The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-15
Broken Hell
alSADyENTuRE OF PETER cREwE-sTnE MAN
I. WITH THE CAMERA EYEsy Z
:. B.y H.A.R 9 I p IA RTE R.

mot cunningly planned, but the Grim.
tnal almost escaped detection through
The stupidity Of the local police, who
framed q theory which exactly fitted
in with his desires; and, having
formed II. with characteristic obstin-
acy they stuck to 1t until 1t became
Y untenable BY; reason OF the confession
of The murderer himseli,
X, Sir George Taunton had been o
client Of nine, having extensive inter
ests An America. and It was partly to
advise with him concerning these that
] had Joined crewe in London. The
news Of Sir Georges death shocked
me greatly, for only the week prepl-
ously we had lunched together at his
Z London club when he appeared to be
the picture OF health and destiaed for
4 a ripe old age. When. therefore,
read sof HIS murder in the newspapers,
r. ] Immediately telephoned Crewe and
met him at the railway station. from
which we rode down to Little Whit.
tleheld together X
Sir George Taunton had been a re.
tired Egyptian official For nearly
twenty years he had given sup, brain
and body TO the good government Of
11nEland,s protectorate; and, with
chataeteristicT ingratitudeG the Egyp-
ttian agitators had selected him as the
butte their ridicule and vituperation.
Even when he5retired to his country
estate. to end his days In secusion,
4 among his, neighbors, his work in sup.
pressing the muiny at Awarba had
not been forgotten. AT the height Of
4 the recent agitation threats OF MUIR
s der, which had been made in the ma
tive press; had penetrated to Little
Whittle For some reason Sir
\ George was more hated in seclusion
than he had ever been In the activi-
ties, Of his official career, and his
death was looked upon as the ono
thing necessary to crafty the longing
for English blood which seemed to
possess a.portlon Of the native press.
4 The Taunton estate was situated in
Z a lonelyiia and remote part Of the west
country The 3highroad led past 1t
from the nearest town, Quantock, II
miles away. On the other side Of the
Queen Anne mansion was deep lake,
about a mile in width, and covered
with snow, beneath which lay, at this
y time, q good six inches of yice-for
the winter had been exceptionally Sc.
we're, Where the high road was
frarted by the great gates stood the
lodge Of Evans, the porter, q man who
had been for some years in Sir
Georges service and, although ad-
y idinted to altdior Was considered trust
worthy. 1t was Evans, together with
EFisherthe lerRtrpolic Ice chief WHO met
JUS at nc eta tion and toldSis the.faets
lconeetalhg the trs gedy!e AZ.
onst the morning of the previous day
his servants had found Sir George ly-
ing dead in his bed, knife in his
Z heart Upon his breast was clip
ping from newspaper, detailing
briefly the threats that had been made
a Iagainst the ex-official by member Of
the Egyptian revolutionists. Further
Imore, a stranger. a South European
as had at first been thought, but, In
4 the light OF later facts obviously an
Egyptian, had been seen during the
preceding week In Quantock, although
he had subsequently disappeared.
There was no doubt, said Fisher. that
this man was an agent of the revolu-
tionists, and that, having scaled the
y park wall, he had entered Sir Georges
: 3bedchamber aud murdered him. after
ward footing the house and escaping.
NO trace Of him had yet been found.
Then robbery was his object?"
asked crewe,
I'VE think It was an afterthought,"
). said Fisher. "Or perhaps he may havo
i decided to add robbery to the othe.
Z crime after entering the estate. He
removed all the silverware, quantity
ofsthe late Lady Taunton's jewels.
which Sir George kept in safe.
and
"How did he know that they were
in the safe?" asked Crewe, turning
his, gaze full upon Evans.
The porter flushed. "The safe was
8in'the bedroom" he said, dehantly. at
was easy to suspect there were jewels
inside"
And the peculiar thing said Fish.
ler, is that he took the things away
in q wheelbarrow.'
"a "a wheelbarrow?' said Crewe,
musing. swell, We must examine tho
;premises.'
That won't do you any good. gen.
y ltlemen," said Fisher. "The man Is
dead. and his barrow Is with his
body" ;@
4 Dead p queried Crewe.
L So doubt about 1t. though we're
bound TO make investigations on the
ION chance, Come with me, gentle
men, and I'll show you just how he
"A entered and how he died"
NJ Fisher led US to the eide entrance
4 All around the house We. the tracks
of the barrow-a single | :, cut by
# the front wheel In the snow.
Has 1t showed since the mur1er!"
Crewe demanded
mot a particle"
1; N u Then, n said Crewe, emphatic.lly,
Il. Il.