Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-06-10
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
BY WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright. 1908. by A N. kellogg Newspaper c,
CHAPTER |.

On December 9, 1S-. man hurried
~ entered the dingy police quarters
IN Nilus, unbuttoned his overcoat,
shook the snow from his large SLOUGH
hat. and, warming his thin. trembling
fingers before the fire, confronted the
chief of police. The latter made a
casual hut 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. il was seen
to hs 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-
Hnce OF custom. Suffering of an acute
KIND had drawn it's tracery over the
young mans counvenance. Deep lines
showed beneath the eyes. which were
unnatura!iy lustrous, and the skin
was drawn tightly over the pale, de
ffdht !ace, creating at once the inn
preston that starvation had perhaps
been al work there. Despite the gen
eral shabbincss of the mans apparel
'hr:e was an unmistallable air of gen
-ility about him: and there could be
little doubt that q 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
She chief of police was satisfied that
developments of Importance were
about TO be made
Gu have communication to
make 10 me-" he asked. after direct
ing his visitor to chair
Yes"
ne response was prompt and given
with al air of relief that the officer
had OWNED his crrand.
Just then the door opened and an
OTHER young man entered. He saluted
The chief aIably aud was about to re-
tire. when something in the attitude
oi tic officer and the visitor catIsrd
him 20 hesitate. He was the chief re-
porter ON one OF the NiIus papers.
and he shifted thc aroma of news in
the ai.
"Am ! intcrrupiing you?" ne asked
IN WHY intinating the nope that ne
"a> not.
This gentleman is about 10 make a
statement 10 me. Whether it is of
a private nature
by NO means" quickly interrupted
the person referred 10. II do not
imagine that IL would do any good to
keep il private. BESIDES. the news
papers viii have it Tomorrow"
This gentleman is chief reporter
On the Gazette" said the officer.
u 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 30 learn any
thing that was apt 10 make its way
into the newspapers
TIE stranger began his story at
once. My name is Herbert Wright.
and am the son OF John r. Wright -
"The Cotton King" said the chief
In evident surprise
-Of course you are surprised TO see
son Of his reduced to such straits
a. / am. but that has nothing 10 do
with my coming here. ! may a. well
say at the start that differences have
existed between my father aud my.
self. but tstry are wiped out now. for
he il dead"
"Dead?" said the chief. now
thoroughly aroused. when did ne
die?"
That ] cannot say exactly. His
body was found this morning"
Warde, who had been listening with
an air of Indifference. now bsca me
palpablv interested.
Then your father was killed p"
asked the chief.
There can be no doubt Of it,"