Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-07-04

determined to convince myself That hau
not uiconsciously secreted 1t In my room.
Careful and laborious was the search l
made. left not a drawer unopened; l
looked In every possible nook and corner:
examined every article of furniture;
and breathed prayer of thankfulness
that I searched In vain. Then finally
decided upon my course of action.
would keep the ring and the cord about
me; not even to my wife would I utter
one word concerning them. When Sam
ucl Fleetwood was caught should be
safe. Until then I must play my part
and pursue my usual way. with dead
weight of terror in my heart. Making
everything straight in the room, l rejoin-
cd my family.
Upon the events of the few following
days need not dwell at length. An In.
quest was held. at which I and all In
my house were examined. The jury re-
turned verdict of willful murder
| against Samuel eetwood-against the
man I would have trusted not only with
untold gold. but with my honor and the
honor Of those most dear to me.
Sad were the days. There was no talk
Of the marriage of Eunice and Harry.
Mr.. Mortlock left my house, but remain.
|
cd In vain for Samuel Fleetwood. In
conversation with my wife we strove to
discover a motive for his crime. He was
man whom we had always thought alb.
solutcly careless. almost scornful, Of
money. I owed him. indeed, a sum Of
more than fifty pounds for wages. which
he had begged me to retain until he had
use for II. He had no one dependent
| All L.. ,ts.uN
the murdered man. What, then, could
have been his motive?
! A word about my uncle's will. None
being found. 1t was for me. as next Of
kin. to take out letters Of administration.
But ! delayed to do 40. and my wife ap-
proved Of the delay. We both consid.
cred that any sign Of hnste would BIZ in
decent. Meanwhile I offered large re-
ward for the apprehension Of Samuel
Fleetwood. and the bills were posted
throughout the country. So things went
on until a fatal day arrived.
1t was Thursday. 1t had happened
that on the very day on which my uncle
met his death my half.yearly allowance
was due. and his London lawyers had
sent It to my bank on the previous night.
Thus there was to my credit consid-
cradle sum. But was also largely In
debt. The expenses attendant upon my
uncle's visit and the charges for the fun.
eral remained undefrayed. The accounts
for all these had come In. and resolv.
cd to discharge them on Friday. 1t had
ever been habit Of mine to pay what
I owed In cash instead Of by check. The
Ills amounted to sum Of between five
and six hundred pounds. and on Thurs
day drew out of the bank one thou
sand pounds. Part Of the extra money
intended to give my wife toward Eu
nice's wedding trousscau.
Since the day Of my unclc's death |
had not been outside the boundary of my
grounds except to attend the inquest and
the funeral. and had. therefore. not mixed
as usual with the townspeople. On my
way exchanged salutations with one
and another, and II struck me that there
was a lack Of cordially In their greet
ings; In some Of my acquaintance. in
deed, there seemed to be a certain avoid
ancc. This impression followed me to
the hank, with the manager Of which
generally spent a few moments nj pleas.
ant conversation when I had transacted
my business there. ] wrote out my check
for one thousand pounds, and passed Il
| WING
took 1t into the managers room. I wa.
not surprised at this deviation from ordi
nary custom. the check being the larges,
had ever drawn. The cashier returned
asked how | would take the money, ant
was In. and was Informed that he was
A he did not come out to shake hand,
} with me I concluded that he was to,
, On hnt ,hn, 4 loeS ~,
bank l was not quite pleased. I ma,
} mention that elected to receive payment
; for my check In sovereigns. The reason
!. for this was that thought It wOult
! please my wife II I gave her the none,
for Eunice's trousseau In gold. I die
not intend to give 1t to her ON this day
. but on Friday or Saturday.
On my road home, with the money II
my pocket, I met Mr.. MOrtlock; h,
scOwled at me and passed on. THIS dit
not surprise me, but before reaching m!
hOuse-tO which did not 20 direct. hav
Ing something to say to tradesman--
l saw him again, and this tune In tn,
} company Of the detective who had com,
, to my house on the morning of the muir
der. Turning when had gone q few
steps farther, I saw both AZ these mel
Itoohuk uttcS mrs Scuts uWOkeS
ring and the fatal cord were In my pock
ct: they had never left my possession.
As the day waned my perturbation In
creased; l could not shake OF a presag
, Of coming evil. Locking the door Of m!
, study, l endeavored to cheat the gloon
, which oppressed me by arranging the nc
counts to be paid on the following day
, ! did not succeed; throughout my tasl
dread possibilities presented themselve
In threatening shape; my nerves wer
strung to a high pitch of tension: with
torturing fear that 1t needed an eytraor
binary effort to meet with calmness
, hidden danger, all my senses were alb
normally awake. and It was due to thi
condition of mind that I was enabled I,
. detect what otherwise would have O.
, capped my attentiOn-the presence o
some person outside the door of m,
, study. With a catlike motion I sli,
noiselessly to the door, swiftly unlocke,
it. and threw 1t suddenly open. ! saw n,
: one but Mile. Resale, who must jus
> have passed. She turned her head an,
slightly bowed l nodded and locke,
! myself again In my room. There | re
/, manned till evening, when my wife knock
, /, ed at the door and called to me in
/. voice of extreme agitation. 1T Is com
ing" thought. with set teeth. as l nd
mitted her. Her face was white, he
> hands trembled, her voice shook as sh
spoke.
"The detective wishes to see you
/ "Richard" cried my wife, laying he
thand upon my arm. "What is the mat
/ ter?'
' "Nothing--nothing," stammercd