Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-05-05
CHApTER XI.-tContlnued.l J

CHAPTER Al--k kCOnlluueuJ
Isabella stepped out into the night,
and in a moment or two she was swal-
lowed up in the darkness with her
companion. Left alone, the Major
closed the window, bolted and barred
the shutters, and then fastened back
to the death chamber, where he rang
the bell. In a few minutes the foot
man, half dressed and half-asleep'
made his 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. SIN
gle glance showed them what had oc-
curred-the insensible Jaggard, the
empty bed. the open window A Babel
of voices ensued. Silence all OF you,
cried Jen, authoritatively. we must
act not talk. Two of you take Jaggard
to his room. Tell the groom to ride at
once for Dr. Etwald and Inspector
Sampson" he added, turning to the
policeman, who was stolidly staring at
the empty bed, rouse yourself. Take
lanterns and search for footmarks.
There must have been more than one
person to carry off a dead body
These directions We're obeyed at
once. The house, the grounds, the
whole wild night with its driving tenn
pest became radiant with light anu
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 fel-
low with suspicion; in the yellow light
of the lanterns, dimly through the
steady downpour of the rain, could De
seen pallid faces and scared express
sions. And while the men-folk secured
the house, the park, and the adjacent
lanes environing "Ashantee," the fe-
male servants, unnerved and hysterl-
cal. crowded together in the kitchen,
whispering over hastily prepared tea.
1t was wild night, and full OF the
vague horrors of death and mystery.
Ftwald 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 Whlch dl-
vided the lawn from winding ana
tortuous lane. This, tenebrous path
way even in the MONDAY, slipped eel
like through darkling trees to emerge
into the high-road quarter OF mile
away. Arkel was so long absent that
Ten could only surmise that he had
gone into this outward darkness; ana
on the Inspectors return it 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
len. "The flower bed beneath the lat
tice is trampled down. 1t was carried
across the lawn-for I 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 1t Is
too dark to note any further sign"
Nothing more can be done tonight
said len. gloomily. THE men have re-
turned dead tired but they have seen
nothing and no one"
I'VE must question your servant"
said Arkel He was stunned, l be-
lieve?"
Il can't say. I haven't examined him.
Stunned or drugged, suppose"
And where is Mr.. Sarby?" asked the
Inspector as they turned to leave the
room.
"Mr. 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"
mo. He had retired to bed" rejoin-
ed Jen. But as soon as l saw what
had taken place 1 called him up, and he
Jumped through the window to see if
he could espy any traces of the rob-
bers. Then the servants came, and l
sent for you"
Inspector Arkel left the room with
the Major to seek out Jaggard. and, If
possible. TO learn from him what had
occurred. But this they were unable
to 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 been
taken by surprise"
Undoubtedly" asserted Jen. read
ilv. "But he must also have been
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 a iesting
tone.
Because Maurice was an unusually
heavy man." replied the Major, and ne
could not have been carried of unless
by two men There may have been
three for all I know. But what is the
meaning Of it all?" cried Jen, in bewil-
dered dismay. why was the poor
lads body stolen?"
Resurrectionistsi suggested Arkel;
whereupon Major Jen shuddered.
Don't even hint at such a thing" he
cried. vehemently. TT would be too
terrible: and. as it happens. quite un-
believable It is incredible that such
q thing could occur nowadays"
1T is incredible that such a thing
as the theft Of a body should occur"
said Etwald. dryly. Yet it has taken
place. But where is Mr. Sarby? I
should think that he would be present
10 aid you"
Jen was just about to repeat his
feigned explanation regarding David's
absence. when the door opened and the
young man, wet and exhausted. entered