Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-09-06
CHAPTER TX.

| CHAPTER TX.
Detective Inspector Mackworth was
an understood 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
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 we'll 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 invariable 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 4 starting point, he proceeded to
work.
Now, after a careful consideration of
the case before him he came to the con-
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 one which could be made to ac-
count for the tragedy Another had, in
deed, quickly presented itself to the in
spector's mind, a motive at which through
silent hours he looked from every rea-
sonable 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 m
the sitting room of his small house, stu
ated near Kings Cross, bordering over
! the case.
A moment later and the housekeeper
handed him a card; reading the name,
the inspector babe her show the visitor
in. With some sense of pleasurable ex-
element and expectation Mackworth
stood up TO greet Quinton Quave, 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
municate.
"Sit down, sir-sit down." the inspec-
tor said, waving Quinton to a seat.
i 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 Bostock's presence
N Hexton Road was now forthcoming.
One statement concerning the figure dis
appointed him. The feeling, however,
was but momentary.
"You say" remarked the inspector,
that the man gave you the impression
of being foreigner. May l ask you
how you came TO that conclusion?"
Il can scarcely say. Perhaps it was
because of the soft hat he had on" the
young man answered.
IAN article any man might wear who
wished to conceal his identity, ifs 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 we'll"
quite At that distance and by that
light it would be impossible for me to
see it clearly"
But his fgure?"
/ THE lights flashing on It as they
passed showed the outlines"
Now" said Mackworth, IN low, i'm
! pressive voice, didn't it strike you there
was something familiar in this fgures p
II NO." answered Quinton promptly
Then, with new light dawning in his
eyes, as if some revelation had been
made to him, or some mental darkness