At It But would