Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-02-17
CHAPTER IN.


While the Major, hardly able to
credit his own eyes, was staring at the
dead body Of his dear lad, Jaggard, at
tracted also by the strange cry, came
running up.
What is it, sir?" he asked, saluting
Jen even in that moment of anxiety.
I heard an awful cry, sir. and came
after YOU"
Jen pointed to the corpse, but said
nothing, Jaggard, ignorant of the
the truth, bent down to place a hand
on the dead mans heart. Then he
saw and recognized the face.
Mr. Maurice! What does it mean ?"
ne cried. aghast with sudden horror.
1T means murder, Jaggard!" re-
piled Jen. in. hollow voice which he
hardly recognized as his own. Mr..
Maurice went to Deanminster before
dinner, and now" the Major point
ed again to the remains.
'NIurder!" echoed Jaggard. his rud-
dy face going pale. And who, sir
"
Il don't know can't say!" inter
rupted his master, impatientIy. Go
and get the men to bring down a
stretcher for the body, and send the
groom for DR.. Etwald"
Amt it too late sir?"
do as l tell you" said Jen, so fierce
~ that Jaggard did not dare to DISC
hey, but ran off. leaving the Major
alone with his dead.
The road which ran past Asian
tee" towards The Wigwam was lonely
even in the daytime, and at this hour
of the night # was quite deserted. Not
8 person was in sight, although the
Major could see up and down the road
for a considerable distance, owing to
the bright moonlight. He raised Maui
rice in his arms. and placed the body
on the soft grass by the wayside.
In the bright moonlight he carefully
examined the body, but could find no
trace of any wound until he came to
the right hand. Here, in the palm. he
saw a ragged rent clotted with blood,
but it was a mere scratch not likely
to have caused death. unless poison
we're Here Major Jen rose to his
feet with a new and terrible idea in
his brain.
The devil-sticE." he said. aloud.
Again he bent down and examined
the face and hands. Both were swoI-
len and discolored; he tore open the
shirt IT the neck. and saw that the
young mans breast was all distended
and bloated. Undoubtedly the cause of
death was bIood-poisoning, and the
devil-stick had been the instrument
used to effect the deed. But here the
problem proposed itself: Who had
killed Maurice? The person who had
stolen the deyil-stickl Who had sto-
len the devil-stick? The person who
Major Jen came to an abrupt pause
He could think, for q moment, of nc
answer TO that question; but it is only
fair to say that, dazed by the terrible
occurrence Of his dear lads death, Jer
had not his wits about him.
While he was still considering the
affair in a confused manner Jaggard
reappeared with the men from
"Ashantee" carrying a stretcher While
they placed the body of Maurice there
on, the groom bound for Deanminstel
passed them driving the dog-cart. an6
Major Jen stopped the man to tell him
that at all risks he was to bring bach
DR.. Etwald with him. Jaggard Won
dered at this, for Maurice-poor lad
was beyond all earthly aid-but Jer
was thinking OF 8 certain person who
might have committed the crime, an6
he wished for the aid of Dr. EtwaId Il
capture that person. In the mean
time the necessities of the case called
for the immediate removal of the body
to Ashantee." 1t was a melancholy
procession which bore the body up tc
the house. and behind came Major
Jan bowed to the ground with sorrow