Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-23


rcHn.d toward MIN.
''Mr. Spencer" he said. may ask Il
you are Mr.. Jarvis Spencer of the Dali
~ Messenger. the Mr.. Spencer who
was mentioned in connection with the
investiga tons into the Lawson es-
tatesY'
Spencer nodded.
eyes," he said II am that person."
"Then," Lord Runton continued. 81
want to tell you exactly what happen
ed today In my house and to ask youi
advice May ~
'If our host has no objection" Spen
Ger answered. glancing toward Pei
ham,
None whatever" Duncombe answer
ed, also glancing toward Pelham.
There was moments silence. Pei
ham raised his head.
.If Lord Runton desires it, l will
withdraw" he said slowly. AT the
same time l must confess that l. too,
am interested in this matter. If Lord
Runton has no objection to my pres
ence | should like to remain. My dis
erection goes without saying"
Duncombe moved uneasily in his
chair His eyes sought Spencer's for
guidance. but found his head averted.
Lord Runton raised his eyebrows
slightly at what he considered 4 some
| what vulgar curiosity. but, his reply
| was prompt.
| "You are friend of Duncombe's,
| Mr.. Pelham" he said. land that is
enough. have to ask not only you.
| but all three of you, to consider what
am going to tell you as absolutely
| confidential"
They ali signified their assent. Lord
| Runton continued:
| Mr. and Miss Fielding came to me
| with letters from my brother and with
.ilany convincing proofs of their iden
! :ity. We none of us had the slightest
| ,mspicion concerning them. Their be.
h;,vior was exactly what it should
have been. Nothing about them eycit-
ed remark in any way, except the IN
| usual number of kilograms and tele-
phone messages which Mr.. Fielding
vas always receiving. That. however
| was quite in accord with our ideas of
an American business man and didn't
seem 10 us in the least remarkable"
1.-The kilograms were delivered through
Il neighboring Officer Spencer asked
quietly.
Yes" Lord Runton answered, "bu
they were all in code. / happen t,
| know that. because the postmaste
brought the first one up himself ant
explained that he was afraid that b.
| must have made some mistake, as thu
message was incomprehensible. Field
ing only laughed and gave the man
| sovereign. The message was abSO
| lutely correct. he declared. He toll
me afterward that whenever he wa
specializing he always coded his mes
sages. and it seemed perfectly reason
| able"
Spencer nodded.
Just So" he murmured.
This, morning." Lord Runton con
tinued. MIR. Fielding rather upset on
plans. We We're all to have spent til
day at the dukes and dined there
There was Il big shoot for the men. Il
you know. At breakfast time. however
Mr.. Fielding announced that he had
man coming over with motor ca
from Norwich for them to try and beg
ged to be excused. So we had to &
without them.
de Rothe was staying with me, a
you know, and just before we starte'
he had a telegram that a messenge
from the embassy was on his wa.
down. He hesitated for some time q
to whether he ought not to stay q
home so as to be here when he al
rived, but we persuaded him to com
with us and promised to send him bacl
after luncheon. When we got to Ches
tow, however, the wind had become
gale, and it was impossible to shoe
: decently. De Rothe was a little IN
easy all the time l could see, SO h
and ! and a few of the others returne'
here, and the rest went up to Chestow
Just as we arrived Fielding passed u
in great motor car, with his daughte
behind. When we got to the house ID
Rothe inquired for the messenger. II
was told that he was In Mr.. Fielding
sitting room, but when we got Their
we found the door locked, and throug
the key hole we could hear ma
grooming. We broke the door in AM
|, found De Rothes messenger half I'LL
conscious and a rifled dispatch bo
upon the floor He has given us n
coherent account of what has happen
ed yet, but it is quite certain that h
was attacked and robbed by Mr.. Field
ing"
"What was stolenT Spencer asked
Money!
mo; letter." Lord Runton answer
ed "De Rothe says very little, but
never saw man so broken up. H