The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-24
CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.
A ForebodIns FULFILLED.


The patrol dismounted. looked sharply
at the girl and the young man.. as If they
were more important to him than that
lnanimate form which could tell him
nothing, and knelt down by the side OF
the body. His brief scrutiny verified what
the constable had reported-frst, that Mr.
Tremaine had died from strangulation
while on his chest were blood stained
scratches, which, II they resembled any
thing at ALL were like the figures 81.
It was not until the patrol made his
examination that Eleanor Tremaine was
conscious of the crimson sign. Only she
understood Its hideous meaning to the full,
and the fleet upon her was terrible. Her
white face became Of an ashen hue and
Frank Holt slid his arm within hers, for
his watchful eyes saw her figure sway,
and he feared she, was about to faint.
This, indeed, was the case but there was
something reassuring in the close contig-
uity of Holt, something in the pressure of
his arm upon hers, which gave her cour-
age, and with strong effort she con-
trolled herself.
The patrol was prompt to act. Clearly
the first thing to be done was to spread
the news far and wide. Every available
policeman must be put on the search.
The verderer would be certain to lose no
time In rousing the authorities at Ching
ford, and more police might be expected
very shortly. g.. ...
THE ground is soft" suggested Holt.
wouldn't it be well to look for foot
steps?'
The patrol was pleased to approve, and
by the light Of the bullseye he and the
constable went cropping among the
bracken and brambles. They found many
footprints. some isolated and we'll defined,
others wnere the outlines were obliterated.
This showed that more than one man was
engaged In the murder, conclusion In
evitable apart from this evidence. for
Hugh Tremalne, tho past what Is called
the prime of life. was hale and vigorous,
and would not give up his life without a
struggle.
But. besides the footprints, the officers
discovered something else-Hugh Ire
maine had been waylaid in the road
there the struggle had taken place, and
when the murder was perpetrated the
body had been dragged across the turf
to the spot where it had been found.
Even the time of the assassination was
fixed. Mr.. Tremaine's watch was hang
ing out Of the pocket, the glass was
broken and the watch had stopped. The
hands marked 7 o'clock precisely. 1t was
then twenty minutes to s.
Only forty minutes start had the as
sassins, but Of that forty minutes 1t was
certain they would make good use. The
over mile; Chingford station was nearly
two miles. There was a train at Tough
ton at 7:10. the next was 1924. 1t was
possible to run the distance in ten min
utes, and II the watch had stopped while
the body was being dragged over the turf
and the miscreants knew the way they
might have caught the earlier train.
But there were no footprints in the
direction of Loughton. The marks were
traeeable In two lines-frst, from the
roadway to the spot where the body was
deposited; second from the body to the
road and then towards Ch1ngford. Most
likely the fellows caught the 1928 from
ChinSford before the verderer could ar.
rive with the hue and cry.
They'll make for London, I'll bet" sale
the patrol, emphatically.
There was reason in this conclusion. Ir
the bewildering mazes Of bricks and NOR
tar, In the seething masses Of toiling mer
and women, too busy in the struggle fol
existence to trouble about their neigh
bors, in the Thousand and one quiet ed.
dies and backwaters of the stream of life
In the unwieldy metropolis. what opportu
mites for hlding Surely there Is no place
like London for criminal to lie low in.