Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-03-03
CHAPTER NI-CCoptfpued.l

the bELI- III a lew minutes III -SS~
man. half dressed and half-asleep,
made mis- appearance; then came the
policeman. hastily, from the kitchen'
finally. as the bell still continued ring
ing all the other servants. male ana
female poured into the room. A sin
gle glance showed them what had oc-
curred-the insensibIe Jaggard' the
empty bed. the open window. Ba gel
Of voices ensued. silence, all Of YOU
cried Jen. authoritattvely. We must
act. not talk Two of you take JagSard
to MS room. Tell the groom to ride at
once for DR.. EtwaId and Inspector
Sampson" he added turning to the
policeman. who was stolidly staring at
the empty bed rouse yourself. rake
lanterns. and search for footmarks.
There must have been more than one
person to carry off dead body.
These directions were obeyed at
once. The house, the grounds, the
whole wild night with its driving tenn
pest became radiant with light ana
alive with terrified men. That hu-
man being should be murdered was
sufficiently CHASTITY without this crown :
Ing horror of a missing body coming
after Every man looked on his Eel
low with suspicion; in the yellow llSnt
of the lanterns. dimly through the
steady downpour of the rain, could be
seen palIid faces and scared express
sfous. And while the men-folk secured
the house. the park, and the adjacent
lanes environing "Ashantee," the re-
male servants un-~ rived and hysterl-
cal. crowded together in the kitcheh'
whispering over hastily prepared tea.
ii was wild night, and full of the
vague horrors of death and mystery.
Etwald came Immediately in com
panv with Arkel, whom this last extra
ordinary event took entirely by sur
prise He questioned Sampson-he
searched the chamber of death, stepped
out Of the window and across the lawn
towards the belt of laurels which dl-
vided the lawn from winding and
tortuous lane. This, tenebrous path
way even in the monday, slipped eel
like through darkling trees to emerge
into the high-road a quarter of a mile
away ArkeI was so long absent that
Jen could only surmiSe that he had
gone into this outward darkness; and
on the Inspectors return 1t appeared
that the Major was right in his con-
lecture. Furthermore, Arkel brought
back certain news.
Without doubt the body was taken
out through the window" he said to
Jen. The fiower-bed beneath the lat
tice is trampled down. It was carried
across the lawn-for | could see by
the light Of the lantern the footmarks
of four feet-and through the bushes
into the lane. The way can be traced
easily enough to that point; but it is
too dark to note any further sign"
Nothing more can be done tonight,
said Jen, gloomily. The men have re
turned dead tired, but they have seen
nothing and no one"
we must question your servant,
said ArkeI He was stunned, l be-
lieve2"
Il can't say l haven't examined him.
Stunned or drusged, I suppose"
Ana where is Mr.. Sarby?" asked the
Inspector. as they turned to leave the
room
MIR. Sarby went out as soon as we
discovered the loss, and he has not yet
returned"
WAS he with you when You made
the discovery"
NO He had retired to bed" rejoin-
ed Jen. But as soon as I saw what
had taken place l called him up. and he
Jumped through the window to see il
he could espy any traces of the rob
bers. Then the servants came, and
sent for YOU"
Inspector Arkel left the room with
the Major to seek out Jaggard, and. il
possible to learn from him what had
occurred. But this they were unable
"a do The man had been stunned by
a blow on the head, and was quite in
sensible
And yet he was a strong man.
said Etwald. when he conveyed this
intelligence. He must have beer
taken by SURPRISE
Undoubtedly" asserted Jen, read
lily. But he must also have beer
asleep. else he would have called out
as the men burst through the window
How do you know there were more
than one?'' asked Etwald. in jestfng
tone
Because Maurice was an unusually
heavy man." replied the Major. and he
could not have been carried off unless
by two men. There may have beer
three for all I know But what is the
meaning of it all?" cried Jen. in Devil
dered dismay why was the pool
lads body stolen %
Resurrectionists!" suggested ArlleI:
whereupon Major Jen shuddered.
Don't even hint at such a thing" he
cried, vehemently. 1t would be toe
terrible: and. as it happens, quite I'M
beHevable. 1t is Incredible that such
thing could occur nowadays"
1T is incredible that such thina
as the theft of a body should occur
said Etwald. dryly. Yet it has taker
place. But where is Mr.. Sarby?
should think that he would be present
to aid YOU"
Jen was just about to repeat his
feigned explanation regarding David,s
absence. when the door opened and the
youug man, wet and exhausted, entered
the room. To give him his cue. the
Major spoke to him at once.
You are just In time. David. as
was telling these gentlemen about YOU
hunt after these wretches. Did YOU SCI
anyone?"
4 saw nothing" said David. YEARLY
4 am quite puzzled"
And no wonder" said Etwald
counting off events on his fingers. tTh
devil-stick, the murder. the theft o
the body. This is a catalogue OF hor
rors. 4 man might do worse thai
write a sorry on these things"
I agree with you," remarked tn
Major. sharply. "A man might make
jest of these horrors-as you are do
ms"
4 assure you never felt less Xix
Testing in my life" replied Etwald
colby. But it is no use discussint
such a thing at in the morning.
YOU can do without me. Major. I shall
return home. I am tired"
But Jaggard?" asked David, risini
stiffly from his chair
He is all right for the time being
/ have detailed a housemaid as nurse
and she knows what TO do. I'll com
in, +ha nd h., \,