Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-25
CHAPTER XII.

The sensation caused by the news
hat the dead body of Maurice Aylmer
had been stolen was eve greater than
that o%ccasioned 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 a very methodical man
ner. He offered a reward of five thou
sand dollars for the detection OF the
murderer, and a further sum of the
like amount to any one who should
discover the thief who had desecrated
the chamber of death, These munif-
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 h 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?"
mo. Major" replied Arkel. rather
grufly. 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 a state OF high fever. poor SOUL
said Jen. with a depressed look. H
does nothing but rave Yet in all his
wild talk he never let's slip a single
word likely to help u.s..
That's a pity, Major. BY the way, I
questioned DR.. Etwald about the mat
ter. and he is OF the opinion that the
man was TUNED by a blow on the
head"
II know that. I can only suppose
that Jaggard fell asleep at his post and
woke up in time to see the men getting
then ensue, and he would be struck on
the head, as Etwald supposes."
II dom agree with that theory.
There are flaws in It,"
"Yes?" queried Jen. eagerly. II am
open to correction. Please go on
"Jaggard was drugged, sir"
but the Gun at the back Of the
head which stunned him."
There you have it." cried Arkel.
The wound at the back of the head
was caused by his falling like a log
when he was drugged."
HIN! This IL 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 inside?"
"Egad. o are right. Then you
think that some one must have been
concealed in the room, and strung out
from hiding to drug Jaggard."
mo" said Arkel again, no one was
concealed in tho room"
"Confound 1t, man, you don't mean
to a that Jaggard opened the win
dow" cried Jen. starting from his seat
with some show of temper.
"Ay. but I do. Major. Jaggard help
ed to steal the body OF Mr.. Aylmer.
He opened the window to admit his ac-
completes. 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."
i don't agree with you at all. Arkel.
Jaggard Is perfectly honest, and was
az devoted to Maurice as he is to me.
Besides. even granting the possibility
OF such q thing, which 1 do not in the
least. why should Jaggard's accom-
plices betray him ~
4 can't say" returned Arkel. shrug-
cling his shoulders. They may have
been bribcd to steal the body, and on
accomplishing their task did not want
p = h bride with Jaggard!"
Ruhbish." said Jen. tartiy. They
must have known that HI would betfNy
lthem vtsn be recovered his ~ssnsss!s