The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-15
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THE ALTENBURG CASE
By GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE


as stout as Altenburg, and his move ments were those of a much younger man. Grimbleshaw waited what seem ed to him an interminable time. and then the light repassed the window. but whoever carried it was so far back in the room as not to be seen. It showed again, passing the window in the hall. when Grimbleshaw again caught glimpse of the man. and then it suddenly disappeared. As it must have shone through the fan1ight over the front door if the man had brought It down the stairs. Grimbleshaw con- cluded that he had extinguished it and descended in the dark. If this were so. the man was evidently about to leave the house by the front door and, accordingly. Grimbleshaw hurried hither, only to find the door shut and fastened, as he had left it. Passing around to the kitchen door. he found that fastened also,.. Thus he was him. self shut out of the house: At least this served to settle the question of going personally for as- sistance, but before doing so it oc- cured to him to look at the telephone connection. Here he found clear evf- dence that the wires had been cut. Indeed. considerable length of wire was missing, as if to render irnpos- sible the immediate repair of the breach.
 Now. however. that he was actually, shut out from the house. the instinct or the physician prevailed, with aroused anxiety for the condition Of h1s patient. On the chance of there being another door he passed around the house. following the side beyond the central chimney. As he turned the farther corner he caught the sound Of footsteps. as if at least two persons were moving away rapidly. They passed to the rear of the barn and ceased. Then came the sound of gal loping horses. whose riders were urg- ing them to speed. Evidently. who-. ever had been his visitors were gone at last. He turned to continue hisi search for a door, and found one that he concluded led into the passage to the buttery. but this like the others. was fastened. He had made the cir cult of the house twice. trying the windows in vain. and came to the front a third time. when a rapidly driven buggy turned in from the road. He held up his lantern. and almost before the buggy stopped a man Ieap- ed to the ground. It was Malbon, the police captain
 "Dr. Grimbleshaw.' he exclaimed.
 ''It was you then who phoned me?" I've phoned nobody replied the doctor, in surprise. .'The instrument is out of order"
 But I was phoned from eight, four, two. and central said that was Alten- burg's number
 How long ago?''
 Not twenty minutes"
 Grfmbleshaw in answer stepped to l the side of the house and held up his lantern to show the break in the wire. five been here an hour and seen more queer things. but none so queer as telephoning from that would be- In a few words he told his story to Malbon and the officer with him. There's nothing for it but to break the door down. the chief declared. | promptly; but even this was more easily said than done. for the door and | lock proved strong, and it required considerable force to effect an en- trance.
 On the floor of the kitchen the Ca nadian was still sleeping as Grimble- shaw had left him. Nothing seemed l to have been disturbed in the room with the secretary. but in the chamber l where the injured man lay trunk, | which Grimbleshaw had noted stand ing at the foot of the bed. had been l ,111 ;ol,
 were largely packages of papers. tied
 and labeled. were scattered over the foor The two officers went immedi- ately to the side of the bed.
 That's an ugly cut" said Malbon,
 turning to the physician.
 50 ugly he hasn't once chance in
 hundred. As soon as it's daylight
 he'll have to be operated on. It's the
 one chance. but a mighty slim one.
 Hold your light little this way and
 I'll get a better look than I've been
 able to get yet.''
 When he strengthened himself again
 Malbon looked at him. but without
 asking the question that was on his lips. The doctor shook his head
 Hell never regain consciousness. doubt if he lives till morning. You'd
 better get another physician here as l quickly as you can.''
 The second officer was sent at once to the village.
 Get Clarke or Boyce. or, better.I
 both of them.'' Malbon said, with a
 glance at Grimbleshaw, who nodded
 assent. ''Stop at Fry's and send him
 up, and you might let Russell. the
 county attorney, know
 | While they waited the coming of
 these Malbon went carefully over the khouse and noted all that Grimbleshaw had reported. and, not improbably,
 several other matters. They did not
 attempt to break into the locked
 rooms. as the officer preferred addi-'
 tional witnesses when he did so. He
 allowed nothing to be disturbed, even letting the sheet stay in the corner of
 the entryway. as Grimbleshaw had | done.
 'I want Fry to see it. just as it is.''
 he explained. Hes got sharp eye