Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-15
MYSTERY or THE
b AYOU WOODS
Copyright, 1905. by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
By WALLER Kennedy.

mates in thoroughfare which leads
into the heart of the city, while the
other makes detour and runs to-
ward the river. A person coming to-
ward Nilus and having the choice of
paths would naturally take the
straight cut, rs the other would cause
him considerable delay. suppose, of
course, that the body will be found
along the direct path"
"That would be the path taken by
an ordinary traveller" replied Wright;
but my father, you must remember,
was out hunting, and he would have
no object in taking the short and fire.
quented way. His body was found
on the other path"
True" said the chief, reflectively,
"a hunter rambles around consider
ably. We're you out hunting, too,
Mr.. Wright?"
The question caused Wright to
change countenance. Evidently he
began to see that suspicion was
creeping into the mind of the officer,
for there could be no doubt that he
was quick of apprehension. He raj
lied and answered with sort of
honest defiance: st was merely a
whim, and don't suppose that 1 am
accountable to the police for my
whims."
mo one has intimated that you
were accountable to the police for
anything" said the chief, coolly.
you come to me with certain infor-
nation, and / am trying to get out
of you all of the facts that / can.
find that you are Withholding
something from me. / don't say
that you haven't good reason for
doing SO. You come to Nilus for
purpose you will not reveal, and you
take an out-of-the-way route for
reason you will not give. You are,
moreover, the only man so far as is
known, who has seen the body of
John I. Wright. Now, it is just pos
sible that you may know who the
murderer is; Or" He paused and
then said bluntly: "You may your
self have killed your father"
"Stop!" cried Wright starting up,
his eyes flashing. "You have no right
to make any such inference. l am
here at the dictates of duty to give
you information that may lead to the
punishment of the man who commit
ted this murder. The man who was
killed had treated me like a dog in
stead of son; but / want to see his
murderer brought to justice. Your
small detective tactics will not avail
you in my case. Your suspicious of
my motives are absurd, and they do
no credit to your sagacity. am an
unfortunate man, but if you were
good judge of human nature, you
would know that could never have
done such fiendish thing MS this
The chief listened to this impas-
stoned outburst with rather a bored
air. When it was finished, an amused
expression fitted across his face. He
had evidently made test and was
satisfied with the result. Without
paying the slightest attention to the
young mans criticisms he resumed
quietly: "Well, since you have re-
fused to answer my last question,
will come to another With whom
do you live?"
Il live with my wife and child in
n small cottage beyond the Bayou
Woods"
"Ah! You are married? Have you
any objection to stating the condition
of your family?"
Wright's countenance fell, his eyes
became wistful and he faltered as he
answered: SIT is terrible. My wife
we-have-have nearly starved"
would no one help you3"
"No one."
Not even your fatherP"
my father? You do not know
him. He was more obdurate than
any one else. Whenever I applied to
him, as 1 did sometimes when saw
my wife suffering, / was sent away
with curses
when was the last time you saw
him alive?"
Tuesday morning.
"Where?"
Eat his home in the country.s
"rhat was two days ago. Did you
apply for money!"
Eyes"
"And he refused?"
Eyes"
How have you kept your wife from
starving since then, if no one would
help you?"
81 have received little help since
then"
"From whom?"
ooh, don't care to go into all
that" said Wright, impatiently.
"Have you any reason to suppose
that your father had personal en-
envy who had some cause to wish his
\ death?"
At this question It seemed that an
inspiration came to Wright, but he
checked an apparent inclination to ac-
cept the suggestion as solution of
i the mystery. The chief and the news
paper man looked at him inquiringly.
"Your question:" said he, "has put
an idea into my head, but 1 do not
think I ought to frame it in words,
for you might say twas preposter-
J Gus. After all, it is mere ghost of q
suspicion, but may be able to give
you clew some time to work upon"
4 The chief pressed him for an an
swer, telling him that the suspicion
itself might furnish clew, but
Wright would not reveal his thoughts.
So, after diagram of the Bayou
Woods for the officer and locating
approximately the body of the muir
dered man thereon, Wright took his
departure.
The chief and the newspaper man
looked at each other tentatively for
few moments before either spoke.
! 81 confess l am puzzled" replied
the chief. "It is, of course, easy to
make up theories. Wright has been
playing in very tough luck for some
time. He has been disowned by his
father; he is out of employment; he
sees his wife dying of starvation, and