The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-15
The Altenburg Case
Copyright, 1909 By George Dyre Eldridge


 (Continued from Page 14) ask for anything more. It could be dashed off in two minutes. and I'll bet you the writer gave two solid hours to it.. Now, I'm the hundredth person, and I'm asking not for more, but for something This" and he gave the paper 9 contemptuous tap, ''this Is nothing''
 And you want to know?''
 Everything! What had the man done that somebody wanted him out of the way?''
 q don't know"
 s''No, I don't suppose you do, but tell me what you do know, and per haps I'll find 1t there, even if you don't Trafford had found in Beck with at times sorae of the qualities that made himself a detective. The pres ence always awoke in him a sense of rivalship. and he felt it now. If the man was bent on stepping outside his Town field he night as well show him ationce how weak he was. For, in stance. there was the bitterest kind of quarrel between Altenburg and this nephew of his. What was it about? There isn't much to tell in this pa per. 1
 ' 'Twould be scandalous to put it in such statement under the circum- stances of this tragedy responded | Beckwith.
 ' Traffordsf somewhat heavy face showed just a touch of satisfaction. It required no great shrewdness- to guess | the fact he had stated, but it was something to know that he was, right and to know it from the man who. hei already felt. was -pitting himself against him for some. purpose or other.
 No, but want to know all about that quarrel. and the circumstances of the tragedy make such a statement 1 exceedingly fitting, not to- say neces- sary It's a relief to young Calden that his uncle is out of the way. We'll l stick pin there and keep it in sight for the present. Evidently, too. the | family is Altenburg's heirs, and if re- ports are true they'll come in for a considerable amount of money that'll | not be unwelcome There's possibly | something special for which they want l it, and while the sister is naturally l shocked at the violent death of her l brother, and in way may be sorry, and the daughter, with syoung girls sensitiveness, is almost ready to think kindly of him. young Calden simply yields to the demands of decency, but } wouldn't have the thing undone. want to get at the root, of this and get at it quick
 Beckwith picked up the printed slip and read it. as if it were something l he had never seen before. Then he ! turned curious look on Trafford.
 You find all that in this state ment?"
 '.No. not all of it. but good con- fir,nation of the part that isn't there. I'm satisfied you knew it all when you wrote the document itself-', = + And you complain that we haven't 1 told people anything! Perhaps you find ground here for guessing that young Calden committed the murder the lawyer muttered, more with the air Of asking himself a question than of pro- | pounding a suggestion to the other.
 Trafford sprang to his feet with more show of impatience than he ever allowed himself. excepting for an as sured purpose.
 
 has been committed he said. brus- quely. That isn't the way I work want facts. not guesses. wan1 Horace Calden's statement. and I've come to you because. as his attorney you're entitled to hear him give it to me. You know there are men wht wouldn't have done that in my place Z But it shan't be said I've treated hin unfairly unless you force me to- ant in that case it'll be you and not me When will he meet me here at youl ofice?''
 "Iil find out" replied Beckwith. go ing to the telephone with "give me eight. four. two.''
 t-So the telephones working again. i. . t?" demanocd Trafford.
 Beckwith took the connection as ar excuse for not answering. When h. had finished talking he turned to Traf ford with the information that the lat
 ter had already caught.
 ttAt this afternoon"
 You'll do well to impress him witt | the need of frankness,'' suggested , Trafford "It'I save time-and both er."