Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-06-03
CHAPTER xxi.
- r. BILL WILLIAMS took the
first train for 1rvington. set


black cigar in the smoking
car and began to churn his brains for
answers to many perplexing questions
That his enemies were trying to euchre
him was as clear as day. His son
might have sent one wire of warning.
but why dozen? That was Jacobs
fine Italian hand. If Richard was at
liberty, why had he not written? Why
had he left his baggage Mt the st. Re-
gis without returning? How dared he
go to Irvington? Where had he gone
thereafter? Where was he now? The
old gentleman gave 1t up and chewed
the end of his cigar in savage impa-
thence. OF one thing only was he GER
tain-he would get on Richards trail
and follow 1t TO the end.
On reaching Irvington he hurried to
the telegraph office and sent the fol-
lowing dispatch to his representative
at Austin. Tex:
Watch harbor bill Skin game on. Learn
when Legislature will adjourn and answer.
BILL WILLIAMS.
Irvington. NJ. Y.
There was some considerable delay
in sending his wire. which he furthe,
heightened by telephoning to his New
York representatives. making ain APP
pointment with them for later during
the day. AS lie had plunged straight
for the telegraph office. he neither saw
nor was seen by Mr.. Jacob Renwyck
when that gentleman, accompanied by
two plain clothes men, got off the rear
car of the same train. rushed across
the platform. jumped into waiting
surrey, the only carriage that happened
to meet that train. and drove rapidly
away. Nor did he hear several people
inquire of the station agent for walk
ing directions to Mr.. Renwyck's place.
First there was well groomed. some
what pompous. official looking English
man. with red face and white side
whiskers, evidently man of author
ity and Importance. Next there was
a tall, blond young woman. with Il
ripping" figure, who expressed sur
prise that no vehicle was there to meet
her. And finally there were an excited
old farmer, q hard featured man in
plain clothes-also with an official look
and fussy little representative of
motor company. If one could Judge
by his cap and general automobile rig.
In despair of carriage all of these
walked slowly up the hill in the direc.
tion of Restmore. although in the fact
that, save the farmer aud the plain
clothes official. each pursued his way
alone. holding no communication with
the others, was conclusive proof that
their simultaneous arrival and Their
common destination were merely coin.
cidences. Mr.. Renwyck and his com.
With the two detectives he went i'm
mediately into the library, where he
met his wife and Mr.. Corrigan The
safe was wide open, showing the tum
bled contents just as they had been
found when the door was unlocked
two hours earlier by Uncle Michael.
ln utter silence the two sleuths made
an examination, but beyond one tiny
scratch near the keyhole of the inner
door the safe showed no evidence OF
having been tempered with. Besides
Mr.. Renwyck, there was no one else
who knew the combination except the
old butler, who was confined to his
bed with rheumatism in small vii
lage several miles away and who was
quite above suspicion anyway. Clear
ly. then, the thief had in some way
learned the combination or else he was
an experienced craftsman.
On hearing Of the robbery the first
thought that flashed into Mr.. Rem
wycks mind was his curious neetin.
in the library with his English guess
ut 3 O'clock in the morning. with the
window open and the burglar alarm
turned off. The prowler's explanation
had been quite simple. Mr.. Renwycli
had honestly striyen to persuade him
self that 1t was entirely satisfactory
although be could not drive away Il
sneuking suspicion that everything was
not just right. In the light of present
Developments his mind required to this
suspicion with added force. Then there
WAS that draft which the earl had sc
inexplicably refused to sign after first
offering to do 50, Il small matter ir
itself, yet coupled with the strange
nocturnal wanderings of gentleman
who wished to seek for Il book at q
quarter past 3 o'clock in the morning
well, 1t troubled Mr.. Renwyck not a
little. All the way to Irvington he had
turned the matter over in his mind
yet on meeting Lord Croyland on the
front veranda he was forced to admit
that the frank appearing young man
looked as little like burglar as him
self.
Mr.. Corrigan was the first to give
his evidence. He explained about the
tramp with cast in his eye and told
how he had first observed the man OH
the train coming from New York, then
how the same man had come to Rest.
more begging. He offered to bet his
brother-in-law thousand dollars to
five hundred that the cock eyed fellow
was the robber, but Mr.. Renwyck cold
~ declined to take the wager
Mr.. Corrigan described the appear.
ance of the man with enthusiastic mi.
nuteness, at which the foremost OF
the detectives smiled an oily smile.
well, by gad," lie exclaimed indeli
cately, "if that doesn't hit Jack Bibbs
then I'm n Dutcllman! If Jacks got
your sinners, Mr.. Renwyck, you'd bet
ter whistle for EN-"
"Why?" asked Mr. Corrigan.
Because he's the slickest crook in
seven states." returned the sergeant
nodding vigorously. "He's a hundred
and fifty miles away by this time
sure"
I'm" said Uncle Michael. "lf you
had listened to me, Jake, instead OF
trying to be humorous, your
"Oh, shut up. will you? growled Mr.
Renwyck. This is no time for recrim.
nation. You'd argue the sun, moon
and stars out of the sky together II
you found any one to listen to YOU"
Now, who ever saw sun, moon and
stars in the sky at the same timeI'
queried the irrepressible Michael.
There you CO." retorted his brother
in-law. "Your story of the tramp is
Just as absurd now us 1t was in the