Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-07-18
CHAPTER III.-(Cont.nued. J

he was a physician
On! said George Johns, this I'M
lucky gentleman was not physician. By
has own showing, until he made his pile
he had as tough time of it as any man
ever heard of. Carried his life in his
hands for years. 1 know what that
means as well as most men. You've got
to allow for changes"
That may be So" said Jethroe; 81
can't dispute facts. Since you arrived
so recently, there must be other people
IN the city who can identify him"
Everybody aboard will remember
him. He was pretty lively from time to
time. Then. his size made him notice
able, too. You'll have no difficulty in
setting as to who he isl
Well, gentlemen" said the inspector,
taere,s nothing more to be done at pres
ent. You'll let me know where l can
ind you. Mr.. Johns, Northern Hotel?
Thank you. You'll both be wanted at
the inquest
The trio withdrew and left the dead
TO Its repose, the inspector turning down
the ges to the merest glimmer before
he left the room. Jethroe, explaining
that he had a call to make, babe his
companions curt goodnight, and strobe
homeward. Arrived there, he made some
necessary changes in his attire, and then
set out for the main street. He made
up his mind that shadowy figure which
bur little to the rear on the opposite
side of the road was following him; but
he dismissed that reflection from his
mind and walked on sturdly, revolving
the strange incidents of the night until
he reached the gate of a solid, well-to-
do-lookins house which stood back from
the road behind an expanse Of lawn and
a semi-circular gravel sweep. As he
thrust open the clanking gate he cast a
glance behind him, and saw that the fig
ure in the rear had made a momentary
pause. A sudden gust of impotence and
irritation seized him, and he crossed the
road.
Eli, you he cried, as the man moved
away. The figure stopped and faced
him. you are following me?
II am carrying out my ORDERS" said
the man.
"Oblige me by not making a secret of
1t so far as l am concerned" Jethroe
raped out angrily. you might be much
more profitably engaged; but that, sup
pose, is neither your affair nor mine"
I've got my Instructions" said the
man civilly enough; that's all 1 have to
think about"
Jethroe crossed the road again, and.
passing through the gateway and along
the drive, rang the hall bell of the house
''Mr. Jethroe to see Miss Thorne," he
said to the neat parlor maid who an
swered to his summons.
II will tell the master sir" the maid
answered, IF you will kindly wait out
side"
II will wait indoors, if you please"
said Jethroe, stepping into the hall, and
closing the door behind him.
The maid hesitated timidly.
"Well?' he said, with a vexed laugh.
Take my message to Mr.. Thorne.''
The girl retired, and he stood, staring
at the pattern of the parquet floor until
red-faced man in a very large, we'll
filled white waistcoat came suddenly into
the hall, and coughed pompously.
Il wish to see Constance, Mr..
Thorne," said Jethroe.
I'm my presence" said the red-faced
gentleman, pulling at his white waist
coat with both hands, and wagging a
bald head with an odd kind of bullying
jocosity-''in my presence"
IF you insist, sir" said Jethroe.
Il do insist" said the red-faced gen.
tleman; II have always insisted; l al
ways shall insist. You know my opin-
ion already; but, so long as you choose
to come here, l shall take the pleasure
of repeating it. You are an ass, Mr..
Jethroe-a double, treble, qua 1ruple ass.
Here Is a fellow" said the red-faced
gentleman. appealing to the umbrella
stand, who has a millionaire uncle"
1T is of my uncle l wish to speak to
Miss Thorne," Jethroe interrupted.
who might, the other went on, with
out needing him, inherit his uncles for
tune, and make a fit and proper settle
ment in life, and who chooses to remain
a pauper, and wants to drag my daugh-
ter to his level. What are you to say
to a man like that? What are you to
make of himY'
II have very terrible news, SIR" said
Jethroe, needing the old gentleman ap-
parently as little as the old gentleman
had so far needed him. ''There is some
reason to believe that my uncle has been
set upon and killed within the last two
hours"
The master of the house went sudden
ly pale with excitement, and, taking his
visitor by the shoulder, pushed him along
the hall and into the drawing room.
Constance" he cried, there's Jethroe
with dreadful news"
A charming girl, tall and graceful
rose with clasped hands and fri yhtened
face at this abrupt outburst. Jethroe
thought it wisest to tell the truth at
once.
"A gentleman has been murdered to-
night on the edge of the common, and
fellow passenger of his from Brazil
has identified him as my uncle Martin. -
How terribler' said the girl
Jethroe told the adventures Of the
night exactly as they had happened.
'You suspected, MARTINI" cried Con.
stance-"you?
"Oh," he responded, that is natural
accident. and means nothing. But the
story will be in the newspapers to-mor-
row, and l thought it better that you
should hear it from me-"
Better cried Constance. "Oh.
thousand times better! l should have
been mad with anxiety if l had not
known the exact truth"
Thorne began TO rub his hands, and
walked the length of the room once or
twice with brisk step.
This may make difference, Jethroe."
he said; this may make difference"
May l ask how, sir?" Jethroe de-
manded.
Did your uncle" asked Thorne, paus-
ing before him. lin his later correspond
ence ever suggest that he had left his
money elSewhere?"
He told me he had meant to do So"
But not that he had done it, Ell but
not that he had done it?'
He held out the threat. l have no
means of knowing whether he carried it
out or not"
Exactly, exactly" said Thorne. This
may make a difference"
Il beg your pardon" said Jethroe; 81
don't quite understand"
MY dear Jethroe," cried the elder
man with a sudden irritation, nobody
would ever suspect you of understanding
the plain business aspect of any cues
+;onf YOur whole csreer crias ont