Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-07-01
CHAPTER I.


heart, and the place appointed for their
tryst was the red-painted letter box at
the edge of the common. The time of
the year was early October. 1t was
o'clock In the evening. a thick curtain
of mist lay on the common. and a full
moon was lifting. very large and red,
over the edge of the distant trees. Ev-
erything was so quiet just there that
tho clatter of n suburban car two hun
dred yards away was clearly audible.
IL you looked to the south you might
fancy yourself right in the heart of the
country. IL you looked north. You saw
n long. respectable suburban street. In
habitcd by houscholdcrs. but just then
as quiet as the grave. except for the
strumming of a solitary piano. East and
west the prospect. 40 far rs II could be
discerned through the evening darkness
and mist. was jumbo of finished and
unfinished buildings In some the house
hold lights burned comfortably. and 9th
ers were as yet unroofed and unglazed,
and open to all the airs of heaven.
The young man who awaited his
sweetheart had been at the place np.
pointed for a matter of some ten min
utes, when he heard the sound Of a
faint. hoarse cough. followed by some.
thing like a groan. He was mompntar-
lily startled, but. hearing nothing further
after a minutes intent listening. he fell
back Into the train Of thought from
which he had been aroused. and absently
set an ungloved hand upon the top Of the
letter box. He found It all wet and
sticky. and his first idea was that the
post had been newly painted. but. NOV
ing toward a lamp which was close by.
ne discovered. with shock Of horror
and surprise. that his fingers were stain.
cd with blood.
Ho seemed just at that instant to feel
rather than to hear that something STIR.
red within a yard or two Of him In the
shallow, turf-lined ditch which at that
point separated the common from the
road. His blood crlsped. and a curious
sensation stirred at the roots Of his hair
he was not at all a coward. but he was
accustomed to quiet humdrum In his
life, and the sudden conviction that som,
horrible thing had happened act his heart
huttering and started a strong pulsation
In his temples. Then he heard meas.
ured footstep slowly tramping the con.
crete pavement Of the suburban road
and there within thirty yards Of him was
the lantern of a Waterman. lie made
dash for the man with a cry of ION.
cer! ana an instant later he was be.
fore the policeman. holding his stained
hand In the rays Of the lantern.
Look here" he said. "thnt's blood
There's lot Of II on. the top of the
letter box just there. I touched II by
chance. and just as found out what II
was l heard somebody groan. There's
been an accident, or an assault, or some.
thing. Come and look"
Tho officer raised his buf's.eye to the
young mans face, took a good look at
him, and without a word moved In the
direction indicated. He turned his ligh,
upon the letter box. There was a con.
siderable quantity Of half.congenled
blood upon II. and some had trickled to
the gravel at its foot.
Hush" said the young man. "That's
the sound l heard before"
The officer. still without word, walk.
cd STOPPING by the side Of the shallow
ditch, waving his lantern aud peering
here and there. A dozen PAGES beyond
the lamp post he paused.
This" he said. "looks like a bad Job.
Lend hand here. will your"
He hitched the bull's.eye to his belt
and stopped to u PROSTATE figure In the
hollow. 1t lay In helpless posture, the
head higher than the feet, one heel Just
resting Oh the lower rail Of dilapidatetl
fragment of an old fence. The young
man lent his aid. and between them they
lifted the figure by the shoulders and
placed 1t In a natural position. The coat
was wet and sticky. and the hands which
had touched it showed too clearly what
made It SO.
This mans been set upon" said the
oficcr. "And." he added, kneeling to In.
spect the victims head and face more
closely, hes got a pretty doing" He
sounded long and piercing call upon
ILLS whistle. There's doctor afty yards
that way" he said, pointing.
The young man went of at a run. and
the policeman awaited his return. sound.
Ing his call from time to time. Nobody
seemed to notice for while. but in the
space OF few minutes the messenger
was back again, a stout and middle ged
medico putting In his train. He and
the policeman knew each other
"l'm afraid this Is "a bad Job, Mr.,
Lawrence" said the officer.
I'm afraid it's as bad as Il can be-. -
the doctor answered, after long exam
nation. aided by the bull's.eye lantern.
Eyes, there's not a doubt about II; the
poor fellows done for. You'd better get
q stretcher and have the body conveyed
to the morgue."
Two policemen FASTENED up from DIFF.
ferent points. One was dispatched nj
once. The four men fingered, talking In
low tones. The young man showed the
doctor how he had discovered the first
sign Of the crime. The policemen search.
ed the gravel pathway for signs Of foot.
steps. but found nothing. A quarter of
an hour went by, and then the stretcher
came. The body was set upon Il, decent.
ly covered, and wheeled away. the doctor
and the young man accompanying, In
the suburban main street the cortege
picked up small following, but this was
shut out at the doors of the morgue,
where an inspector was already In wait
Ing with a subordinate.
"rhis was the gentleman as summon.
cd me to the spot, SIR"
"Ah," said the inspector, you'd bet
ter tell me what You know about Il.
What Is your name and address,
please?"
my name" the young man answered,
us Harvey Martin Jethroe, aud l live
ct 1O4 Acacia avenue"
Occupation, II You please?"
II am bank manager have charge
Of the Elmwood branch Of Messrs. Per.
1ott, PerrOtt & Lane"
The inspector was setting this down
In a thick professional pOcketbOok, when
the doctor suddenly asked: