Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-18
Chapter U-Continued.

Chapter II-Continued.
why. the old man was found dead in
his library, lying on a couch. an ugly
bruise above his left temple. but no other
marks Of violence In evidence. The
physicians and police decided that the
wound was caused by a blow from a
blunt instrument. which. by the way.
was never found. II was evident enough
that he had not been killed while on the
couch. for there was not q drop OF blood
on anything except upon the body and
clothes. A curious feature of the affair.
too. was that q piece of oilcloth that no
one seemed able to identify had been put
under the old mans head. as II to save
the couch"
"A considerable criminal" commented
kilbourne with Q smile.
But another proof that the body was
taken to the couch some little time after
the murder was the fact that there was
OF the victim had had time to CONCEAL.
you see.''
Kilbourne nodded.
We'll. the nephew. Harrison Milbrath.
who had lived with Mr.. Somhers for
twelve years or more. seemed to be the
only person on earth with whom Mr..
Somhers ever had trouble. or who would
profit largely by his death, so. naturally,
suspicion pointed to him. Moreover. IL
was proved that on the very day OF the
Tragedy uncle ana nephew 0au 1nOulkeu
In q fierce disagreement. after which MIL
brath left the house with an expression
anything but pleasant on his face. No
one in the household. which consisted OF
only maid and q cook. besides the two
men (for Mr.. Somhers was a widower).
saw the young man again until the day
after the tragedy, when he returned from
Boston. where he swore that he had been
for eighteen hours. But there were wit
nesses who took their oath that he was
on the road between Winton and Over
look. a mile out OF the village. walking
toward home. within the time the physi-
clans testified that Mr.. Somhers must
have died. Unfortunately he didn't prove
his abb and he was found guilty. AT a
second trial. however. an eminently re-
spectacle and well known man-seems to
me it was a clergyman-testified that Mil
brath was with him I'm Boston at the time
Of the tragedy. That seemed to settle
the matter in the minds Of the jury. for
they returned a verdict OF acquittaL
HUM meditated Kilbourne, toying
with his oyster fork. did no one else
come under the shadow Of suspicion?"
Never a SOUL so far as l know. The
servants swore that no one called at the
house that day. not even tradesman.
Of a recluse and had no enemies"
who found the body?"
zone of the servants who went to an
nounce dinner. l believe IL was the house
maid"
IAN interesting case" commented Kill
bourne Say. but you are lucky. Bliss"
Then, after a moments pause, did
young Milbrath profit largely by his
uncle's death?'
ITO the tune Of something like a mil
lion. ! believe"
"A pretty penny for rainy day, hey!
Where Is he now?'
lon his way here. hope. / traced him
through his attorneys and sent mes
senger to the Oriental. at Manhattan
Beach, where he Is stopping. with q hint
of my purpose and an invitation to join
US here at dinner"
81 assume that he declined?"
HE answered that he would meet us
later-in the parlors at 3 o'clock. He
may. be able to lend me q hand somehow.
fancy that I'll need all the help that
clue not obvious may be lost"
"Humph!" shifted Kilbourne. con-
"A fine, faint-hearted lad
you are. Two years, indeed! II ever
there was q true clue face upward 1t is
well. IL two years doesn't seem long
to you. 1t does to me-" / answered. with
an assumption OF his own superiority.
THE die Is cast, however. I'll make that
twenty thousand dollars IL any skill of
mine avails."
Kilbourne shrugged his wide, gaunt
shoulders.
: Let me see your contract" he said.
produced 1t. He studied it for a min
ute and handed IL back.
This Summerfeld came prepared to Sc
cure your services. evidently, notwith-
standing the fact that he did not know
your manner"
You infer that from the fact that my
name is penned In the space left for q
name?"
Kilbourne nodded
We'll. he did not know either what
salary he'd have to pay. as doubtless
you've likewise observed No matter
what my personality, position or ability.
I was to be pressed into his service. A
very confident old man. II seems 10 me
and all because l CHANGED to write few
lines that pleased him.
$50 II appears. But ii would interest
me to know his reason for assuming
handwriting. this Mr.. Philander Summer
field. the cosmopolite
His handwriting assumed! What evil
dence have your" and 1 hastily unfolded
the sheet to see for myself.
Kilbourne put up his hand to hide
yawn.
:, Elmer" he said. with languid amuse-
ment "you are SO clever! BY Jove! You
fairly scintillate, Even you, IL you look
carefully. will be able to detect diner-
ence between the signature and the parts
SO neatly and so painstakingiy filled In by
hand. Yet they were undoubtedly done
by the same person"
'.Unquestionably, for 1 saw both writ
ten: and though the difference. except In
the size Of the letters, did not impress me
at the time. I see now that even their
formation differs somewhat
Precisely. 1t takes considerable rub
bling to polish your power OF observation.
as / learned long ago. but II will polish"
Thank you! II is comforting to know
that / am not hopeless. But Kilbourne.
1 recognize my limitations. and I've got
to have you at the helm. 1t was indeed.
the remembrance OF you that turned the
balance OF decision when the old man
pressed me-"
Kilbournes pale. thin face became
tinged with color about the high cheek
bones, and he lifted his deep-set dark
eyes in one penetrating glance. l knew
his susceptibility to fattery in the mat
ter Of his detective skill. but was not
making use Of my knowledge. as he saw.
There, There he demurred. but with
come to me about Winton- Mr.. Mcclure
lives there. IL I'm not mistaken. No, you
don't know Mr.. Mcclure. probably. un-
less by name. He's a good deal OF q
scientist in his line-an authority. ! be-
lieve, on the birds Of New England.
which he writes about. ! met him on the
steamer coming home four years ago. and
I was never so fascinated by q man of
his years before or since. I'll give you
a card to him. Whether he remembers
me or not, I'm sure he'll make you glad
that you met him. All! What Is this?'
1t was Harrison Milbrath's card. and as
we did not finger over the final touches
of our dinner we were soon standing be-
fore the young man.
He was q huge fellow, quite as broad
and taller even than kilbourne who