Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-22

me.
why, what is il you want?"
Want? don't want anything
asked you what old Wolcott wanted"
"Oh!" said the chief, suddenly remem-
bering. That was private natter
HIM" shifted the assistant. IN an UNI
dertone. You're getting very myster-
ious.'
Barnes heard. hut let the implication
go unanswered. His mind was so pre-
occupied with the peculiar Incident that
he had little time to think OF anything
else. He carried the thought Of the
thing home with him and even after he
had gone to bed his usual sound slum-
Der was disturbed by visions of per-
slstent strangers and elusive thousand
dollar bills. He left the house early
next morning. As was mis- custom he
stopped on his way down to read the
bulletins in the windows OF the news
paper offices.
The first one brought forth an excla-
nation of amazement IL announced
the sudden and mysterious death OF
John Woicott Of the big wool firm of
Wolcott & Co. Barnes. full of wonder.
waited with impotence for the early
editions of the afternoon papers As
they came out he greedily devoured the
ing the deaa merchant and his affairs.
II was related that he had been restless
and III at east for days past. His young
partner, Austin Gates, reluctantly adj
mitted that much. Later came rumors
that the accounts of the firm were not
In the best OF shape. The particulars
of the case were given with great WV
idness. Wolcott had been found life
less on the floor Of his library a livld
mark was found around the neck OF
the dead mana mark that might have
been made by tightly drawn towel
or a rope. All OF these significant
details, said the reports led to the one
regrettable conclusion-sulcido.
II.
Before an hour had gone by Barnes
confided to Clancy his intention OF
making a private Investigation into tha
circumstances attending the mysterious
death of John Wolcott In less than
two hours he had found a new factor
In the case in the person Of Rose VOL
colt, the daughter OF the dead man.
Wolcott had led ouch an unobtrusive
life and had avoided society so persist
entity that only his closest acquaint-
ances were aware OF the fact that he
had a daughter.
One of these was Austin Gates. az
the young woman weepingly cnntided 10
the chief inspector. She said that dur
ing the few months prior to his death
her father had repeatedly urged upon
her the desirability of a marriage With
his young partner. But she had taken
q great aversion to Gates and could not
think OF him as her future husband
without a shudder This attitude an
noyed her father very much and he had
not hesitated TO express his dspleasurc,
COUGHING his protests, however. In the
kindiest of terms, Wolcott was proud
of hly business, which had been built
up with SO much care by so many gem
erations OF hts family. and he wished
to transmit II unbroken and undivided
to another generation. II had been
sore trial that he had never been
blessed with son and heir and, al
though he was fond OF his daughter he
could not imagine the possibility Of her
maintaining the Prestige OF the house
of Wolcott. Hence a year before he
had taken Austin Gates into the Arm
and treated him as II he We're his son.
The only thing needed TO complete his
plans was a marriage between his
daughter and Gates.
These were the things that Barnes
learned. not in few minutes, hut
during the course OF the afternoon;
rot In connected form. but IN bits OF
and hints that had TO be
carefully pieced together. one thing
certain. Rose Wolcott was overwhelmed
with grief at her fathers death. she
rejected the police verdict Of suicide
and begged the Inspector Of customs To
clear her fathers memory Barnes
now had the authority he needed to
proceed with, but he could not help
feeling that appearances were very
much against the old merchant.
Were you at home when your rather
returned yesetTday?" asked Barnes.
"Yes," sobbed the girl.
did you notice anything unusual In
his manner"
yves: he was very much agitated-
"Did he say anything
"He rubbed his forehead constantly