Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-12
CHAPTER ~

CUNNING AGAINST CUNNING.
RAIG WYNDHAM discovered
q while he was still several feet
~ from the body OF his friend
that he was dead. He saw
In that fractional part OF an instant
the cause OF death. With n swiftness OF
which he was himself unconscious he
turned and seized James, drew him
from the room and closed the door al
most before the valet was aware OF the
awful thing that had confronted them
Then, while the strong and relentless
arm of his masters friend drew him
into the parlor. his old knees began to
tremble and threaten TO give way be-
meath him, so that when at last they
were In the center OF the room. under
meath the chandelier, he was weeping
and was devoid OF what little strength
he had possessed.
Your master is dead. james. who
killed him?" were the first words that
Wyndham uttered. He spoke calmly,
but his face was deathly white, and be
did not realize with what resstless
strength he gripped the arm OF the old
man.
IVY VS. Sill dO nut KNOW,
was the reply. Let us go to himy
mo. Remain here. There Is no use
TO go to him now. He is dead-quite
dead. Before others are Informed OF
this you must answer some questions
for me. After that will tell you what
Is best to do. Can you control your
, self, James? Here-take some of this
brandy. If ever you loved MFR. PEN
dleton. show it by keeping your wits
about you now, Are you sure that II
! was half past 5 when Mr.. Pendleton
returnedT"
Positive, sir"
"Why SO positiveT'
Because the clock on the mantel
had stopped, sir. asked Mr.. Burr for
the correct time so that could set it"
''Was he aloneY
mo, sir. There was a gentleman
with him."
"Who was it7 Did you know him p
81 knew his face, sir, but not his
name. l have seen him on the street
fn the City OF Mexico"
4 Describe him-cr, rather, let me try.
believe that 1 have seen him also.
Not as tail as Mr.. Pendleton, Ell?
Quite handsome. Black mustache.
black eyes, complexion rather pale for
Zone with such dark eyes and hair.
Does that answerP
4 Perfectly, sir"
"Now tell me what they did when
, they came here together"
"That do not know, Mr.. Wyndham.
II did not hear the stranger utter q
word. He seated himself in that chair
while Mr.. Burr went into the room
Gwhere-where you found him, sir He
came out again a moment later with a
bundle OF papers that looked like let
ters in his hand. Then he sent me from
the room. Presently he rang for me
and ordered some brandy, which I serv-
ed and again left the room. Nearly an
hour later l heard the bell again. Mr..
Burr was alone then, although I am
sure that 1 did not hear the stranger
when he left the apartment Ny mas
ter told me what clothes he desired to
wear tonight and said that he wished
to rest little while. He then went
into his sleeping room and closed the
door, and 1 went out to attend to a COM
mission he had given me. 1 was not
away from the house more than TWEEN
ty minutes, sir, and when I returned I
was surprised to discover that had
left the door which communicates with
the hallway on the latch. 1t was not
open, sir, but it was not latched, and
was quite sure that 1 had closed 1t
when 1 went out. Ny idea was that
Mr.. Pendleton had remembered some
thing else that he wanted and had gone
to the door to call me back, but that
did not hear him. That Is all, sir-untIl