The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-01-19

Wv NJ xada
stains, you see, and the hole made by
the dirk. I tried to bring away the
entire pillow, but they thought was
stealing 1t, and made me give 1t up"
Richey touched the pieces gingerly.
"By George he said, "and you carry
that around in your pocket! What IL
you should mistake it for your hand.
kerchief?"
But Mr.. Hotchkiss was not listen
ing. He stood bent somewhat for
ward, leaning over the table, and fixed
me with his ferret-like eyes.
Have you seen the evening papers,
Mr.. Blakeley?" he inquired.
glanced to where they lay I'M
opened, and shook my head
"Then have a disagreeable task"
he said with evident relish. "Of
course, you Id considered the matter
of the man Harrington's death closed,
after the wreck. did myself. AS far
as / was concerned, I meant to let II
remain so. There were no other sur
vivors, at least none that knew OF,
and in spite of circumstances, there
were number Of points in your IA
vor.
~ verified your identity, for in
stance, as soon as recovered from
the shock. Also-I found on inquiring
of your tailor that you invariably wore
dark clothing"
Mcknight came forward threatening
ly who are you, anyhow" he de-
manded. And how is this any bust
ness of yours?" Mr.. Hotchkiss was
entirely unruff1ed.
Il have a minor position here" he
said, reaching for a visiting card. u
am very small patch on the seat OF
government. sir"
Mcknight muttered something about
certain offensive designs against the
said patch and retired grumbling to
the window Our visitor was opening
the paper with a tremendous expendt
ture of energy
Here it is. Listen" He read rap
idly aloud:
1.-THE Pittsburg police have sent to
Baltimore two detectives who are
looking up the survivors of the ILL
fated Washington Filler. 1t has trans.
pired that Simon Harrington, the
Wood street merchant of that city.
was not killed in the wreck, but was
murdered In his berth the night pre-.
ceding the accident Shortly befora
the collision, John Flanders, the CON
ductor of the Filler, sent this telegram
to the chief of police:
Body of Simon Harrington found
stabbed in his berth, lower ten, On
tario, at $3.50 this morning.
"'JOHN FLANDERS, Conductor.
"It is hoped that the survivors Of
the wrecked car Ontario will be found
to tell what they know of the discov
cry of the crime.
mfr. John Gilmore, head Of tho
steel company for which Mr.. Harring
ton was purchasing agent, has signified
his intention of Sitting the matter to
the bottom"
$50 you see," Hotchkiss concluded
there's trouble brewing. You and ]
are the only survivors of that unfor
tunate car"
I did not contradict him, but knew
of two others, at least: Alison West
and the woman we had left beside the
road that morning, babbling incoher
emily, her black hair tumbling over
her white face.
Unless we can find the man who
occupied lower seven," l suggested
81 have already tried and failed. TIE
find him would not clear you, OF
course, unless we could establish some
connection between him and the muir
dered man. 1t Is the only thing i
see, however / have learned this
much" Hotchkiss concluded: Lower
seven was reserved from Cresson."
Cresson! Where Alison West and
Mrs Curtis had taken the train!
Mcknight came forward and sud
denly held out his hand. "Mr. Hotch
kiss" he said, Tim sorry if | have
been offensive. I thought when you
came in, that, like the Irishman and
the government, you were forninst
us. II you will put those cheerful
relics out of sight somewhere, should
be glad TO have you dine with me al
the Incubator" Ellis name for his
bachelor apartment.) Compared with
Johnson, you are the great origina'
protoplasm."
The strength of this was lost on
Hotchkiss, but the invitation wai
clear. They went out together, and
from my window I watched them get
into Meningitis car. 1t was raining
and at the corner the Cannonbal
skidded. Across the street my detect
i've, Johnson, looked after them with
his crooked smile. As he turned VI
his collar he saw me. and lifted his
hat
left the window and sat down IN
the growing dusk. So the occupant Of