Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11


He had become the sort of man whom acquaintance
will discuss in a whisper when his back is turned
The frightful enigma that imposed itself on Tudor
Hundreds like a heavy cloud through which all
objects were seen distorted and terrifying, seemed
not to exist for him. Apparently he too alb
sorbed in the immediate consequences of the crime
to trouble himself with its causes.
The immediate consequences had begun with the
arrival of the police, followed by local doctor
horseback and the coroners officer about seven
o'clock. At eight o'clock an order for post morton
had been obtained the inquest arranged for the next
day but and Geographic and telephone messages
despatched to Scotland Yard and to Beakbane
Emile himself had taken a note from Maurice to
Norah Crampron. 1t was during breakfast that the
first kilograms like the scattered fakes preluding
snow storm, descended on the house. They
from Scotland Yard, from the cashier of the Bank
the news was afoot in London By eleven o'clock the
storm had burst in full fury, and Maurice had in
stalled himself in his fathers study to deal with it.
Emile and clerk from the household accounts
office constituted his staff The butler gifted with
slow and rather distinct manner of speech
permanently seated in a chair at the tele-
phone.
At half the special reporters of Fleet-st
assaultng the portals of Tudor Hundreds. At
half-past twelve this army was outside the domains
exterminated by administrative order of Maurice
At one o'clock a stream of other callers set n
direct by train from London: clerks and principals
from the city, ENJOYS from politicians, special
messenger from royal palace. Then the
first inquisitive cables from the chanceleries and
the bourses of the Continent. Carl Courlander was
dead
Maurice battled with the storm of kilograms and
the rising flood of callers until three o'clock
when. returning to the study after an interview
with two stockbroking friends of his fathers in the
drawing room, he lmpetuously exclaimed to Emile,
I'm going to stop this!' And he pushed twice
at an electric button on his desk.
An understood Chlnaman, dressed in dark blue
robe. with long black pigtail. came smoothly
and silently into the room This was the body
servant of the late Carl. The death of his master
however, had produced visible effect that
superb Oriental nonchalance. When informed by
Maurice at early morning of Carls murder, he had
more than once he had proved his sincere attach
ment to Carl. The late financier had found him
starving with miraculous bland resignation, in the
precincts of the Paris Exhibition of 1900 had taken
BILE Courander retinue, in which he had soon achieved
important position He was faithful discreet,
efficient, and Observation-Disclosures which had
naturally endeared him to Carl. In the whole
gloomy affair of the murder, perhaps nothing had
astonished Maurice more than that Curtis Che was
named Curtis because for thirty years all Carls
Wallets had been named Curtis-after the first
one) could throw no light whatsoever the dark
Curtis" said Maurice, swinging round on his
pivoted chair "how many people are still waiting
Seven, sir" Curtis responded, with his exotic
4 will see of them"
Il will see more visitors to-day. except Mr.
Beakbane, Mr.. Crampiron, and Miss Crarnpr6n the
doctor, and the from Scotland Yard. Under
stand-nobody!'
Yes sir" --..
The instructions seemed simple and complete
but they proved to be futile A Viscount who nour-
ished his distinguished blood the directors fees
geography of the house, deliberately engaged the
armies of Otway the butler and after beating them
off with great loss entered the study without knock
Maurice summoned Curtis sShou- off This oa-,