The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-09-04
CHAPTER XII.
MYSTERY OF THE DEAD MIsER's HAND
CONTINUED.

would receive his erring serv-
ant. 1t may have been an hour
earlier that Donald, Jim Bum and
went to The Elms.
We were treated somewhat as If we
had been a band Of conspirators anc
were ushered with appropriate secrecy
Into small room opening off the libra
ry. 1t was dimly lighted, and the cur
tains were closely drawn, making the
place very uncomfortable on a warm
summer night.
Graves Reedy was there, much to my
surprise, for | supposed that he would
be shadowing Cobb. The detectives
manner revealed to me that strictly
professional cheerfulness with which
he bears adversely.
"Cobb has disappeared said Kelvin
'tMr Reedy has lost track Of him."
Temporarily, temporarily" respond
ed Reedy. 1--WE shall pick him up
again
He then went on to explain how this
accident had happened. Cobb had tax
en- up his abode in a little hotel which
most of us in Tunbridge would have
been glad to see the last of, and from
this place in the course of the previous
evening Cobb had withdrawn himself
In manner so secret as to elude the
remarkably keen eyes of Mr.. Graves
Reedy
The detective had promptly discov-
cred the fact of the fellows absence,
and, being firmly convinced that the
affair Of the deed and the bogus heir
was plot in which Joe Harvey, the
lawyer, was intimately concerned, he
had gone to Harvey's house, but Cobb
had not appeared there, nor had he re
vealed himself during the remainder
of the night and the following day.
Hes gone to get the document, !"
said Kelvin, with decision. II think
that his disappearance is good sign"
turned to Reedy for his opinion.
There's another way of looking at
it." said he You must remember that
this job may not be on you, Mr.. KEEL
vim. I've explained that already" he
and he wanted to get out. So he gets
into communication with this shyster-
ing lawyer, convinces him that the
deed which Mr.. Kelvin wants ls in ex-
istence, puts up the job of the pretend
ed Walmsley heir and induces Harvey
Cobb may get out of Jail and find the
deed. You see. Harvey could get his
money back any time by surrendering
Cobb, so he doesn't think that he risks
much. But Cobb really hasn't any doc
ument to produce. All he wanted was
skips, leaving Harvey hung up in the
air for half thousand. This looks
quite reasonable to me- and when
said that we'd pick up Cobb ! didn't
mean that we'd necessarily pick him
up in this town.
There was silence following this
presentation Of the case, and during
the interval | happened to notice Jim
Bum eying Donald in a questioning
way. In regard to Donalds powers
Bum had the most marked alterna-
lions of skepticism and belief. He was
evidently more deeply interested than
he cared to own He was by nature
greedy for the marvellous and capable
of great excitement over mysteries.
There had been periods when he had
frequented such mediums" as adver-
tise in the newspapers and had sought
advice upon business matters from the
most absurd sources. 1t was ever his
way to be convinced in a moment and
then to change his attitude to one of
general and feverish incredulity quite
as unreasoning as his belief had been.
In regard to Donald, l think he was
much Influenced by Carl Archer, who
took frivolous view of the subject;
yet Bum would have been glad to be-
lieve the contrary. He was looking for
some great revelation that would have
but one Interpretation, and he had vel
coined this chance to go with us to KEEL
wins In the hope of seeing that which
would set all his doubts at rest per
haps in the fear Of seeing 1t, for he had
a deep seated terror of the supernat-
ural
He felt as l did, that Donald would
not have gone to that house unless he
had known that he had work to do
there. Always in such cases there
seemed to be great impeliing force
urging Donald onward despite the re-
luctance of his will.
We'll" said Bum at last, unable to
restrain his impotence any longer,
"what do you think of 1t, DonT
"Don't ask me-" responded the boy
gloomlly. II don't know anything
about it. If could only think of some
possible Way
He paused and was very unwilling to
proceed, though we all urged him.
Finally he said
"If could think Of any way that
this document could be returned with
out Cobbs having anything to do with
it, Cobb, Harvey or any Of that crew
why, then I'D know what was talk
ing about"
"You are thinking Of the man whom
you described to me- said l.
He shook his head
1--WE decided / was mistaken" he re-
piled. THAT man can't bring back the
deed"
"Why?" asked Bum in sort OF
gasp.
1t evidently required great effort
for Donald to answer him.
Because" be said. as If the words
were forced out Of him. "the mans
dead
Bum looked at me and nodded
what did tell your he whispered.
ssYVa lrnalavfs,