Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-08-20
THE MISSING FINGER JOINT.

the Great United Life Assurance COM
pany. was seated at his desk in his
sumptuously furnished office, with a
huge pile of correspondence before him.
There was a knock at the door, and
Il clerk entered, who presented card
bearing the superscription, Martin
Steele, Private Inquiry Agent"
SHOW Mr.. Steele in at once" said the
manager, as he pushed the corresponds
cnce on one side, and took some papers
out of a drawer.
A moment later Martin Steele entered.
sit down, Mr.. Steele. / have sent for
YOU to investigate claim OF ten thou-
sand pounds. | have all the papers be-
fore me. and | will hand them over for
your examination after | have given you
the details. The name Of the deceased
was John Horton OF Rose Villa, PEN
Vile Here is the certificate of birth,
whic.. certiies that he was born at Hem
lev. in Yorkshire, on January ], 1860.
The proposal Of assurance was effected
six months ago, and the life was passed
as tirst-class one by our medical
referee at Penvilc. Here is the regis
trar's certificate of death, certifying that
the cause of death was Pneumonia.
have also certificate from the doctor, in
which he states that he was attending
John Horton for six days for acute pneu-
mouia The claimant is Susan Horton.
the wife of the deceased, to whom the
policy was assigned when the assurance
was effected. The assignment form is in
order. and was duly acknowledged by us.
In fact, everything seems straightfor
4. hut | Il Y Slls u
there is something wrong"
lie handed the papers to Martin Steele,
who scrutinized then closely for the next
ten minutes.
Then he remarked:
Il notice, Mr.. Stanton, that your med
zeal referee and the surgeon who signs
the certificate OF death are identical,'
That is what has aroused my stispi-
cions" replied the manager. i noticed
that Norton Grimes, L. S. A.. had signed
the certificate of death, and as he was
the surgeon who conducted the medical
examination, / thought it might be
worth our while to call in your aid.'
what about Tom Strong the agent
who introduced the business? Has he
been long with your"
Only about six months. He applied
for a spare time agency. and supplied Us
with the names of two references who
oave him an excellent character. One OF
these references was the deceased and
the other was Fred Simons of Penville.
"Wcll, Mr.. Stanton, | will journey Mt
once to Penvile, and have an interview
with the parties concerned. | will re.
port to you as soon as possible"
Late in the evening Of the same dav
Martin Steele ahghted from the train
at Pcnville station. and made his way
to the Imperial hotel, where he engaged
Il room.
The landlord of the Imperial was one
of those people who knew nearly every.
body's business, and needed little prompt
ing to induce him to tell all the news of
/ the place.
Did YOU know the late Mr., Horton ?"
asked Steele, after the man had been
retailing the towns gossip for good
quarter of an hour.
II should think | did," replied the
landlord. "Why, he was here plavins.
billiards with Mr.. Strong and Dr. Sinlons
only two days before he died And he
looked well and hearty, too; but they
say this pneumonia that killed him often
ends very suddenly
Martin Steele smiled grimly as he pom
! dcred over the information that Horton
was in that hotel, apparently well and
| hearty. only two days before he died.
/ Next morning Steele called at the resi-
dcnce of Mr.. Strong, to whom he intro
dueed himself as a claim inspector from
/ the Great United Life Assurance com
! rany,
strong was a stoutly built man Of
medium height, and with a clean shaved
face, which brought into prominence a
heavy lower jaw, The detectives ewes
rested upon the mans left forcfinger, and
remained there for a second or two.
strong noticed the glance, and said
Nhi Nou are looking at my gloved
+ liuecr had an accident with that re-
Gently. and have TO keep it covered up.
! The nail was torn of, and it is rather
painful Bat If can assist You in any
Wey With respect to the claim YOU have
come about. | shall be pleased to do so. .
"lloW long was Mir Horton =" asked
Steele.
We'll ! believe he was under tho doc.
tor for about "A week hut only took a
serious turn two days before lie died.
However. ] viii 90 with YOU to Or.
Grime,' surgery and YOU can get the
full details from him"
II was not many yards walk to the
surgery. and Mr. Grimes was at home
When Steele called. He was a Young
luan' with the lines of dissipation clear
" marked ON MS face. at The first rlnnac
the detective summed mp his weak and
vacilatng disposition On being intro
duced by Mr. Strong, the surgeon cx-
pressed his willingness, to give all the in
formation ne possessed.
lie attended Mr., Horton for six davs
only. When he was called in the ie.
ceased gentleman wa, suffering from a
severe cold. ON the fourth tiav preu-
monia supgryencd. and Mr. Horton died
ON the sixth day. Mrs. Horton was very
much distressed, and il it could he
avoided it would be better NOT 10 see
her"
But the detective thought otherwise