The Colfax chronicle., 1903-05-02
A UNIQUE AGENT
OF CRIME

grand proportions, walled in
trees and shrubbery so that passer
by seldom get glimpse of til
dwelling itself. The house has hi
tory, the owner being un-America
enough to prefer a residence abroa,
leaving the homestead--an heirlool
Ito fall into disuse under the slo,
enly care of Mexican half-brees
who had come into its service in he
youth and had grown old in tn
place. The most of her days ha
been passed there alone, but of lat
years she had given home to I
vagrant relative, like herself half
breed and as worthless as the mix
ture usually is when of Mexical
graft.
Now word came that Horac,
Lugren, the owner of the house, wa
coming home, bringing with him OIL
bis way his nephew, Jack Lugren
who was also his heir-at-law. Their,
was CONSERVATION then on the par
of old Malta, for it meant that shs
would be turned out of home that
had sheltered her since early youth
when she came from the foot oi
Mount Orizaba, which she had never
again beheld. The half-breed rela.
tive was sent out of the way, for old
Malta did not desire to have Manuel
meet her employer, who was master
in his own house, so she kept him
apart from Mr.. Lugren, fearful that
quarrel might arise at any time
between the two men, for the des-
potic spirit of the one and the sullen,
insolent disposition of the other
were temperamentally antagonistic.
So in his brief visits at his own
dwelling Mr.. Lugren saw nothing of
the swarthy intruder. And if he
knew or surmised that he was about,
he asked no questions. There were
reasons why on this subject he did
not care to stir up dissension.
THE house seems to have been
stripped" the uncle had remarked
to his nephew after close inspec-
tion; 'you must remember those
tapestry hangings-not q shred of
one is left"
Have you asked Malta about
themY" inquired young Lugren, in
diferently-he took little interest
in the musty hangings of the old
house. n
Sd Malita!" said the older
man, sayagely, and as he spoke the
door opened and the head of the
woman in question was thrust in.
"Yo call, senor?" she asked, in
rasping tones.
mol And If l catch you listening
again ut that door I'll wiring your
neck as if you were parrot-you
hear, Mexicat?"
Malta looked at him with an evil
eye. Her malignant black hair-un-
softened by thread of gray, seemed
to twist and writhe as she wag-
yled her head and drew her fingers |
across her throat in a horribly sug-
yestive manner. Then she gave a
little cackling laugh and withdrew.
closing, the door with noiseless vio-
ence.
Later in the evening the old man
md the young parted, after a game
II cribbage. well pleased with each
'ther. The bachelor uncle was as
'ond Of his nephew as it was possible
or him to be of anyone, and the
'oung man liked his uncle without
my greed of possession coming be-
ween them. He was civil engineer
n receipt of government salary,
md had no need of dead mans
hoes.
Yet there were not wanting people
o shake their heads and look mys-
erious when on the following MORN
ng Mr.. Lugren was found dead in his
ed, and Jack Lugren's grief went
or naught with them, and old Malta
mot so old but that her eyes were
right as beads-shook her weird
cad, and muttered in choice Mexican
rgot. and crossed herself with ,
ious insistence, while she looked as ,
she could tell much if she would. ,
ut the police found no evidence of I
violent death, and the doctors said ]
ne look of horror on his face was ,
ic result of heart disease. And the s
,roner's jury gave that as a verdict, !
| which case there was no need of
jury But the strict letter of the
w must be observed.
Jack Lugren was not satisfied. He e
1T sure that his uncle's death was '
lie result of foul play. He had ex- S
mined every inch of the room in j
hieh the dead man had slept his '
st sleep and found no evidence that 4
had been entered in the night. s
oors were securely fastened on the d
side. Noticing few crumbs on /
e pillow, he had rolled them in his
gers mechanically, and found them
be crumbs of rich cheese which
) uncle was accustomed to eat with :
) dessert. He attached NO impor- >
nee to the discovery st first, but,
mixing it over. an inspiration came
him. he called IN the Mexican 3
IMAM 1t,