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

CHAPTER XII.
The sensation caused by the news
! that the dead body Of Maurice Aylmer
/ had been stolen was even greater than
! that occa stoned by the discovery of
! the murder Even the big papers took
! up the matter, and sent down report
ers to make Investigations and build
! up theories as to the reason of this
strange disappearance. Everywhere
people were talking of the matter.
! Would be detectives haunted the roads
and lanes round "Ashantee;" they
would have penetrated into the park
itself but for the vigilance of Major
/ Jen.
1t must be conceded that for an am
ateur the Major set about his unaccus-
! toned task in very methodical man
ner. He offered a reward of five thou
sand dollars for the detection of the
| murderer, and further sum of the
/ like amount to any one who should
discover the thief who had desecrated
! the chamber of death. These munifi-
| cent rewards set everybody on the
| alert and Jen, without putting down
| actual money. thus became possessed
! of some hundreds of spies who would
bring him any information likely to
assist him in his investigation. Also,
! the Major examined all the servants in
| the house. He questioned Sampson,
the young policeman who had been in
the kitchen on the night when the
body had been stolen; and finally he
! paid a visit to the police office, where
| he saw Mr.. Inspector Arkel
We'll. Arkel," said Jen, after the
first greetings were over, have you
any clue?"
NO, Major" replied Arkel. rather
gruffly for disappointment was begin
ming to tell on his temper. Nor are
we likely to find any until that SER
/ want of yours regains his senses. How
is he now?"
In state of high fever, poor SOUL
said Jen, with a depressed look. He
does nothing but rave Yet in all his
wild talk he never let's slip a single
word likely TO help US"
That's a pity Major BY the way, |
questioned DR.. EtwaId about the mat
ter, and he is of the opinion that the
man was stunned by a blow on the
head"
4 know that can only suppose
that Jaggard fell asleep at his post and
woke up In time to see the men getting
in by the window. A struggle would
then ensue and he would be struck on
the head, as Etwald supposes.
I don't agree with that theory
There are flaws IN It."
"Yes?" queried Jen, eagerly. Il am
open to correction. Please go on"
"Jaggard was drugged, sir"
But the wound at the back of the
head which stunned hfm?"
There you have it," cried ArkeI
The wound at the back of the head
was caused by his falling like log
when he was drugged"
Hin! This is all building on sand"
said Jen, doubtfully. Even to drug
him, these men must have entered by
the window"
No, do you not remember, when we
examined the window, that it was
opened from the insfde?"
"Egad, you are right Then you
think that some one must have been
concealed in the room, and strung out
from hiding to drug Jaggard."
No" said ArkeI again, no one was
concealed in the room"
"Confound it, man. you don't mean
20 say that Jaggard opened the win
dow" cried Jen, starting from his seat
with some show of temper.
'Ay, but | do. Major. Jaggard help
ed to steal the body of Mr. Aylmer
He opened the window to admit his ac-
complies. When they fulfilled their
task and got the body out of the room
they turned on Jaggard and betrayed
him. That is, they drugged him and
knocked him down"
L don't agree with YOU at all, Arxel
Jaggard is perfectly honest, and was
as devoted to Maurice as he is to me.
Besides, even granting the possibility
of such thing. which I do not in the
least why should Jaggard's accom-
plices betray him?"
L can't say" returned Arkel shrug-
ging his shoulders. They may have
been brtbed to steal the body, and on
accomplishing their task did not want
{ 70 share the bride with ia ggard!"
s. Rubbish said Jen. tartIy. They
must have known that he would betray
them when he recovered his senses
No doubt But in the meantime
they would make themselves scarce.
Jaggard has been insensibIe or raving
for over a week, Major The scoun-
drels counted on that"
say again that I believe in Jag
gard's honesty, and do not agree with
you, said Jen, putting on his hat, ',and
, after all. l do not see how you deduee
his drugging theory?"
Oh, as to that I was once a bit OF
/ chemist" explained ArkeI; and
when you took me to see Jaggard ]
5melt curious perfume which seemed
20 be hanging about him. AS a servant
S not likely TO use perfumes. 1 thought
t curious"
Did Etwald notice it?" asked Jen
skoughtfully.
Yes; but he processes his inability
% explain If. He thinks the man was
tunned, and not drugged. I think thai
was first drugged and then stun
led"
HIN; its queer! I'll have to thinl
it over. But when the body was raker
out of the window, ArkeI?"
The thieves carried it across the
lawn"
Then down through the bushes t.
hat winding lane, l suppose?" saiC
; Ten. Il know all that; but after
t wards,"
They put it into a cart and took +
way"