Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-10

Then, reverently, but with a certain in
congruity of action which surprised .
me, even at the time. he took one of .
the dead mans hands in his. turned it /
palm upward, and passed his own
hands lightly and caressingly across it. /
You are satisfied as to the identity, .
Mr.. Langton?" asked Randall, the sec .
rotary.
Il see no reason to doubt It," l an
swered. Il can assure you that the
Salamander Life Insurance company is
not likely to withhold payment upon
the ground that proof of death is miss
ing. The evidence OF identity appears
conclusive, and after the compliance
with a few formalities the money will
/ be turned over to the executors. And
now, If your lawyer is. at hand, l
should like to go through the form of
/ inspecting the dead mans papers"
/ "Of course, Of course" said Randall,
a little nervously. as | thought. I'VE
can do no more good here; let US re-
turn to the New Hague hotel"
My purpose was merely to discover
whether the dead man had paid his
premiums regularly; the remainder OF
his affairs did not concern me. ! found
the insurance papers in good order,
and that the policy had been made out
ito estate" Randall. as the executor,
would, therefore, receive the $3.50, 900.
did Sir Moresby have a photo
graph" asked Crewe. as we sat in the
millionaire's rooms and looked through
his belongings.
He did not bring any to this coun-
try" said Randall. But, Of course.
there are the newspaper snapshots"
he added, 'if you want one"
While we talked ! perceived that
Crewe was wandering, a little restless
ly, around the room. Once or twice he
halted and seemed to be inspecting
some of the personal belongings of Sir
Moresby closely. Upon a small table
lay an old pair OF gloves of thin kid,
and unlined. What was my astonish-
ment TO see Crewe slip one of these
into his pocket while RandalPs back
was turned.
There seemed no more to be done.
went away and reported to the general
manager Of the Salamander that pay
ment ought to be made, subject to the
two weeks of delay that the policy pro-
vided for. There seemed to be no mys-
terry in the case at all.
was therefore considerably sur
prised when Crewe telephoned me that
afternoon TO come over at once, but
first to telephone the Salamander peo-
pie to postpone payment for a couple
Of weeks. AS this was to be done in
! any event did not find it necessary to
take up the subject with the general
/ manager again, but went straight to
, Crewe's apartments, which were stu
ated In modest block upon Twenty
: second street. ! found him at the door
p his hands dripping with purple dye.
? What on earth have you been do,
( ing?" l asked.
Then I perceived that a great bowl
] OF the dye stood in the center of his
table, in which floated Sir Moresbys
/ glove, turned inside out and of an in
r tense purple hue.
'Iangton," he said, I'VE must have
Randall watched ceaselessly until the
3 moment of his departure for Arizona. >
D How do you know he is going &c
+ Arizona?" l asked.
Because Sir Moresby cannot &c
S now" said Crewe the jest appeared
D little out OF place to me. Can yoy
+ have your company make out a checl
q to him for the full amount and immedi
/ ately telephone to the bank suspendinl
q payment"
t TT could be DONE said. But un
T less there were urgent reason for suct
| q course of action it would lead to mos
1 unpleasant complications"
Nevertheless It is the only way
e said Crewe. Randall will loaf around
r. New York until be gets the money. H,
5 won't disclose his hand until the ulti
d mate moment. All our detective worl
a must be done in the interval between
e the reception Of the check and the pre-
sentation OF it for payment He will no
e wait an unnecessary moment after tn,
s check has been received"
II do you mean to suggest that h,
murdered Sir Etoresby for the insur
r. ance ," queried
u IN a way-yes,' said Crewe. "W,
n must have detectives upon his trail
every moment henceforward."
/. The police"
e ''Emphatically not" said Crewe. a.
n private agency. who will not be tempt
n ed to play up the sensational POSSIBLE
ties and will know enough to keeI
lie their mouths shut. II is essential tina
y. Randall shall suspect nothing. And
is think that, On the day of payment, VI
a shall arrest the gang Of conspirators.
At That was all could get him to say
L That same evening a couple of deteC
ID tives were placed upon Randall's trail
r with Instructions to shadow him whel
ever he went. Meanwhile I arrange
/, with the Salamander company to pa
lie the check upon the fourteenth day, an
TO Immediately suspend payment
at He will not get into touch with hi
OF confederates until the check has bee
e. actually received" said Crewe Ne,
he ertheless. If there is anything to b
Of learned, II will be as well to have hiI
Swallowed"
he But as we expected, nothing came G
w the shadowing. Randall attended tn
re funeral of the dead man on the thir
e. day afterward, attired in deepest bIac