The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-10-11

Left to himself, Mason handed over
the dogcart to the hostler at the inn,
paid for Its hire and again walked to
the deserted farm. He surveyed every
inch Of the ground floor, carefully rak-
ing over the ashes in thANrate, scrub
bed the passages with hard broom
and water, packed some few personal
belongings In a small bag and set out
again, after locking the door securely,
for long tramp over the moor Nine
miles of mountain road would bring
him to another line Of railway. Thence
he would book to London and travel
straight through, arriving at the cap
ital late at night and not making the
slightest attempt to communicate with
Grenier en- route.
There was little fear Of comment or
inquiry caused by the disappearance
Of the inhabitants Of the Grange
House.
He and cdr" williams were the
only residents even slightly known to
the distant village Such stores as
they needed they had paid for. The
house was hired for a month from an
agent in the county town and the rent
paid in advance. 1t was not clear who
owned the place. The agent kept it on
his books until some one should claim
II.
AS the murderer walked and smoked
his reflections were not quite cheerful
now that he could cry "quits" with
Philip Arson.
His experiences of the previous night
were not pleasant. Neither he nor
Grenier went to bed. They dozed I'M
easily In chairs until daylight, and
then they admitted that they had COM
mitted Anson's body to the deep In a
moment Of unreasoning panic.
He might be found, and even If he
were not identified that COMPOUNDED po-
liceman might be moved to investigate
the proceedings Of the curious visitors
to Grange House.
That was the weak part of their
armor, but Grenier refused to admit
the flaw.
"a naked man found in the sea-and
he may never be found-has not nee
essarily been thrown from q balcony
Is grotesque. No constabulary brain
could conceive it. And who Is he?
Not Philip Arson. Philip Arson Is
alive. Not DR.. Williams. Any Scars
dale man will say that. And your
best friend, Mason, would not take him
for you"
pxtk lNf f0G A6 lott
have buried the corpse on the lonely
farm-in the garden Tor choice. Then
they would know where he was. The
sea was too vague.
OF pity for his victim he had not
jot. Had Philip Arson pitied him or
his wife or his two children? They,
too, were dead in all probability. While
in Loudon he had made every sort of
inquiry, but always encountered
blank wall Of negation. John and Will
liam Mason, even If they lived, did not
know he was their father. They were
lost to him utterly.
Curse Philip Arson. Let him be for
gotten anyway. Yet he contrived to
think of him during the nine weary
wait at the railway station and during
the slow hours of the journey to Lon
don.
On arriving at York, Grenier secured
a palatial suit at the Station hotel, en-
tering his name in the register assPhil-
ip Arson"
He drove to the postoffice and asked
If there was any message for Gre
nier'
Yes. 1t read:
Family still at Penzance. Persuaded
friend that letter was only intended to
create unpleasantness with uncle. He
took same view and returned to town.
Will say nothing.
Unsigned. it came from town near
Beltham. Grenier was satisfied. He lit
a cigarette with the message.
At branch poStoffice he dispatched
two kilograms. The first to Evelyn:
Will remain in the north for few days.
Too busy to write today. Full letter to-
morrow. Love. PHILIP.
The second to aIr. Abingdon:
Your message through Miss Atherley
noted. Please suspend all inquiries. At
IdlT quite unforeseen. VIII tNpldlH ny
letter Address today, Station hotel.
York. ANSON.
Then he entered bank and asked
for the manager.
"My name may be known to you," he
said to the official, at the same time
handing his card.
"Nr. Arson, Park lane-the Mr.. An
SON."
81 suppose 1 can flatter myself with
the definite article. / am staying here
some few days and wish to carry out
certain transactions requiring large
sums Of money. l will be glad to act
through your bank. on special terms,
Of course, for opening n short account"
I'VE will be delighted"
81 will write check now for $4,000
which kindly place to my credit as
soon as possible. Shall we say the day
after tomorrow
''That is quite possible. We will use
all expedition"
THANK you. You understand, this is |
merely preliminary. 1 will need Il
much larger sum, but will pay in my |