The Washington times., 1908-06-21

snake ii Was SldSHeu nov from 10Y
TO bottom. the canvas scraped and
SCARED. and utterly ruined.
Throughout the room, at the feet Of
the dead man, on the rugs. on Lhe
bed, on the table, We're scattered num-
berless papers and bundles OF what
might have been legal business doc1--
ments On the table were several AN
opened parcels. and papers from 9th
ers were huddled here and there on
the floor amid a confusion G. piec, 5
of string, bits OF cardboard, and tor,s
p8rchments.
on the edge OF the table crouched a
miniature figure Of the mystic sphinx
uf Egypt. that stared straight into
t-e face OF the dead man. the -uggad.
deeply lined. strong featured and nov
iu91sSive face OF a man whose name
uId been one OF the most powerful
a-II LIBERATED among Americas lords
90 money.
-Aa ase things were almost :.lstaL-
..,le.a.iy photographed upon Foster s
uraia. t.r he had barely set foot with
H o. chamber OF death before the
stately old butler confronted hin.
-sEuo are your" he demanded.
Foster said. Il am a reporter
for
The word reporter" stung the old
servant into instant action. That
enough ne cried. You mus, leave
here"
Foster saw there was no use iu ar
suiug with this determined old s-ryl-
TOT, whose face was mask Of grief.
so he backed toward the door
"Of course. 1 don't wish 10 in
trude." lac said, rapidly. but. car-
taiuIy. this news cant be concealed,
So please give me ali the information
you can.
Not a wordr' said the butler,
aarshly.
But tell me who YOU think did this.
AT least tell me that. implored Billy.
The gray old servant raised his
trembling hand.
he was a dcvil-a devil" lac sand.
in a choking voice. II feared for Mr.
Clough-and uDw-aud now Bun y9'J
must go!'
Foster ran down the stairs. Ills
brain was acting rapidly. his Thoughts
tnTuuging sixty tq the second he
must act speedily, lie must act AIDE
quately Now that the shock Of the
scene had duIed and his natural hog
Tor at the violent end OF this rational
figure had been registered. he was
alive TO the hngeT-lips. professionally
and personally.
He had the chance OF his life. 40
time must be lost time!
Upon his depar. ure from upstairs.
the butler. convinced lie was leaving
the house, turned back 20 the chamber
or the dead. Foster felt for mis- peck
e.bbok. and put an his money where
his |nngers' could easily reach rhe bills
and coins. and instead of running TO
the street door. he darted back along
tne wide nall 10 where he heard "a
confused murmur OF voices In
moment he had entered the dining
room. and there a group of men ana
women servants were huddlea to
gether like a pauic-strickeu dock -
sheep.
Then Fosters tongue became the
active agent OF his brain, and question
after question was flung by aim
among the servaqIs-
Meanwhile his eyes were equally
I.-N ana we're laDH sea- INNS a-a7-'---
s1afy for that person among tnesa
men and women whom past expert
ences had taught him was nearly al
ways TO oe Iound-the person who has
q natural love for newspaper promi-
nence. and who is proud 90 have his
or her name Ia print
he fastened Ipou spruce young
man in livery. q groom evidently, ana
mora and more addressed his Ques-
lions 20 him.
What time did Mr.. Cough 80 10
bed?r
At ms usual tIme-l0 O'Clock"
Did ne have any visitors last even
mgr"
yes. he saw his private secretary
and Mr. Garrison. his attorney Later
his nephews. Mr.. Acton Clough ana
AIR Henry Brewster. called on hlm-
..Dfd anything unusual happen dur
fr- those visits-or az any time Iast
uieht?"
A woman's voice cried in answer;
-Or yes. sir-it was dreadful Mr.
Ciorsh and that nice young Mr.. Acton
ararTeled so ard, sir.
shut your mouth, cook" growied
man .thIs chaps a reporter
when did Mr.. Acton Clough's pic
-rre come here? Did ne bring It him
zeif2'' asked BILLY, unheeding the re-
buff.
No" said the spruce young groom;
.the picture was brought by an eX-
press agent, about 6 o'clock Mr. Ac-
ton drove up in a notor-car. ighly CX-
cited, sir. about O. And then
''ThatH do for you, Wilkins inter
rup-ed the same man who had checked
me ,voman's speech. You'll be losing
vour position. young man, II you let
your tongue run on too fast"
81 Jolly well think it's gone already,
with the hold man Sdead,' muttered
the groom.
Foster, seeing that the interference
of the older servant was having
chilling effect on the others. backed
out Of the room. At the same time
ne winked at the young groom, and
the latter followed him into the hall,
a cunning smile upon his thin lips.
See here" said Billy, going straight
to the point. Here's ten dollars for
you Get me within five minutes pho
tographs Of the dead man, Of his two
nephews, and his private secretary,
and III give you another ten"
There amt TO picture of the secre-
tary or Mr. Garrison in the, house. I
know" SAID the groom; but you walt
across the street and I'll see If L can
get the others