Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-06-03
MYSTERY OF TIE,
1B AYOU WOODS
copyright, ,ss. ;, AN xslloss s.r.p.p.ro Co.
By WALKER KENNEDY.

about2" said Irving, with apparent
disappointment.
"Oh, by the way, you did not spend
the night at your rooms?"
"No," said Irving, indi4erently.
"How was that7''
"See here, colonel, doesn't it occur
TO you that you are taking vast deal
Of interest In my affairs7"
swell, you see, like you, Warde."
Thanks"
"And you might find it to your in
terest to know something about the
paper"
/ st is valuable, then?"
"Are you sure you don't know any
thing about the paper?"
Bother the paper! Why, II I had
1t In my pocket now, do you suppose
that I would give it to you without
having description of it?"
Pm sorry that you can't help me
about it, as it is of great Importance
to some friends of mine."
by the way" said Irving, "is there
any news in the Wright case2"
The colonel looked at him penetrat-
ingly for moment and then replied:
,, "Why do you ask2 am out Of the
case"
II thought you took deep interest
in 1t on account Of the family"
II think l ought to ask you the
news about it."
TITS trifle stale, now, but sup
pose the people will wake up when
the trial begins. Have you any idea
what the line Of defense will beP"
"None whatever. In fact other
business Of very important charac.
ter has occupied all my attention Of
late"
During this conversation Merivald
yawned repeatedly and looked Inn
mensely bored, as II he wished Warde
would go and give him an opportunity
to resume business with Franklin. He
toyed with newspaper for while
impatiently, and somehow Irving re-
ceived the impression that this i'm
patience was largely assumed for the
occasion.
At last Warde left the two men
alone. They looked at each other in
silence. Then Merivale spoke with q
sneering laugh: THAT young man
has outwitted you completely, Frank
lin. He has your paper put away
safe; probably 1t is in Everett's pos
session. And there ID another thing
that is perfectly apparent that
young fellow was as sober last night
as you are this minute. It is now
ten o'clock. We know that he was in
his room at eight. and at Everett's
shortly after, and there is not the
faintest sign of dissipation about him.
I'm surprised that you have allowed
yourself to be 80 ensily deceived.
Well, have advanced considerable
money to you to carry out this enter
prise, and have asked no questions
regarding the way 1t was expended;
but I tell you now must have some
vesults."
but we are ON the very brink Of
success. and If you throw It up now
you will lose everything. Nothing
but series Of unfortunate events
could have prevented the accomplish
ments of our designs. If you desert
mo now I am simply ruined"
"Well, I'll stick to you few months
longer, not because I care anything
about you. have no time for sym
pathy with individuals; besides It
isn't business. l only care for the
success Of movements. If your
scheme could be carried through It
would save me several millions; that
would be clear pickup. If you
fail shall try a scheme of my own.
One thing is sure: Wartle must be
got away from here. I'll try and get
him an opening in New York"
Late that afternoon Warde ran
across Hillsman, who had just got
up. The debauch Of the night before
had told plainly upon him, his flushed
face and bloodshot eyes bearing con-
elusive evidence against him. He did
not allude at all to the meeting Of
the previous evening, and 1t was EVIL
dent that dissipation had drawn a
veil over oil that had happened and
left in his mind merely blank.
Warde was considerably relieved on
this score, for at present he did not
care TO complicate matters by having
to consider Frank as an element in
them.
At eight o'clock Warde and Mr.. Ev-
erett were again closeted together,
and the paper that had caused such q
vast amount of trouble was taken
from the safe and carefully read. It
was dated 20 years before the time
Of this story. The handwriting was
bold and plain. The following were
| the contents In full:
AGREEMENT BETWEEN JOHN r.
WRIGHT AND JAMES FRANKLIN.
John T. Wright has this day made the
| following transfers of property with the
subJoinsd understanding with James
| Franklin: The Wright homestead, 900
acres. all improvements. The Magnolia
plantation. 1000 acres. in - parish.
| SO acres. in Mississippi. The Queen City
plantation, 1850 acres. in Arkansas. A
lot on Maine and Boulevard In the city
| Of N!lus. 80 by $50 feet A lot on Linden
street. near the Bayou. 100 by 400 feet.
A lot on Front row, near Madison. 70 by
! $50 feet. with improvements. All to the
| Shelby Real Estate and Investment COM
1
Texas. 6.s67 acres. to the Shelby County
Real Estate and Investment company.
A tract Of land In - county. Colorado.
1000 acres. TO the Diamond Mining COM
pany Of Denver, Col
These transfers are made to protect
the said John T. Wright from sundry
suits at law, which threaten to grow
out of the difficulty that terminated In
the death OF Jeremiah Baxter at the
hands of the said Wright. Regretting az
he does the necessity OF taking human
life. the said Wright Is not willing that
his estate shall be sacrificed and the
welfare of his family jeoparded: and
these transfers are made with the dis
tinct understanding that whenever the
said Wright desires to revest these vari-
Gus properties In his own name the said
James Franklin wiz take steps to at
once turn over all the papers with which
he 10 intrusted. and that he will at once
secure said Wright In the possession Of
his property. The consideration alleged
In thSse various deeds was mover paid
over. James Franklin binds himself as q
man Of honor and friend Of John T.
Wright to faithfully fulfill the terms OF
this agreement whenever the said Wright
so desires. JOHN T. WRIGHT.
/ JAMES FRANKLIN.