Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-02-25

l do not know"
"You would sacrifice much for him
would you not. James,"
Everything. sir-life itself. II tina
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 father!
memory. and for the sake Of the family
name. to permit great shadow to fal
upon you for a time?'
81 don't know what you mean, sir,
replied James humbly. 81 only know
that am willing to do anything that
I can do l. in doing 1t can serve him
II believe you. James. Now. listen
closely to what l have to say. Your
master is dead and by the act of an
assassin. great crime has been com
mitted. and that crime is the result OF
events that happened long ago. 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 unravel 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 it's finger at him, but we cannot
say one thing or prove one circum-
| stance to convict him of the crime, and
| he 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
ned thoroughly to save himself. On tue
other hand. James, there are those who
will suspect you of the crime"
James started back with cry of hor-
for.
Suspect me" he almost shouted.
"Yes, James If you look at it calm.
ly, you will see that am right, and,
james. that is precisely what | want
the world to believe. want you sus-
pected of this crime. but only for q
time"
But why. sir. why!"
$50 that the person who really did
It may be thrown off 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 l
am sure Burr Pendleton desired never
to he known: so that may be enabled
TO 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 n shadow. James-a shadow OF
the past. He guarded it jealousy. even
from me, his closest friend. Now 1t
becomes my duty TO work II out until
know all that am sure he meant to
tell me ton ait 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 to 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"
81 will do whatever you think best.
Mr.. Wyndham." replied the old man
simply. 81 know that Burr loved you
and trusted you more than any other
person in the world. Tell me what
am to do, sir, and l will do It."
"Then you must leave the house at
once, taking nothing with you. will
write an address upon this card where
you are to go. Assume the name OF
Thomas Judson. Wait; will write
line for you to take with you."
"Wyndham tore leaf from his note
book, wrote rapidly upon it and passed
1t to the old servant.
"Give 1t to the lady who will admit
you at that address. Wait there for
me until / come, no matter how long
that time may be. Will you do it,
James"
"Yes, SIR"
James, very much in the manner of
one who Is stupefed, 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 nm ready. SIR" he said. "Can L
would 1t be possible-I mean are you
willing that l should see-him-before
l go?"
mo, James," was the calm reply.
"Go as you are. Forget that you have
seen him at all except as you saw him
last In life. What comes after that
ah, well! Go as you are. James. Do
not forget your overcoat. The night Is
cold"
James hesitated at the door. He
stopped and looked back. but Wynd-
ham was still In the same position IN
the middle Of the floor He did not
raise his head or make sign, and the
old servant stepped sadly into the hall
and closed the door.
Wyndham still remained In the atti-
tude Of one who Is listening. He could.
In fact. hear the old mans footballs as
he descended the stairs; he could hear
the bang Of the outer door when 1t
closed, and not until then did he make
q move. Even then he only raised his
head, 80 that he could listen more In
tently. and waited.
Many minutes passed In this manner.
but at last. as II satisfied that there
was no chance that James would re-
turn, he closed the inside shutters at
the windows. after which he helped
himself to a portion Of the brandy on
the center table.
After that, with distinct deliberation.
he opened again the door which COM
municated with the room where Pen
dleton's body had been discovered.
he approached It and for moment
stood silently regarding the grewsOme
aspect. Twice he sighed deeply. Once
he bent forward and intently examined
the hilt Of the weapon that had taken
the life Of his friend, but be did not
touch the body or the chair In which
| n rested Once he looked toward the