The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-09-06

trowsy red giant, Murphy, mystery
within a mystery; for, though he
seemed to pervade 1t, there was no
point at which could discover him
quite touching 1t.
In vain | tried to detect a real con-
nection. started with the letters.
They bore no single characteristic
mark Of this uncouth creature. As an
artist he might have devised the curl
Gus silhouette signature, but there
was something about that--some cum
ming, inventive subtlety-whlch
could not reconcile with the ogre
had played upons stung to anger and
aroused to curiosity.
That he could either have con-
ceived or executed the ruin Of the
portrait did not believe possible.
The conception, like the letters and
the signature, bore evidence Of a
craftiness too fine for such as he; and
to fancy him, mammoth that he was,
stealing unobserved into Cameron's
stury, was to fancy the incredible.
And so, though the impression Of
intimate relationship persisted,
could find no point Of contact, closer
or more definite than through his
servants rifle practice, which after
all might have been quite without mo-
tive.
There was little, therefore, in the
line OF reason, to convict Murphy Of
any knowledge of the matters which
had so disturbed US. And yet, as
have said, | felt intuitively that he
possessed an intimate acquaintance
with the whole affair.
AT the Greenwich station, found
my touring car waiting; my mother
in the tonneau My chauffeur touched
his cap as / approached.
you may drive, Francois" / said,
and took the place at my mothers
side.
"You look tired, Philip" she an.
nounced when l had kissed her "Was
1t very warm in the city?" Her eyes
were ever quick to note inhnitesimal
changes in my appearance Of well
being
mot uncomfortable" answered,
indulgently Il had a very busy day,
though. But I'm not the less fit be-
cause Of it."
I'VE have had some little excite
ment here" she fastened, eager to
give me the news. "Old Romney
called you up on the telephone about
noon. l happened to answer 1t, my.
self, and when told him you were In
New York, and would not be back
until six, 1t just seemed he couldn't
walt to unburden himself. Won't you
please tell him, Mrs. Clyde, he said
that Mr., Murphy's Chinaman was
found at daybreak this morning, lying
dead, just outside Murphy's back
door,"
Found deadl" l cried, in amaze
ment.
"That is what he said. Then he
added that the poor fellows head had
been crushed with some heavy instru'
lent and that Mr.. Murphy had beer
arrested on suspicion and was in the
Cos Cob lookup"
For full minute, / think, | sat In
silent amaze. Then theories and con
lectures In infinite variety gave
chase, one after the other, through
my excited brain. But 1t was more
than ever difficult, / found, to reach
anything like satisfactory conclu
sion concerning the position the now
lifeless Celestial and his accused mas
ter held in the chain OF mysteries
wished so much to solve. That they
were both Of them more or less i'm
portant links, however, had small
doubt.
did you know Mr.. Murphy" my
mother asked. And all at once
realized that her question was a
repetition. In my absorption l had
not needed the original inquiry.
Nobody knows him." answered
echoing the words
voiced by the man In the catboat on
the previous night. Nobody knows
him. But I've met him in rather
casual way"