Mexico Missouri message., 1904-02-18
ok this morning. Yours
JOHN SHARP"

DR. Cartwright did not return home
by the FIRST train next day. The mere
mention, on his part, OF such a pur.
Dose being secuted as preposterOus
by his entertainers.
Il thought you spoke Of three days
ct the least as the length OF your
visit" said his host; land l want 20
have a long talk with you to-day n
you don't mind"
Mind" said the doctor. tits Just
what l should like"
They were at breakfast when this
occurred. and the morning paper had
| Just been brought In. Ted Burritt
had been giancing over It's columns In
a careless way, with the air of one
who feels certain that they are not
likely to contain anything to interest
him. when, turning the sheet, his at
tentiOn was accidentally caught and
held by something which appeared
among the advertisements. There he
sat. his mouth slightly open. and a
vivid spot. caused by excitement q
some other feeling, on each cheek.
Anything very remarkable in the
paper this mOming?" asked the doc
| tor, with an affectation OF indiffeT-
| ence; but noticing every change in
the countenance before him from be-
hind his spectscles. This remark re-
called the other TO himself He SEEM
ed annoyed that he had betrayed his
feelings so openly. and crumpling up
the paper, threw it on one side before
answering: Nothing whatever. There
Is absolutely no news worthy Of the
name!"
Now" thought the doctor. lis he
deliberately telling an untruth. or
what? Oh, certainly! l must get to
the bottom OF this!" Aloud he merely
observed. There never does seem to
be much in the papers nowadays.
| Now. when I was in the 47th, etc"
Notwithstanding this last remark. he
did not forget to take an early oppor-
| tunity of examining the paper.
Il wish l had noticed which page
! II was" he said to himself, as he ran
his finger down each column in sue
cession. But don't see anything like
ly to account for the boys's peculiar
behavior. Oh, here you are" as the
door opened. Think OF the devil,
you know. and - Hullo! you look
very much excited about something!
What is it?"
Il am excited" was the answer.
And you'll be excited, too, when you
have heard all l have to say"
DR.. Jeremiah stared at the young
man in establishment. Then. "All
right" be said. fire away and aston
ish me as much as you like"
Not here" he answered, IL want
you to come with me to the room that
was my fathers study, and where
we sh9i be sure OF not being disturb
ed, as keep the key myself, and
never allow any one to enter it."
They crossed the hall; Ted unlock
ed the door; they entered, and he lock
ed It again behind them.
DR.. Cartwright looked round him
with considerable interest. He motto.
ed the dust, now lying thicker than
ever upon every object, small and
great. He busted a chair with his
pocket handkerchief before venturing
to sit down. Then he took OF his
spectacles and polished them care
fully. NOW" he said, as he settled
himself. I'm quite ready to be aston.
ished."
you asked me a moment or two
back whether l had found the other
MANI" said Ted-"meaning. of course
the murderer. l have"
quite sure?" said the doctor, still
preserving his equanimity.
Il will give you the whole story
from the day we parted. You know
all that went before
He began with the account of the
burnt letter; and the little doctor lis
tened with an interest he found i'm
possible to disguise. Its a sad pity
q should have been so nearly des
troyed," was the first remark he
made, because, of course, 1t is i'm
possible to tell now what the rest
Of the contents might have been"
ITO be continued.)