The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-04-28

1& 81 up here that will interest
~ - you, believe Something
mighty queer. Can you
make it," Where are you, doctor?"
Neutrality-suspicious. Madison avenue.
Ask for me or Mrs. Mitchell-that's
the name of the woman who Owls
the house. Be up right away? o. X.
I'll wait"
The foregoing was a telephone in
terchange between Inspector Ftnney
valentine at police headquarters ard
Doctor Zabriskie at the uptown ad-
dress named. The latter was prac-
Using physician and also one Of the
city coroners.
While Inspector Valentine is on his
way to No. S24 we may rapidly review
the tragic occurrence which demand
ed the presence Of New York's chief
of detectives.
That very morning a certain Mr..
Caleb Winnett had been found dead
In a swivel-chair before his desk in
the back parlor of the Madison ave
nue. house-a respectable domicile in
the "brown-stone district" Doctor
Zabriskie had been Immediately sent
for In his capacity Of private prac-
titioner; that he was also one of the
medico-legal officers of the great city
enabled him to act at his discretion
and without publicity until he had
consulted with his old friend, FinIey
Valentine, whose one hobby it was to
be first in the field when some ap-
parent crime had been committed be-
fore the case was muddled by I'M
skillful subordinates on his staff
The residence on Madison avenue
was owned and had been run as
high-class clearinghouse by the Mrs.
Michel afore mentioned. For the last
twelve years her chief guests had
been Caleb Winnett and his niece,
Zenith Winnett. BY degrees and at
the request Of the former, cher board.
ers had been gradually eliminated,
until uncle and niece were the sole
inmates outside of Mrs. Michel and
her step-son, a young man named
Felix Carnaby
AS may perhaps be inferred, Caleb
Winnett was eccentric and rich; how
rich no one knew. He occupied the
parlor floor suite, consisting of three
rooms, front. middle and rear extern
! aioss the first as a sitting Of recep-
ton room, the second as an office, the
third as a sleeping chamber. Miss
Winnett slept upstairs on the second
floor. 1t was generally understood
though the definite terms were known
only to Mrs. Michel and Mr.. Win
nett-that the latter paid well for the
privilege Of being her star lodger
Caleb Winnett was ostensibly a man
of independent fortune; he followed
no regular business-that Is, he was
not "in the street" or engaged In any
mercantile affairs. Yet there was a
pretty constant stream Of callers at
S24 Madison avenue-both men and
women, young and old, many Of whom
came in private carriages, taxicats,
or motor cars, and at various hours,
day and night.
Mrs. Michell's interest lay in be-
Ing close-mouthed, as Caleb Winnett
had often cautioned her. And yet
one scarcely knows how these things
get QUIT was currently rumored
that the tall old man with the stoop
shoulders. the long iron-gray hair, and
the hawk.like face and nose, was a
money-lender at cent.per-cent rates Of
Interest," veritable New York replica
Of London's master money.lender,
Sam Lewis, of savory memory. And
rumor was not far out of the way.
Caleb Winnett was a plethorio spider,
fattening and gloating over the money
difficulties Of rich mems sons who
had exceeded their allowances. Of
silly women whose losses at bridge
compelled them to borrow at ruinous
rates or to hypothecate their jewels.
or of plungers on street" or track
who needed to replenish their bank
rolls. All of this was true; Caleb
Winnett had made the business pay
to the extent Of being many times a
millionaire. Likewise the necessities
of his unfortunate clients had time
and again put him In the possession
Of ruinous secrets.
And now he was dead-dying the
death Of lonely and hated old man.
Even as there had been something
mysterious and sscretive about his
life, so there was more than suspicion
as to the manner Of his taking of.
Doctor Zabriskie met Inspector
Valentine at the door topping the
high stoop, and led the way to the
rear apartment on the parlor floor
which had been the old usurer's bed.
room. So far no undertaken had been
called; Zabriskie and Mrs. Michel be.
tween them had carried the body TO
the bed. Coat, vest and shirt were
partly open as they had been left
after the physicians examination.
Doctor Zabriskie was the first to
speak. II was called about an hour
ago" he said, land found him dead
in his chair in the middle room. Life
had been extinct for at least eight