Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-03-11
CHAPTER XII.
MYSTERY OF THE DEAD M1sER's HAND
(CONTINUED)


~ ELvlN had named half past
EA O'Clock as the time when h,
"a ~ would receive his erring serv
ant. 1t may have been an houl
earlier that Donald, Jim Bum and
went to The Films.
We We're treated somewhat as If w,
had been n band of conspirators ant
We're ushered with appropriate sccrec,
into a'small room opening off the libra
~. 1t was dimly lighted, and the cur
: tains We're closely drawn, making the
place very uncomfortable on a warn
summer night.
Graves Reedy was there, much to my
surprise, for supposed that he woult
be shadowing Cobb. The detective.
manner revealed to me that strictly
professional cheerfulness with which
he bears adversely.
Cobb has disappeared" said Kelvin
Mr.. Reedy has lost track of him."
Temporarily, temporarily" respond
ed Reedy. I'VE shall pick him ur
again.
He then went on to explain how this
accident had happened. Cobb had TAX
en- up his abode in little hotel which
most of us in Tunbridge would have
been glad TO see the last of, and from
this place in the course of the previous
evening Cobb had withdrawn himself
In manner so secret as to elude the
remarkably Keen eyes of Mr.. Graves
Reedy.
The detective had promptly discov.
cred the fact of the fellows absence,
and, being firmly convinced that the
affair VI the deed and the bogus heir
was plot in which Joe Harvey, the
lawyer, was intimately concerned, he
had gone to Harvey's house, but Cobb
had not appeared there, nor had he re-
vealed himself during the remainder
of the night and the following day.
He's gOhe to get the document"
said Kelvin, with decision. 81 think
that his disappearance is good sign"
turned to Reedy for his opinion.
There's another way of looking at
it" said he. you must remember that
this job may not be on you, Mr.. KEEL
Win. I've explained that already" he
added, turning to me. Cobb was in Jail,
and he wanted to get out. So he gets
into communication with this shyster-
ing lawyer, convinces him that the
deed which Mr.. Kelvin wants is in ex-
istence, puts up the job of the pretend
ed Walmsley heir and induces Harvey
to furnish $500 cash bail in order that
Cobb may get out of Jail and find the
deed. You see, Harvey could get his
money back any time by surrendering
Cobb, SO he doesn't think that he risks
much. But Cobb really hasn't any doc
ument to produce. All he wanted was
to get out of limbo, and, being out, he
skips, leaving Harvey hung up in the
air for half Il thousand. This looks
quite reasonable to me, and when 1
said that we'd pick up Cobb l didn't
mean that we'd necessarily pick him
up in this town."
There was silence following this
presentation of the case, and during
the interval happened to notice Jim
Bum eying Donald in questioning
way. In regard to Donald's powers
Bum had the most marked alterna-
tons of skepticism and belief. he was
evidently more deeply interested than
he cared to own. He was by nature
greedy for the marvellous and capable
of great excitement over mysteries.
There had been periods when he had
frequented such mediums" as adver-
tise in the newspapers and had sought
o1yira -
most absurd sources. Ii was ever his
way to be convinced in moment and
then to change his attitude to one of
general and feverish incredulity quite
rs unreasoning as his belief had been.
In regard to Donald, think he was
much influenced by Carl Archer, who
took n frivolous view of the subject;
yet Bum would have been glad to be-
lleve the contrary. He was looking for
some great revelation that would have
but one Interpretation, and he had well
coined this chance to go with us to KEEL
wins in the hope of seeing that which
would set all his doubts at rest-per-
haps in the fear of seeing it, for he had
a deep seated terror of the supernat-
ural.
He felt, as did, that Donald would
not have gone to that house unless he
had known that he had work to do
there. Always in such cases there
seemed to be Il great impelling force
urging Donald onward despite the re-
luctance of his will.
"Well," said Bum at last, unable to
restrain his Impotence any longer,
what do you think of it, DOM"
'Don't ask me-" responded the boy
gloomily. 81 don't know anything
about it. If could only think of some
possible Way
He paused and was very unwilling to
proceed, though we all urged him.
Finally he said:
''If l could think of any way that
this document could be returned with
out Cobb's having anything to do with
it-Cobb, Harvey or any Of that crew
why, then I'd know what was talk
ing about"
"You are thinking of the man whom
you described to me-" said l.
He shook his head.
"l've decided was mistaken" he re-
piled. "That man can't bring back the
deed"
"why?" asked Bum in sort of
gasp.
1t evidently required a great effort
for Donald to answer him.
Because" he said, as If the words
We're forced out of him, ''the mans
dead"
Bum looked ut me and nodded.
What did tell you?" he whispered.
"Walmsley"
81 am inclined to Think" said Donald.
that l was mixing the past with the
future. That's the great trouble with
this foolish business. don't doubt
that you've all had similar experiences.
Everybody must have them once in
awhile. Something comes into your
mind; you see it; you know it for an
actual occurrence. But it has no time.
There's nothing to tell you whether the
f1,f st, 10 I,n 1,,Itl rn