Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-26
plit Button.

ANN 40 &N>00@N@ Nc0
went away as silently as he had en-
tered.
He seems right enough" l said.
when the door had closed upon mis-
retreatiag form.
What about the servants at the
Hall?"
'All Of them are absolutely trust
worthy. and all Of them loved poor Sir
William as father. He lived in the
house quite alone save for the SER
wants. AMI was bachelor. his only
surviving relative being a brother.
who, however. has not been heard of
fer long time
And The brother succeeds him.
presume?' i asked quickly
Yes. There is no other heir and
taouh The gentleman has not been in
evidence Tor some years. expect he
will turn up now that large estate
and 100000 per annum await him"
NO doubt" replied drily; and then
having asked DR.. Fowls a great many
more questions. all of which he an
swered most satisfactorily. took my
leave, promising TO go on to the Hall
and see If l could elicit anything
there.
Let me know" / said, as ! shook
hands in parting; let me know by
wire the exact hour OF the inquest and
| will come down. so as to back you up
If you need any assistance. And let
me advise you. Dr. Fowls. TO agitate
7
hope and believe that this mystery
will be traced TO its fountain head be-
fore you and are muc; older
Heaven grant it So he said wear
ily. and then taking my hat and stick
set on, for The Hall.
Every information that ! desired was
given me at that place. but il helped
M but little. journeyed back to
town at p. m. telling myself that the
affair was n black mystery and that
the doctors position was. indeed.
sad one. The jury would. of course.
take the view that he had blundered
in preparing the physic, and h. would
be ruined man.
->SNt iuOi ISCtlNSu NIUE
the doctor that ran thus:
Dear Mr.. Harding-The inquest is
fixed for next Friday at l. noon. AZ
the Hall itself. would have wired
you tne information, but as ! have
some other news TO communicate l
write instead.
The news in question is that my
messengers. Trave:s. has suddenly dis
appeared. He went out at o'clock
this evening and has not returned.
Following so closely on the terrible
tragedy at the Hall, the disappearance
seems suspicious. and l presume you
will use all your influence at Scotland
Yard 20 have him traced.
Yours faithfully,
CLAUDE POWiS."
Now. what does this mean"
asked myself, as read and re-read the
lester. Way on earth should the mes
senger vanish at this point? Assum-
ing even that he was responsible for
the crime. what possible motive could
he have possessed for committing it,"
However. il was of little use to ques-
ton myself thus and went to work
Immediately to nave the man traced.
All on: efforts in this direction proved
useless. and when went down 20 Mar
grave TO attend the inquest on Friday.
the man was Still beyond our reach.
DR.. Fowls, who looked exceedingly
haggard. was very pleased TO see me.
but his face fell when | told him that
Travers was rot TO be discovered.
The jury will say that | have got
him out of the country for some rea-
son CO my own" he mumbled help
| lcssly: but perceiving that the coroner
was Al this moment entering the H.
tra-y where the inquest was to be
held, he checked his speech and fol-
lowed the official silently into the
apartment.
The jury were called in, sworn. and
seats were allotted 10 them. The usual
fornaiities followed. and then the sx-
animation OF the witnesses took place.
These included DR.. Pcwis, two of the
Hall servants. and the present baronet.
Arthur MargT1ve. who had read CT his
relatives shocking end in the papers.
and who had come down to the Hall
imme liately to take UP his residence
there and 10 give the lawyers any aid
that might be required.
The evidence OF the servants was
disposed of very quickly. and was of
small service. The doctors turn fol-
Lowell. and it was evident from the
manner in which the coroner ad-
dressed him the latter believed the
physician to have been guilty OF gross
careles3ness in the handling of the
drugs. The doctor felt that the coroner
was taking this harsh view. and it
did not help to make him more COM
for,a5!e On the contrary, it broke
down completely what little nerve was
eft in aim. and when. at length. ne
vas curtly told that he might stand
down, he collapsed completely, and
was obliged to seek the nearest chair
Arthur Margrave's turn now came
He was tall, clean.snaven young
man. with easy, confident manner and
pleasant voice. He told how he mad
been wandering about the continent