The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-01-08
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dOOf IDey We're met by MI. lOWne
himself and ushered into a room at
the rear on the ground floor.
BE pleased to sit down. gentle
men" he said, and in few wort", |
will lay the case before you" He was
a large, stOop-shOuIdered man Of 60,
cleanshayen, with grim, light eyes,
fiabby, nervous upper lip, voice rich
with good living, and a peremptory
manner which, however, he could
change at will into an appearance as
winning as he pleased. He Was very
amiable and courteous now, and the
. officers, on this their first personal
meeting with the city magnate, were
ready to declare that his reputation
beIied him, and that, instead Of being
the harsh cold-blooded, and grasping
monster general opinion represented
him to be, he was mild-mannered.
Il do not wish to confde what has
occurred TO telef hone" he contin-
ued, and so asked you to call upon
an unknown Grand The fact is"
He hesilated, coughed, and then went
Gu: But let me begin at the right end
Of the stoty, at the beginning. You
noticed. of course, as YOU came along
that there is high wall around my
premises. 1t is Of stone up TO a height
OF seven feet and above that and over
topping it is an impenetrable English
thorn hedge, which is four feet higher,
making a practically impregnable pro.
lection for these grounds of eleven
feet in height. The gates, which are
loftier even than that, are always
locked at night, and the p0rter's lodge
is right beside them. Nobody could
enter that way unseen by him. The
house itself is wired throughout with
a burglar alarm. which rings in the
dining room with din that can be
heard even to the limits of the park.
and to raise window or open a door,
at least any of those which are locked.
after We are secured for the night
Would be to set this gong changing.
The door to this room is always
locked. 1t is, as you can see, the
cHllo room, full of valuable articles,
and is thrown open but rarely. |
carry the key to it on my person con-
stantly. The three windows are
wired with the alarm and all are
double locked. Yet last night some
body got in here and took away five
very valuable Chippendale chairs.
Mind you, this was no small parcel to
be tucked under The arm or into the
pocket, but five good-sized chairs,
which would furnish a lead for a
wagon. And this" he stepped for
ward and with a dramatic gesture
drew the screen aside, this is all we
have to indicate how the thing was
accomplished
Foi days the local police worked
upon lie mystery using every art
known to detective annals. Eventual.
ly, however, they called in Dr. Furni.
vail.
Come in said Mr.. Towne, who
was rEbbing his eyes and looking con.
fusedly around as if he were lust
aWaAing from a sound sleep. A maid
entered and, with great agitat ON in
her manner, spoke a few words to her
master in a low,toned voice. Mr..
ToWne turned to Dr. Furnivall.
Doctor, he said, my sister, who is
bed-ridden, heard your ring and
thought 1t was her own doctor For
some reason she has taken a great
dislike TO him, it seems, from what
the maid says, and fell into Mysteries
as soon as she heard the bell. CRYING
out That she wouldn't see him. She is
IN she MT now, and | wish you would
see what you can do for her"
Willingly Dr. Furnivall answered
starting at once to follow the maid.
who led the way rapidly to an uDper
chamber Ten minutes afterwards, as
the detectives wege questioning one
OF he servants, the maid reappeared
with request from DR.. Fnrniva}I
that they could cone with Mr.. Towna
to the sick-room, and uron hastily
complying they found The doctor with
his apeciac2es in his hand confrortfrg
the invalid who sitting erect in he'd
was s'aJiaS mo his eyes, yet with a