The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-08-30

do you know anything Of the num-
bers of the notes, sir?'
II do not"
"To your knowledge, did deceased
part with this money, or any. OF it,
since his arriVal?"
"No."
"He may have banked it in a local
bank?"
He has not stirred out Of my
grounds"
"Tbank you, sir The numbers of
the notes may be written down some
where on these papers"
1t was during this search that I
made another discovery.
1.-The will is goner' I cried.
"The will?" said the inspector.
MY unce's will. 1 saw it the night
before last"
did you read,it, sirF'
"I did not but / know it's purport."
"Any objection to say what it was,
sir?
None at all. 1t made me his heir"
But what would be the use of the
will to the murderer? asked the in
spector, more Of himself than us.
Leave that to me-" 1t was the de-
tLctive who spoke, for the first time.
~ should like to have little private
conversation with your servants, sir"
"My entire household is at your dis
posal. For Heavens sake, sift this
dreadful affair to the bottom. will
reward you we'll"
81 do not think there will be much
difficulty" said the detective, with un-
usual modesty in one Of his class.
There are three clews-four, may
say"
"Four?'
"Four. First, the money. The sover-
eigns may be spent; not so easy with
the bank notes. We shall trace their
| numbers. Second, the ring. The muir
derer holds it, and will keep it. They
never have the pluck to throw such
things away. I shouldn't wonder" he
said, contemptatively, "if he sometimes
puts it on his finger. There's fascina-
ton in diamonds, sir. Third, the cord
with which the deceased was strangled.
That's a trif1e, you'll say. Not at all.
Keep it about you, and it may be found.
Burn it, and the act may excite atten-
ton. Throw 1t away, say in garden
or a street, and it may be picked up.
Throw it into the water, and it will
float. 1t must be a strong piece OF
cord witt which that'-pointing to the
body-"was done. 1t must be thin
piece. Conclusion-whipcor Fourth,
Samuel Fleetwood. He has disap-
peared. Even if he were to come on
sudden among us, he wouldn't be al
lowed to 60 away again. It's no use
stopping here any longer. I shall feel
obliged if you will write down on this
piece of paper the names Of every per-
son in the house, and the positions they
occupy. I propose to say a word or
two to them-me and the inspector-in
Samuel Fleetwood's room. One by one,
sir"
While I wrote down the names Of all
the persons in my house the officer
put the papers back in the dispatch
box and locked it. Then, but not in
my presence. every person connected
with my establishment had a short in
terview with the officers. Even my
| wife and daughter were not spared.
After that the detective and the inspec-
| tor took their departure. leaving the
policeman in charge of the rooms.
Thoroughly exhausted and worn out,
went into the sitting room, where
| the ladies of the house. dressed now in
mourning, were assembled. The Clan
ronalds, to whose ears the news of the
tragedy had already travelled, were
with them, and shook hands with me,
in mute sympathy for the trouble that
had fallen upon us. Mr.. Clanronald
drew me aside, and we exchanged
few words in hushed tones.
Harry told me-" said Mr.. Clanron-
aid. "that your unhappy uncle did not
| seem to regard him with favor. When
you and I first spoke together about
| our children's affection for each other,
was not acquainted with your uncle's
name and if you had mentioned it l
should doubtless have looked upon it
as O coincidence, the name Of Wilmot
not being q very uncommon one. But
after hearing what Harry had to say,
| could come to no other conclusion
than that your poor uncle and knew
one another in the past, very, very
many years ago. and that it was
through me that he did not receive
Harry with favor. We loved the same
woman, Harry's mother, and sheSchose
me. That was the cause of our differ
ence, and he could never have forgiven
me. l hoped to-day that he and l
would have become reconciled, but this
sad event has prevented the reconcile
ment I am truly, truly grieved.'
| 1t was q simple explanation, and per
| fectly natural; and l saw no reason
for telling Mr. Clanronald what Mr..
Wilmot had said with reference to
him. It would only have panied him.
and would serve no good end. ]
thought of what my uncle had said,
that he had only loved one woman,
his sister, and set the statement down
to wounded pride He would not con-
fess that he had ever loved woman
whom he would have made his wife
had not a rival taken her from him.
"Richard," said my wife, you are
tired out. Go to your room and lie
down for an hour. If anything occurs
l will call you"