Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-06-27

have seen himY'' I asked.
mo. SIR" she replied. quietly. ~ was
asking generally. | observe that he has
not placed the usual flowers on the ia
ble."
This was a reference to mark Of. az
lection and graceful attention which
Samuel Fleetwood was In the habit OF
paying my wife and daughter. Every
morning, when they came down to break
fast, there was n posy for each Of them
placed before their accustomed seats at
the table, and they knew that the flow
ers came from this faithful servant. On
this morning there were none. My wife
had noticed the omission. but had made
no remark upon It; and II Mile. Resale
spoke spitefully respecting II. a natural
cause might be found in the circum.
stance that Fleetwood never bonorcd her
by such II mark of attention.
couple of hours after breakfast. II
being then about half-past eleven o'clock,
Mile. ROsalie remarked that MIR. Will
mot was later than he was OH the pre-.
ceding morning. and my wife concurred
but added that he must on no account
be disturbed. As she looked toward mo
for confirmation, ! said that he had
given explicit instructions that no one
should go to his bedroom until he sum-
n,oned them. Il was an evidence of the
wrctched state of my nerves that
should feel annoyed by Mile. Rosalie's
simple repetition of my words. Until
he summoned them She was busy
with piece Of embroidery, which she
was making for Eunicc.
Another hour passed without a sign
from my uncle, and. with the intention of
seeking Samuel Fleetwood. I left the
ladies. and proceeded In the direction of
my unclc's apartments. On the way
entered my own bedroom for a clean
handkerchief, and l casually observed a
piece Of thin whipcord. the end of which
was hanging down from beneath the pill
low Of the couch upon which I had
slept. 1t did not further attract my at.
tention. and. without removing II, l went
IN search Of Fleetwood. He was not to
be found. | questioned the servants,
but not one of them had seen him.
Knowing that he was suffering from
acute heart disease, and that my doctor
had said he had not long to live, l pro-
ceedcd TO his room. adjoining that OF
my uncle. fearing that he might be i'll
But Fleetwood was not IN his room. Iii.
bed had been made and the apartment
was In a clean and orderly condition.
sought the chambermaid whose duty II
was to attend to the bedrooms. and rs.
certained that she had attended us usual
to FleetwOod's room.
"'rhe bed had been slept in?" l In.
quircd.
"Yes, sir" replied the cham bermaid
"You are sure you have not seen him p
IL am sure, sir. I noticed that his
room was not rs tidy rs I've seen II
generally. Things seemed to be In con.
fusion"
l returned to Flcctwood's apartments,
between which and my uncle's, AS have
mentioned, was n communicating door
l heard no sound. l softly tried the
door. 1t was locked: but whether It had
been locked from the inside or the out
side could not tell. by this time It wa,
|. o'clock. and | began to feel uneasy
l went to my wife and consulted her
She hardly knew what to advise, having
gathered from me how peremptory were
my unclc's Instructions that he should
not be disturbed. But when another honr
had passed we decided that. In the
strange and unnccountable absence Of
Samuel Fleetwood. we would make d
gentle effort to arouse him.
We stood together at the cOmmunicat
ing door. and softly called to him, am,
presently called In n louder tone, with
out receiving I'M answer. My wife tap
ped Mt the door, with no better result
and then shook 1t and called In u clear
loud tone. Uncle. Uncle"'
And still there was no response from
him.
Richard" said my wife. II am alarm
ed. He is an old man, and"
Something must be DONE" said.
How 1t came about I know not, but
now there were other persons In the room
beside ourselvcs--Mr. Mortlock and Mile
Rosallc.
"The door should he forced" said Mr.
Mortlock. LET me try"
He put forth all his strength, and lit
orally smashed the door In. Even mt thi.
dread juncture | noticed that Mile. Ro
| sale looked ut him In admiration Of hi,
strength.
We stepped into the room, expecting
and hoping that my uncle would lear
from his bed at the unseemly intrusion
and confront US. The form of my uncl,
was upon the bed. encOmpassed by M
awful stiffness. We softly moved TOWARD
It, and. bending forward, saw that h,
was cold and dead.
| Horror-str,ick, we reiterated; then in
.stantly stepped forward again. my wifi,
| only keeping In the background. l low
cred my ear to my uncle's mouth; 1t wa,
rigid and fixed. placed my hand upon
his heart; 1t was pulseless.
"le il dead" l said.
Mr.. Mortlock east infatuated glances
at mo. My wife was falling to tn,
ground ms l caught her.
Poor gentleman said Mile. Resale
"Poor old gentleman"