The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-05-11

much overcome by his discovery to
know what TO think or do. What
dreadful tragedy could have hap
pened: Carefully cropping along the
mantelpiece. he at last found the cleo.
trio button and turned on the light.
There, stretched out on the floor. lay
Underwood, with bullet hole in his
left temple. from which blood had
flowed freely down on his full-dress
shirt 1t was a ghastly sight The
mans white. set face. covered with
crimson stream. made repulsive
spectacle, On the door near the body
was highly polished revolver. still
smoking
Towards frst supposltion was that
burglars had entered the place and
that Underwood had been killed while
defending HIS property. He remem.
bered row ;aat In his drunken sleep
be had heard voices In angry alterca.
ton. Yet why hadn't he called for
assistance? Perhaps he had and he
hadn't heard him.
He looked at the clock. and was
surprised to find 1t was not yet mid.
night. He believed 1t was at least
ave o'clock In the morning. It was
evident that Underwood had never
gone TO bed. The shooting had &C.
Cured either while the angry dispute
was going on or after the unknown
visitor had departed. TIE barrel OF
the revolver was stIll warm. showing
that 1t could only have been dis.
charged a few moments before. Sud.
denly 1t flashed upon him that Under.
wood might have committed suicide.
But It was useless to stand there
theorizIng. Something must be done.
He must alarm the hotel people or
call the police He felt himself turn
hot and cold by turn as he realized
the serious predicament In which he
himself was placed. II he aroused
the hotel people they would find him
here alone with dead man. Suspi.
cion would at once be directed at him,
and 1t might be very difficult for him
to establish his innocence. Who would
believe that he could have fallen
asleep in bed while man killed
himself In the same room? 1t sounded
preposterous. The wisest course for
him would be to get away before any.
body came.
Quickly he picked up his hat and
made for the door. Just as he was
about to lay hand on the handle there
was the click OF latchkey. Thus
headed on. and not knowing what to
do. he halted in painful suspense.
The door opened and a man entered.
He looked as surprised to see How.
ard as the latter was TO see him. He
was clean-shaven and neatly dressed.
yet did not look the gentleman. His
appearance was rather that OF serv-
ant. All these details flashed before
Towards mind before he blurted out:
Who the devil are your
The man looked astonished at the
question and eyed his interlocutor
closely. as II in doubt as to his identi-
ty. In q cockney accent he said
loftily:
Il am Ferris. Mr.. Underwood's man,
sir" suspiciously. he added: Are
you friend OF Mr.. Underwood's, sir?"
He might well ask the question, for
Towards disheveled appearance and
CHASTITY face. still distorted by terror.
was anything but reassuring. Taken
by surprise. Howard did not know
what to say. and like most people
questioned at disadvantage he an
swered foolishly:
Matter? No What makes you
think anything is the matter?"
Brushing past the man. he added:
ITS late. I'm going"
Stop q minute!" cried the man
servant, There was something in
Towards manner that ne did not like.
Passing quickly into the sitting room.
he called out: stop minute!" But
Howard did not stop. Terror gave
MIN wings and, without waiting for
the elevator. he was already hall way
down the first staircase when he
heard shouts behind him.
Murder! Stop thief! Stop that
man. Stop that mani"
There was rush ef feet and hum
OF voices. which made Howard run
all the faster. He leaped down four
steps at time in his anxiety to get
away But it was no easy matter de-
scending SO many flights OF stairs. It
took him several minutes to reach the
main floor.
By this time the whole hotel was
aroused. Telephone calls had quick.
ly warned the attendants. who had
promptly sent for the police. By the
time Howard reached the main en-
trance he was intercepted by a mob
too numerous to resist.
Things certainly looked black for
him. AS he sat, white and trembling.
f,VIar or,yard L.