Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-06-13
CHAPTER X.
Continued.


felt the force of her reproof, and
turned from Mr.. MOrtlock and gazed
about the room. There were no signs
of struggle visible, not trace of dis
order. The dead mans clothing was
folded by his bedside; the dispatch box,
locked, was in its place OH the floor
Mt the head of the bed; even the bed
clothes were smoothly arranged.
1.-THE first and instant thing to be
DONE" said Mr.. Mortlock, 'is to lock
these rooms and to call in the police"
The advice was proper and practical.
The communicating door could not be
locked, having been broken in; but ]
locked the door of FleetwOOd's room
With the key in my pocket, and those
who were with me proceeded to the
ground floor. Whether 1t was brought
about by accident or design l know
not, but Mile. Rosalie and / were
side by side moment or two in the
rear of my wife and Mr.. Mortlock.
"Strangled, he said, sr?" she whis
pered.
"Yes," I replied, mechanically.
"The rope must have been thin." she
whispered. did you notice how mar
row the mark was round his neckT'
nodded and passed on, and, seeing
Mile. Rosalie's brother, Redwing, In
the garden, called to him, and bade him
take a note, which hastily wrote, to
the police station. AS soon afterward
as was practicable three officers pre-
scented themsclves-an inspector, an or
dinary policeman, and a detectlve-and
I conducted them to the apartment In
which the dead body of my uncle was
lying. At the inspectors request l
handed him the key of FleetwOod's
room, and he took possession also OF
the key Of my uncle's room, which was
in the lock, inside.
"These rooms are now In our charge,
sir" said the inspector to me, land no
one must enter them without permis'
sion" 4 1aa:,
81 understand that" said.
At the examination which they then
proceeded to make, only Mr.. Mortlock
and l were present of my household.
MY wife had no wish to accompany
us. Mile. Rosalie had expressed her
willingness to do so, but she was not
allowed.
did not require prompting to relate
to the officers all that knew concern
ing my uncle's movements, which, in
my Judgment, had any bearing upon
the matter. I said nothing Of the con-
Nersation which so vitaly affected my
future prospects in life, for deemed
It a purely private matter. Mr.. Mort
lock then supplied the officers with in
formation, and I learned that he had
been, with my uncle in his bedroom
after they had both wished us good
night. He had remained with my uncle
half an hour or so in private converse,
and, to my relief, nothing fell from
his lips as he spoke to the officers with
respect to Eunice. He had concluded
his narration when he made remark
which, had not kept strong guard
over my feelings, would have brought
the tell-tale blood to my face.' The Of;
ficers had turned down the bedclothes,
and my uncle's hands were lying by
his side. Mr.. NIortlOck stopped and
looked at them. "'r ;
"NIr. Wilmot," he said, "had dia.
mond ring on his finger last night. II
was single stone ring, and the dla'
mond was of fine sparkle, and attract
ed my attention" :
They searched the room for the ring,
and assisted them, the ring being all
the time in my pocket. l dared not
produce it, fearing the construction
that might be placed upon its being in
my possession. Il
"That looks" said the inspector, "as
If robbery were the motive. The MUIR
derer is in danger; the ring can be iden.
tifledW =
81 will swear to it," said Mr.. Mort.
lock. |
"You see, gentlemen" remarked the
inspector, "these fellows generally sup
ply us with clew. That ring discov
cred, we shall soon lay hands on the
murderer" !
s"And yet" observed Mr.. Mortlock,
~ at hardly looks as If robbery were
the motive Mr.. Wilmot's watch and
chain have not been touched"
"That doesn't matter" said the In
spector; "it is left to put us Off the
scent. What is in that dispatch box?"
"a large sum of money" I replied,
land some valuable jewels. On the
night of Mr.. Wilmot's arrival here
that is, the night before last-I assisted
him to count the money. There were
FIVE thousand pounds"
re inspector gave a low whistle OF
astonishment. "That's large sum to
carry about-a dangerous sum. 1t Is
putting temptation into mems way" =
ut was Mr.. Wilmots whim," said
Mr.. Mortlock. II Travelled with him
abroad for some time, and he seldom
carried less than that amount"
"Of course" said The inspector, chat
was his affair. It's good thing to
have to carry it about. Few of us have
the luck"
"The dispatch box could be exam
ined," said Mr.. Mortlock.
ut is what intend" said the In;
spector. "First. the key" asi,,e.j.