Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-18

ways did the planter show his grati- tude for the services rendered him by the lawyer.
 At the time Wright was murdered, Franklin was about 40 years old. He was tall of stature and he dressed with srcupulous care. He was a very handsome man, and it was matter of pride with him to groom himself we'll. The correctness of his attire, the faultless linen, and the rose that he always wore in the lapel of his coat were all intimately connected with the suavity and courtliness of his demeanor. His hair was partly frosted by Times blighting touch. His eyes were small and soft and brown; the set of his mouth, shadowed by small mustache, was resolute and masterful, and the gen. eral expression of his face was dig nif1ed and gracious. Evidently he was g man of resolute nature, whose friendship was as valuable as his hos tility would be dangerous. Such a man seemed to Warde in the nature of a special dispensation in this emergency, for he would doubtless enter with all his soul into any efforts made to bring the murderer of his friend to justice, and it need hardly be added that Warde had now become 8 prey to rather absorbing interest in the mysterious crime and had made up his mind to unravel it, if that were possible.
 When he entered Col. Franklin's law office he found that gentleman smoking g. cigar and reading Byron's poems, book of which he was ex-, cessively fond. He seemed to think it necessary to explain that whenever he did not feel like working he did feel like reading Byron; "the greatest of all the poets,'' he would say, with half-caressing touch upon the worn volume.
 He received the newspaper man courteously and laid the book, aside.
 "I come to see you," said Warde, about the murder of your friend, Wright
 "Has anything come to ight?" thought perhaps you might be able to suggest a theory concerning it.''
 "I am afraid,'' said the colonel. sthat I can throw but little light on that terrible affair. Everything seems yelled in the densest mystery. Wright was killed in the woods where no human being could have been wit ness to the deed. For two or three days the body lay there, and no one but the murderer knew that the crime had been committed. Tn the meantime the homicide, whose object seems to have been robbery, but who may have used robbery to veil deeper motive, has no doubt left this section of the country, and will not be likely to make his appearance here again for some time--unless, indeed, he can be apprehended and brought back by the law.'
 ''I have some reason to doubt whether he has left Nilus," said Warde.
 Indeed" replied the colonel, keen ly interested.
 "Of course, it is only surmise on my part, but there are certain circum- stances which lend color to the idea that the murderer was not an ordi- nary thief, and that his motive was something else than robbery. It is my opinion that he is now in the city"
 ''That is important news, surely, if true. What proof have you in sup port of such 8 theory?''
 "You see," answered Irving, smiling, sI have contracted the detective craze recently, and have made some inves- tigations on my own hook, and be- lieve the murderer has not only not run away, but that he has seen his victim twice this very day."
 How do you know this?" asked the colonel with skeptical smile.
 "I do not know it, but I suspect it very strongly, and will give you my reasons for doing so."
 He then gave a detailed account of his investigations. Col. Franklin lis- tened attentiyely to the story without interruption and without betraying whether or not he was impressed with the young journalists ingenious theories. When the story was fin- ished, he sat lost in thought. He was evidently bringing to bear upon the evidence presented all the powers of his astute intellect. At length he said: "Your story is certainly start ling, and you deserve great credit for the interest you have taken in the matter. I believe that your investi- gations will aid materially in solving the mystery, and I thank you for putting me in possession of such facts as you have"
 This was all the satisfaction that Warde could get out of the lawyer. and he was visibly disappointed; but he knew that Franklin was not the man to catch at every plausible sur mise offered, and, after obtaining | from him the main events in the life of the cotton king for biographical purposes, he took his departure after 1 agreeing to inform Franklin of any new discoveries on his part. ''I shall need every assistance pos sible in unwinding this tangled skein and you may aid me materially" said the great lawyer with a fattering smile as he bowed him out. Gro be continued) r% K1oA