Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-16
Mystery of the Bayou Woods
By WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright, 1903, by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.

On December 9, 1s-, man hurried " entered the dingy police quarters In Nilus, unbuttoned his overcoat, shook the snow from his large slouch hat, and, warming his thin, trembling fingers before the fire, confronted the chief of police. The latter made casual but not careless examination of the newcomer, and saw that he was young man of good appearance whose face wore an expression of be- wilderment and horror. As the snow melted from his overcoat, it was seen to be very much the worse for wear, and the clothing under it was thread bare in the extreme. The mans shoes were pitifully thin and insufficient, and the wearing of such makeshifts ! was little more than mere observ- ance of custom. Suffering of an acute kind had drawn its tracery over the young mans countenance. Deep lines showed beneath the eyes, which were unnatura1ly lustrous, and the skin was drawn tightly over the pale, de- liant face, creating at once the im- precision that starvation had perhaps been at work there. Despite the gen. eral shabbiness of the mans apparel there was an unmistalzable air of gem tility about him; and there could be little doubt that history, possibly a romance, was hidden beneath the tat tered clothes and the suffering face. The manner of the newcomer was nervous, suspicious and eager, and the chief of police was satisfied that developments of importance were about to be made.
 "You have a communication to make to me?" he asked, after direct ing his visitor to chair.
 s'Yes.'
 The response was prompt, and given with an air of relief that the officer had divined his errand.
 Just then the door opened and an- other young man entered. He saluted the chief affably and was about to re- tire, when something in the attitude of the officer and the visitor caused him to hesitate. He was the chief re- porter on one of the Nilus papers, and he sniffed the aroma of news In the air.
 "Am interrupting your" he asked in way intimating the hope that he was not.
 'This gentleman Is about to make a, statement to me. Whether 1t is of a private nature" By no means" quickly interrupted the person referred to. "I do not imagine that it would do any good to l<eep 1t private. Besides, the news- papers will have it tomorrow"
 ''This gentleman is chief reporter bn the Gazette" said the officer.
 '.I have no objection to his hearing what have to say"
 Irving Warde, the newspaper man, bowed and took his seat. He never missed an opportunity to learn any hing that was apt to make it's way nto the newspapers.
 The stranger began his story at bnce. "My name is Herbert Wright, md am the son of John T. Wright.' "The Cotton Kingl" said the chief evident surprise.
 "Of course you are surprised to see son of his reduced to such straits Is I am, but that has nothing to do with my coming here. I may as we'll lay at the start that differences have zdsted between my father and my elf, but they are wiped out now, for 6 Is dead"
 ''Dead?" said the chief, now thoroughly aroused. "When did he ieP"
 ''That cannot say exactly. His ody was found this morning."
 Warde, who had been listening with h air of indifference, now became alpably interested.
 "Then your father was killedT slSed the chief.
 t.There can be no doubt of it."
 TWhere did this happen?"
 *'In the Bayou Woods, about three hes below the city,"
 |.What do you know of the case?" ''I judge that he had gone out hunt g and that he was waylaid in the oods. I know that he intended go- g. He liked it in this kind of eather. He was a great hunter; deed, it was the thing which seemed
 afford him the most pleasure. He as killed while hunting, and the ounds on his head indicate that he As killed with a bludgeon. Possibly
 may have been shot as well; did t look for that"
 sEWho discovered the body?" asked b chief incidentally.
 Fl did," said Wright.
 U,6der what circumstances?
 Mell, you see," said the young
 who was slightly embarrassed
 the question, 'T live just beyond e Bayou Woods, and usually pass rough them on my way to the city" You have employment in Nilus, esume?" said the chief.
 sNoi am sorry to say that at esent I am entirely without employ ent." well, as you were saying, you
 re coming in town for the purpose
 - No, you are mistakenj I didn't what my purpose was, or that
 q a. purpose at all, and as that has
 possible bearing on the case do
 care to go into it."
 Just as you please" answered the
 ef; ssbut sometimes frank state~ Int saves a man great deal of buble. Resume your story, if you