The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-24

him the object of my visit. "The gen.
tleman is still in the hospital, and I
have to keep him very quiet. He was
poisoned without doubt, and has had
a very narrow escape of his life. The po-
lice got wind of the affair, and Macken-
zie called to question him. But he re-
fused to make any statement whatever,
apparently treating the affair very
lightly. The police, however, are mys-
tilted as to the reason of Mr.. Leithcourt's
sudden flight, and are anxious to get to
the bottom of the curious affair"
Naturally. And more especially
after the tragedy up in Rannoch Wood
short time ago." I said.
"That's just it," said the doctor, re-
moving his pince-nez and rubbing them.
mackenzie seems to suspect some con-
nection between Leithcourts sudden dis
appearance and that mysterious affair.
It seems very evident that the telegram
was warning to Leithcourt of the man
Chater's intention of calling, and that
the last-named was shown in Just at the
moment when the fugitive was on the
point of leaving"
"Chater." I echoed. "Do you know
his Christian name?"
''Hylton Chatter. He is apparently a
gentleman. Curious that he will tell us
nothing of the reason he called, and of
the scene that occurred between them"
Knowing all that I did, was not sur
prised. Leithcourt had undoubtedly
taken him unawares, but knights of in
dustry never betray each other.
My next visit was to Mackenzie, for
whom I had to wait nearly an hour, az
he was absent in another quarter of the
town.
"Ah, Mr.. Gregg" he cried gladly, as
he came in to find me seated in chair
patiently reading the newspaper. "You
are the very person wish to see. Have
you heard of this strange affair at Ran
noch"
81 have" was my answer. elias the
man in the hospital made any statement
yetW
"None He refuses point blank" an
swered the detective. "But my own idea
is that the affair has a very close con-
nection with the two mysteries of the
wood"
"The first mystery-that of the man
proves to be double mystery" said.
"HowH Explain it,"
"Well, the waiter Olinto Santini is
alive and we'll in London"
"What!" he gasped, starting up. "Then
ne is not the person you identified him
to be?"
"No. But he was masquerading as
Santini-made up to resemble him, I
mean, even to the mole upon his face"
"But you identified him positively
when person is dead it is very easy
to mistake countenances. Death alters
the countenance so very much"
That's true" he said refectively.
But If the man we've buried is not the
Italian, then the mystery is considerably
increased. Why was the real mans wife
here"
and where has her body been con-
cealed? That's a question:"
Again mystery. We have made
thorough search for four days, without
discovering any trace of it. Quite con-
fldentially, I'm wondering if this man
Chatter knows anything. It is curious,
to say the least, that the Leithcourts
should have fed so hurriedly on this
mans appearance. But have you actually
seen Olinto Santini?'
Yes, and have spoken with him."
u sent up to London asking that in
quiries should be made at the restaurant
in Bayswater, but up to the present l
have received no report"
II have chatted with Olinto. His wife
has mysteriously disappeared, but he is
IN ignorance that she is dead"
You did not tell him anythingi"
Nothing"
'"Ah, you did we'll. There is wide
spread conspiracy here, depend upon it,
Mr.. Gregg. 1t will be an interesting
case when we get to the bottom of it all.
| CONTINUED on Fourteenth Pagel