Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-12-21


Of Paul North had been sent to him.
The ofacial protested Ignorance of the
matter.
when was he last seen, sir2'
yesterday afternoon about Ave |
o'clock, going up State street from his
ONCE" Fetridge rejoined, avoiding |
further detail. And hastened to add:
"He has town house at Marlboro
street, you know. Perhaps It isn't my
place to suggest It, but don't the po-
lice In such cases have authority to en-
ter a mans premises it,"
Fetridge hesitated. The official OBJ
served him narrowly, wondering, no
doubt, why he was SO obviously agi-
tated.
Undoubtedly; II his friends desired
Il, and had any reason to believe that
there was anything the matter, the po-
lice would enter the house"
Fetridge thereupon urged the Official
to obtain permission from Thornton
staekhouse to make a search of the
premises. He was unable to give any
direct reason, and unwilling to put
into words any definite suspicion, but
he showed by his conduct that he had
both. Eventually a messenger was dis
patched in search of Stackhouse, who
| thereupon responded In person. He
! seemed a little surprised to see Fet-
edge, and the ohicial noted that there
was a constrainedness and lack of
cordiality between the two men. Their
opinions, however, conceded upon the
matter in question.
"By all MEANS" said Stackhouse,
search the house IN Marlboro street,
II is my residence as we'll as North's,
and authorize you-if the men sent
are discreet and Trustworthy"
The official arose.
"Then | will send word at once by
telephone to Station 4. You don't hap
pen to have a key to the house about
your"
why, no." returned the partner.
my keys are in my wlfe's care at
Swampscott, or l should have gone to
the house myself.
The message was sent, and while the
police of the fourth division were act
ing in accordance herewith, Stack
house and Fetridge sat waiting at
headquarters, the quiet broken only
by the scratching Of the busy pen of a
clerk.
No. - Marlboro street was a broad
brown house, the counterpart Of half
hundred other dwellings within q
stones throw of Paul North's town
residence.
AS the sergeant and patrolman OF
? the fourth division neared the place
they observed the outer door at the en-.
, trance and saw that all the windows
; in the basement and first story were
. barred or shattered. Curtains, closely
: drawn, lent a cherries and deserted
appearance to the windows above
And yet" remarked the sergeant
q as he went up the steps, 'somebod!
q has been here. The outer door II
open; the vestibule door unlocked"
1t was indeed true, and led at ono
to the conclusion that Paul North wa
within.
The officer rang the bell. Blu
though the summons was repeate,
again and again it awoke no re
sponsive life inside the darkened
/
cana to the conclusion that an en-
trance must be forced, and after
brief inspection of the premises sen
Johnson, the officer, in quest of lad
der. The ladder was obtained froE
the nearest depository of the fire do
partment; and the officers were 500
| in the rear of Paul North's residencr
Il took but a minute to open tn
door of the yard. In another minut
the ladder rested against brick wal
| and Officer Johnson, With a curiOu
/ piece of flexible steel in his grasp, ha
pushed back the lock of curtaine
| window in the second story.
! "A bedroom" said the sergeant, pull
| ing up the curtain with some difficult,
| when they were both inside; bed III
| touched, however. Door open int
that dark room in front. other doc
y open--to the corridor, no doubt"
The sergeant led the way through
door diagonally opposite the windo
r. by which they had gained entrance.
It was the corridor, as he had e,
Is pected. He set out methodically
d, peer into the rooms as he vent alon
Il but he met with an obstacle at Il
r. very outset.
IT, AT the head Of the broad front stai
case the door refused to yield to
pressure beyond limited degl ee.
d. ficer Johnson wac about to push Il
ed door vigorously when he was stopp'
by a warning gesture from his $
he perior.
tie AS the patrolman stepped back Il
It sergeant, pressing against lne door
lightly as possible, insinuated his WI
us into the unYisited room. A half-stih
on cry brought his subordinate to
ge side.
&c Don't move 1t! Don't touch 1t
whispered the sergeant, putting an a
he monitory hand on the officers shot
Ill der. It was by no means borFor viii
We inspired his utterance. Both m
looked down upon q figure, lying wi
he outstretched, clutching hands. clio
IT. against the door.
With the caution of experience t
he sergeant bent down and placed
lg. hand over the heart.
,se Dead" he said in q moment, hi