The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-01-15

/ NO, SIT. Inere was gentleman
with him."
"'Who was it? Did you know him?"
81 knew his face. sir, but not his
name. have, seen him on the street
in the City of Mexico" ...s...
Describe him-or, rather. let me try
believe that I have seen him also.
Not as tall as Mr.. Pendleton, eh9
Quite handsome. Black mustache.
black eyes. complexion rather pale foy
one with such dark eyes and hail.
Does that answerF'
Perfectly. sir"
"Now tell me what they did when
they came here together"
'That I do not know, Mr.. Wyndham.
did not hear the stranger utter a
word. He seated himself in that chair
while Mr.. Burr went into the room
where-where you found him, sir. He
came out again a moment later with a
bundle of papers that looked like let
tiers in his hand. Then he sent me from
the room. Presently he rang for me
and ordered some brandy, which serv-
ed and again left the room. Nearly an
hour later l heard the bell again. MIR.
Burr was alone then, although l am
sure that l did not hear the stranger
when he left the apartment. Ny mas
ter told me what clothes he desired to
wear tonight and said that he wished
to rest little while. He then went
into his sleeping room and closed the
door, and I went out to attend to a COM
mission he had given me. l was not
away from the house more than TWEEN
ty minutes, sir, and when returned
was surprised to discover that l had
left the door which communicates with
the hallway on the latch. 1t was not
open. sir, but it was not latched, and l
was quite sure that had closed it
when l went out. My idea was that
Mr.. Pendleton had remembered some
thing else that he wanted and had gone
to the door to call me back, but that
did not hear him. That is all, sir-until
you came. That is all know"
The old servant could restrain him
self no longer, but sank into a chair,
buried his face in his hands and wept
Wyndham strobe to the window and
let the old man sob on UNDECIDED, while
he drummed with the ends of his fin
gers upon the pane and stared into the
darkness.
When James sobs ceased, Craig
Wyndham turned back into the room
and, placing one hand gently upon the
old mans shoulder, spoke kindly, but
with an intensity that had an instant
effect. The power of the man shone in
his face was pale and drawn, he was
Outwardly as calm as if nothing unto
ward had occurred.
James," he said. 81 believe you loved
your master very dearly"
LAS if he We're my own son, sir, or
more perhaps. | never had a son, so
l do not know"
You would sacrifice much for him,
would you not, James,"
Everything. sir-life itself. if that
could dc. any good.''
."YOu loved his father ALSO James,"
~"With all my heart, sir"
"Would you be willing, James, in Or
der that justice may be done not only
to your dead master. but to his fathers
memory, and for the sake of the family
name, to permit great shadow to fall
upon you for time"
II don't know what you mean. sir
replied James humbly II only know
that | am willing to do anything that
can do if in doing it can serve him"
Il believe you, James. Now, listen
closely to what I have to say. Your
master is dead and by the act of an
assassin. A great crime has been COM
United, and that crime is the result Of
events that happened long ago. know
something of the history that led to
this deed. but my information is very
meager. l have no doubt that you are
aware of many things connected with
this strange history which will assist
me to unravel this tangled skein. We
will talk of that later. The death of
Mr.. Pendleton must be reported to the
police and to the coroner at once. If
we say anything concerning the visit
Of this stranger and the subsequent
open door, as you believed you had
closed and latched it, suspicion will
point its finger at him, but we cannot
say one thing or prove one circum-
stance to convict him of the crime, and
he would therefore escape. By" con-
aecting him with the affair at all we
would strengthen the position lie is in,:
for you may be sure that he has plan
ned thoroughly to save himself. On the
other hand, James, there are those who
will suspect you of the crime" '.>ft a.:s2
James started back with a cry of her-
ror.
Suspect mev' he almost shouted. +
Eyes, James. If you look; att calm,
ly, you will see that i am right, and.
james, that is precisely whatsI want
the world to believe, i. want you sus-,
pected Of this. crime. but only for q
time" 81, $50 CIR =, 49,. go.
"But why, sir, 1wliiyy?va : rj-a&a2 ~
$50 that the person who really did
it may besthrown off his guard;fso that
I will have time, to, work out. to & the,
end all Of the; facts connected with the
crime that l now know so little. about;
SO, that / may have, time to guard
against the revelation, of things that I.
am sure Burr Pendleton Desired never!
to be known; 50 that may be enabled
te fulfill what r. know would be- his
WISH were. he still alives to- direct us
what to do, and finally so that I.imayy
In the end palsy the hand that struck,