Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-08

Ed quelS, to which l snail come
presently, set me for the whole
of a week upon the horns Of doubt and
perpleXity. / was embarrassed by so
strange a sequence Of accidents. Some
where behind aud still aloof, but self
confessed, as it We're, by the conduct
and department of my unfortunate
host, hung the shadows of q mystery
to which l had no claw. 1t was plain
that he had secret which he kept
very private and to which | should
have been admitted on the very eve Of
his unhappy death. That death, so to
say, had robbed me of my opportunity,
and could see no means to regain 1t.
My dim suspicion that he had come by
his end through violence was dissipat-
ed soon enough The doctor certified
to heart disease, from which he told
me that Mr.. Kesteven had long suf
fered.
"Ie might have gone off any mo-
ment, Mr.. GreatoreA," he explained.
"a shock, violent exertion. even a
strong enotion-this would suffice to
determine the climax of the disease"
A shock! The word fingered some
how in my thoughts without particular
reason. The cries l had heard might
well enough have been drawn from the
old man in his last pains, and yet l
had the impression that such deaths
were usually instant, if not painless.
Those shrieks had been prolonged and
reiterated.
And here it was that I had my first
surprise. Under the stress Of the pain
full emotions of that time l had for
gotten the leaf of paper which had
taken from the dead fingers. But
while l was revolving the circum-
stances Of the mystery the recollection
Of it flashed suddenly upon me, and
feeling in my pockets l discovered it
where it had remained since the en-
trance of the housekeeper. 1t was
broad daylight, and the doctor from
Llanellan had just gone from the
house. laid the paper upon my bed
room table and studied it carefully.
1t was Of stiff parchment and stained
yellow with the du and dirt Of years,
much worn in parts and its margin
gnawed as if by mice or rats. The
characters We're faded and we'll nigh
illegible, but made out, with some
difficulty, the faint and ancient letters.
This was how the document ran:
"Turning this corner, 1t is necessary
to proceed upon the passage for the
space Of some thirty footsteps and at
the close thereof to pause and survey
the walls. If We will then duly deter
mine a height of five feet from the
footway thereupon will be disclosed a
small knobbe, the which revolving will
give access to large cupboard within
We wall. Observe carefully upon the
back Of the cupboard and where the
oaken PANELS adjoin the stone. Here
We will perceive spring, the which
pushing doorway shall open behind,
giving entry to an interior chamber.
A fight Of stairway leadeth thence
Here the parchment had suffered so
grossly at the hands of time or from
the assaults Of it's natural enemies that
the characters became unreadable and
finally ceased.
1t was plain that this sheet had some
connection with the disclosure Mr.. Kes-
teven had intended to make to me, but
beyond this conclusion l could not go.
And SO after desultory study Of the
ancient characters put it aside. lock-
ing 1t more by habit than Of intentional
prudence in my private letter case.
now stood honorably charged with
the last Offices to my dead friend. An
inquest was inevitable In the circum-
stances, but it was no more than for
mality, and my evidence, with that Of
the housekeeper, Mrs. Main, and the
doctor from Llanellans was sufficient to
close the investigation. It was not I'M
til these ceremonies were over that l
experienced my second surprise, sur
prise which, although had become
somewhat acquainted with the eccen-
tricities of the man, fell upon me like a
thunderbolt Upon the morning after
the funeral rode into Raymond to pay
a visit to the lawyer, Greenstreet by
name, who, understood, acted on Mr..
Kesteven's behalf l regarded this as
the last of my melancholy duties, which
discharged, was free once more to re-
sumo the tour which had been so
strangely interrupted. Mr.. Greenstreet,
the little fat, bowling solicitor whom I
had already seen, received me with po-
lite ceremony. Els face wore a min
gled expression Of solicitude and salts
faction as he fused in nervous man
ner with his papers.
"a most melancholy end, Mr.. Create
rex" said he, shaking his head; 80
sudden, and sterling, honorable man,
sir. Well, we must all go some day"
/ put the question for which l had
come and in response was saluted with
stare Of establishment.
"Any assistance, Mr. Greatorex?" he
echoed, surveying me, with his mouth
open. "Any assistance? Well, sup
pose you can be of some assistance"
And he chuckled heartily, as if invit-
ing me tosjoin in his joke.
told him that was leaving the dis
trict that same day and would like to
know in what way ] might aid him.
seeing that it was improbable that
should revisit the neighborhood.
"Then you do not intend to reside at
the castle?" he asked.
There was a certain tone Of condem-
nation in his voice which, though was