Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14


he top of his head and revolver weapon of any
at hand,
The trainfnen police, and later the detectives
searched the compartment in effort to discover how
the murder could have been committed and gave 1t
completely bafled, The murder had been committed,
there doubt of that but the face of things
as they were in the compartment at that
impossible writer of detective stories
conceivng situation such confronted the men who
went work the would have been laughed at
a concever Of the impossible. There way in
which could have shot Mr., Masters But shot he
had been. and killed instantly.
This IL the story that detectives working the
pieced together and worked upon without avail
for they solved the mystery.
William Masters John Woodbury. part
in brokerage business. In addition to being
business associates they friends Of the closest
Sort both having the same likes and dslikes
mirng other for the good qualities that each
the other possessed. Among their mutual likes
passion for duck shooting and times the private
offices of Masters Woodbury. were deserted while the
brokers sat in blind and waited for canvasbacks
mallards to within range of their guns Both
good shots, woodbury. possibly being the better
and the fact was matter of sharp but good natured
rivalry between the two Woodbury. the younger.
His father had been close friend of Masters father
Masters had founded the business which they were in
after conducting it for alone had jumped
the chance to get the and more energetic
woodbury. into partnership with him.
woodbury. had been what it customary
to term " wild |" after leaving college. He had gone
through much of the small fortune that his father had
left him and he to Masters notice with but few
thousand dollars in his possession But he had shrewd-
business brilliancy Masters furnished the
for the partnership woodbury. into the
firm years they had been together and APP
parenty both had prospered through the
1t at the end of this period that Masters
foully murdered and none grieved so sorey the
earnest In his insisence that the per-
petrator should hunted and discovered John
Woodbury.. The death of his elder partner
hard blow to him. He visbly depressed for months
after II.
The murder was committed while Masters and
Woodbury. going of their shooting trips to
favorite ducking ground in northern Minnesota 1t
late in the fall for the seasonabe fight of ducks
had not begun until late. and both were enthusiastic
the prospects for the trip Masters especially
eated the hunt predicted that this occasion
he would demonstrate his ability to hold Woodbury.
at duck hunting.
They boarded night train, reserving special
partment the sleeping and had intention of
retiring early. Their and baggage placed in
the baggage car, as was dog which Woodbury. had
taken. Woodbury. enthusiastic amateur pho
tographer and his expensive he took into
compartment He carefully placed 1t In the rack above
of the in the compartment and carelessy
threw his bag the other In company with Masters
he sat and smoked and told stories until late
Then passing his cigar his partner he
expressed his intention of going to the baggage
to how the dog liking his travel.
Masters resting comfortably in his seat, yawned
said he would smoke until Woodbury. returned. lie
about to pass out Woodbury. stopped a the door
and pressed the button summonng the car porter
Bring Mr.. Masters matches" he said noticing
that his partner hunting in vain for light for
his cigar.
THAT the last time l Masters alive"
said Woodbury.. with tears in his eyes, when
story before the
The porter returned Immediately after Woodbury.
had left and handed Mr.. Masters matches He
ordered drink of whisky, then" said the porter and
when brought 1t to him he paid two telling
me to give the other to Mr. Woodbury. when he re
turned from the baggage car He said he probably
would be in bed when Mr.. Woodbury. returned" Tho
porter APPARENTLY the last see the
broker alive
To enter the baggage woodbury. found it neces-
sary TO aght at the next station and ahead there