CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1906-09-13
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
Detective Inspector Mackwortfl was
an under-sized man, inclined to stoutness,
which it became the desire of his life to
subdue. His face was broad, darkroom
plexioned, mobile; his features regular.
so that his countenance would have been
commonplace but for the eyes, which US
ually were grave in expression and alb
sent looking, as from the habit of in
ward reflections, but bright, swift NOV
| ing and searching when his attention
was reused or his curiosity excited.
Naturally, desiring to acquire all kinds
| of knowledge, he had, by continual ap-
plication, and by the sacrifice of pleas
ures dear to others of his age, succeeded
in educating himself after he had
| reached mans estate, and such instruc-
ton as he had received from the hard
school Of this world, as well as from the
books he read and the minds he studied,
be placed at the disposal of the calling
he followed.
From his earliest days human nature
had been to him source of inexhaust-
ible interest Its errors. eccentricities and
subleties possessed for him fascination
greater than any art held for its votary
| and any science for its student. As he
knew there could be no deeds without
thoughts, it was his invariabe habit to
| ascertain, or, failing that, TO presuppose,
the motive and interest likely to actuate
| the crime whose perpetrator he sought
to discover. From such premises, as
from starting point, he proceeded to
| work
Now, after careful consideration of
| st-s. heyoya t,,y he 10 tt,a
clusion that Mrs. Dumbarton was inno-
cent of the crime laid to her charge, be-
ing chiefly brought to the decision by
facts in which the coroner's jury had
failed to give reflection and weight
George Coris stated in defence that had
the deceased desired to see his wife he
| would. like any other visitor. have gone
to the hall door and inquired for her.
But, though Mackworth considered
| that revenge was the most probable mo-
tive that brought about Dumbarton's
| death, he assured himself it was not the
only ono which could be made to ac-
count for the tragedy. Another hao, in
| deed, quickly presented itself to the in
spector's mind, motive at which through
silent hours he looked from every rea-
sonahle point of view, celebrating on its
possibilities, which grew stronger from
being constantly considered, and dwell
| ing on its Possibilities with something
like fascination binding him to this men
| tai pursuit.
This motive was the love OF a man
for the woman whose husband stood be-
tween the slayer and his happiness.
And the man whom Mackworth sus-
pected was George Bostock.
He sat one morning after breakfast IN
u 49, e l..
ated near Kings Cross, pondering over
the case.
A moment later and the housekeeper
handed him a card; reading the name,
| the inspector bade her show the visitor
| in. With some sense of pleasurable ex-
citement and expectation Mackworth
stood up to greet Quinton Ouave, whom
| he had already seen and of whose friend
| ship with Mrs. Dumbarton he was well
| aware.
With rapid glance at the young mans
| expressive face and dark eyes Mack
worth saw he had something to COM
nunicatc.
Isl, down, sir-sit down." the inspec-
tor said, waving Quinton TO seat.
Then Quinton told him of the figure
he had seen in the uncertain light on the
night the tragedy took place. Mack.
worth could scarcely conceal his salts
faction at what he heard, for it seemed
as if the evidence of Bostoek's presence
in Hexton Road was now forthcoming,
| One statement concerning the figure dis
appointed him. The feeling, however,
was but momentary.
you say" remarked the Inspector,
shat the man gave you the impression
| of being a foreigner. May / ask you
how you came to that conclusion?"
| Il can scarcely say. Perhaps Il was
because OF the soft hat he had on" the
young man answered.
"An article any man might wear who
wished to conceal his identity, its leaf
giving protection to the face. Now, sir.
are you quite sure you didn't see that
| face with sufficient distinctness to de-
scribe it. Think well"
"Quite. At that distance and by that
light it would be impossible for me to
see it clearly"
But his figures"
"The lights flashing on it as they
passed showed the outlines"
Now" said Mackworth, in low. inn
pressive voice, didn't it strike you there
was something familiar in this igure?"
"No." answered Quinton promptly.
Then, with new light dawning in his
eyes, rs II some revelation had been
made to him. or some mental darkness