Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-23

letins in the windows OF the newspaper
Offices.
The first one brought forth an exclama-
ton of abatement 1t announced the sud
den and mysterious death OF John Wolcott,
of the big wool firm of Wolcott & Co.
Barnes, full of wonder, waited with i'm
patience for the early editions of the after
noon papers. AS they came out he greedily
devoured the columns of matter they
printed concerning the dead merchant and
his affairs. Vt was related that he had been
restless and i'll at ease for days past. HIS
young partner, Austin Gates, reluctantly
admitted 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 vividness. VOL
colt had been found lifeless on the floor
of his library. hvid 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 signih-
cant details, said the reports, led to the
one regrettable conclusion-suicide
II.
Before an hour had gone by Barnes con-
1ded to Clancy his intention of ma-ing
private investigation into the clrcum-
stances 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 Wolcott, the daughter OF
the dead man. wolcott had led such an
unobtrusive life and had avoided society so
persistently that only his closest acquaint-
ances were aware Of the fact that he had
a daughter
one of these was Austin Gates, as the
young woman weepingly conhded to the
in She said that during
the few months prior to his death her
father had repeatedly urged upon her the
desirability OF a marriage with his young
parter. But she had taken a great aver
sion to Gates and could not think Of him
as her future husband without a shudder.
This attitude annoyed her father very
much and he had not hesitated to express
his displsasur COUGHING his protests, how
ever, in the kindliest of terms. Wolcott
was proud OF his business, which had been
built up with so much care by 50 many
generations of his family, and he wished to
transmit It unbroken and undivided to an
other generation. 1t had been sore trial
that he had never been blessed with son
and heir, and. although he was fond Of
his daughter he could not imagine the pos
sibility Of her maintaining the prestige
Of the house Of Wolcott. Hence a year
before he had taken Austin Gates into the
firm and treated him as II he were 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, but during
the course of the afternoon; not IN con-
nected form, but In bits OF conversation
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 feel
ing that appearances were very much
against the old merchant.
Were you at home when your father
returned yesterday asked Barnes.
Yes" sobed the girl.
Did YOU notice anything unusual In his
IT amer
Yes he was very mucn agitated."
Did he say anything?"
''He rubbed his forehead constantly and
said once or twice. oh. that after all
these years the honor of our house should
be affected
Did he explain this?"
"Only to tell me that it referred 10 bust,
ness. He was very ahectionate; promised
! that he would never again press me tC
marry against my win, ana said laugh.
: inly that II / wished could remain singl,
3 all my life and be his nurse and com
{ panion."
Another Outburst Of tears made 1t i'm
, possible % prolong the conversation