The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-24

MYSTERY OF THE DEAD MlSEH HAM
CONTINUED.
~ ELVIN had named half past )
EA o'clock as the time when ne
N "a would receive his erring serY-
ant. 1t may have been an hour
earlier that Donald, jim Bum and. l
went to The Elms.
We were treated somewhat as If we
had been a band Of conspirators and
were ushered with appropriate secrecy
into G small room opening off the libra
ry. 1t was dimly lighted, and the cur
tains We're closely drawn, making the
place very uncomfortable on warD
summer night.
Graves ReeGy was there, much to my
surprise, for I supposed that he would
be shadowing Cobb. The detectives
manner revealed to me that strictly
professional cheerfulness with which
he bears adversely.
"Cobb has disappeared" said Kelvin.
'sMr. Reedy has lost track of him."
Temporarily, temporarily" respond
cd Reedy. I'VE shall pick him up
again"
He then went on to explain how this
accident had happened. Cobb had tax
en- I'D his abode in a little hotel which
most Of US in Tunbridge would have
been glad to see the last Of, and from
this place in the course Of the previous
evening Cobb had withdrawn himself
in a manner so secret as to elude the
remarkably keen eyes of Mr.. Graves
Reedy.
The detective had promptly discoV-
cred the fact Of the fellows absence,
and, being firmly convinced that the
affair OF the deed and the bogus heir
was a plot in which Joe Harvey, the
lawyer, was intimately concerned, ne
had gone to Harvey's house, but Cobb
had not appeared there, nor had ne re-
yealed himself during the remainder
Of the night and the following day.
"He's gone to get the document"
said Kelvin. with decision. Il think
that his disappearance is good sign"
turned to Recdy for his opinion.
"Thcre's another way Of looking at
it" said he. You must remember that
this job may not be on you, Mr.. hei-
vim. I've explained that already" he
added, turning to me. cobb was in jail,
and he wanted to get out So he gets
into communication with this shyster-
ing lawyer, conyinces him that the
deed which Mr.. Kelvin wants is IN ex-
istence. puts up the job Of the pretend
ed Walmsley heir and induces Harvey
to furnish $500 cash bail in order that
Cobb may get out Of Jail and find the
deed. You see, Harvey could get his
money back any time by surrendering
Cobb. so he doesn't think that he risks
much. But Cobb really hasn't any doc
ument to produce. All he wanted was
to get out Of limbo, and, being out, he
skips, leaving Harvey hung up in the
air for half a thousand. This looks
quite reasonable to me, and when l
said that we'd pick up Cobb I didn't
mean that we'd necessarily pick him
I'D in this town."
There was a silence following THIS
presentation Of the case, and during
the interval l happened to notice jim
Bum cying Donald in questioning
way. In regard to Donald's powers
Bum had the most marked alterna-
tions of skepticism and belief. He was
evidently more deeply interested than
he cared to own. Ee was by nature
greedy for the marvellous and capable
Of great excitement over mysteries.
There had been periods when he had
freuuentcd such mediums as adTer-
tise in the newspapers and had sought
advice upon business matters from the
most absurd sources. 1t was ever his
way to be convinced in a moment and
ther to change his attitude to one OF
general and feverish incredulity quite
as unreasoning as his belief had been.
In regard to Donald, l think he was
much Influenced by Carl Archer, who
took 4 frivolous view OF the subject;
yet Bum would have been glad to be-
lieye the contrary. he was looking for
some great revelation that would have
but one Interpretation, and he had vel
coined this chance to go WITH US to hel-
wins in the hope Of seeing that which
would set all his doubts at rest-per-