The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-26
THE ALTENBURG CASE
Bv GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE


| act Whenever she and my children be- l lleved they saw the slightest chance of | reneVlng the fate that had fallen on them So I left the asylum and came
 to Larceboro by way of Bangor, across
 the Brentwood, and so to Altenburg's | house. Horace met me and I was con-
 cealed in my wife's part of the house.
 Which Altenburg never entered. I'm bound to say Horace agreed with me, that Altenburg would never l speak unless we found some way to
 force him. He believed, however. that | Aitenburg had in his possession papers that would establish my innocence. and | ne was determined to take advantage
 of his mothers absence and the lonelit
 ness of the house to make search for
 them. and, if they existed, secure | them. warned him that Altenburg, as old as he was. was still a very l strong man, and that he would not | submit peaceably to be robbed of what
 would not alone prove my innocence,
 but necessarily his guilt. Horace de- | clared that when he began the search | he would have things so arranged that there would be no interruption from Altenburg or any one else.'' Grimbleshaw almost felt his hair stand on end as CaIden repeated this statement apparently without ap- preciation of it's weight, if it ever came to be used. He glanced at Mrs. Calden. and felt that she was growing pale again. but whether from the natural strain of the story or from some special danger she found in these last words. he could not tell The bulldog too, was showing increased uneasiness, and it seemed almost as if he would push himself through the door so close did he press. yet always with absolute stiffness
 'It struck me- Calden went on, that he thought my coming rather inopportune. and he spoke of finding some place where would be safer than at the Altenburg, and see him I must; but while he did not go so far as to forbid me. he protested that it would be utterly useless. as well as dangerous. I told him that il was only for the chance of such a meeting and
 what might develop from it that had left the asylum, and that while I had little faith in it. I had no right on that
 account to forego it, especially now that the old scandal had been given new life. or would be, by the noise of
 my escape. At that he yielded. or seemed to yield. but insisted that he should first find some safe place to which I could go as soon as the meet ing was over. for he felt that if re- n1ained at the house Altenburg would not hesitate to give me over to the police"
 When was this" asked Grimble- shaw
 Tuesday, the night I got there. the
 day before Altenburg's death. Both Horace and stayed in my wife's rooms that night"
 Go on.'' said Grimbleshaw. who feared now lest Calden's seeming pur- pose to speak fully should weaken.
 "The next morning Horace left me to find place for me to go to after my talk with AItenburg giving me Bull before he left as protection. As long as Bulls with you,' he said, you
 needn't fear John Altenburg's disturb ing you. He hates the dog as sincere lyS as the dog hates him. At this moment without warning Bull sprang to his feet and. with a growl like distant thunder. threw himself against the door as if he would
 go through it. There was sound with out. as though body fell from the step to the ground.
 Somebody was listening at that door, said Calden
 Well soon find out who" said> Grimbleshaw. starting forward. with
 the intent to open the door and let Bull out.
 In an instant Ca1den was beside him.
 with his hand on his shoulder, .If he gets hold of the man he'll kill
 him or cripple him for fife,'' he said.
 Let him., said Grimbleshaw.
 Calden shook his head in remon-
 strance.
 He's only doing what he's paid for doing" he said. Don't harm him. It'll do me no good
 Mrs Calden came in for her part and
 it was a bitter one.
 !" 'Twould simply serve him right" she said. They're hounding us to our deaths. Why shouldn't some of them be hurt?
 Without they could hear the sound of men undisguisedly running. and run ming hard.
 If it would do any good, yes.'' said Calden but it wouldn't
 Then. as if for his wife's easement. he added:
 3.It would most likely do us harm"
 Grinbleshaw yielded and came back to his chair while Mrs. Calden. with much more show of reluctance. follow ed his example. Before }Calden spoke again Bull came and stretched himself before the fire.
 'I stayed in the rooms all day. and at times heard Altenburg moving about and either talking to himself or some one else. though I could not dis tinguish anything he said. Or, I for got to say that before Horace left he told me of this camp and how to reach it in event of any accident hap pening. such as my being traced
 Mrs. Calden and Miss Calden were not with you?" Grimbleshaw asked. covering in his wider question the anxiety that had harassed him from tho beoiopipO of the Stprv az n