Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-15
THE GOLD BAG
CAROLYN WELLS.
Copyright. 1910. by ]. B. Lippincott
Company
Copyright. 1911. by ]. b. Lippincott
Company
CHAPTER II.-Continued.

/ felt there would be difficulty In in
gratiating myself at all. but l felt sure
that subterfuge would not help me, so l
spoke directly:
You are the coachman of the late Mr..
Crawford"
Yes, sir
Il hadn't really expected more than this
in words. but his tone was so decidedly
uninvitng of further conversation that l
almost concluded to say nothing more.
But the drive promised to be a fairly long
one so made another effort.
LAS the detective on this case, / wish to
hear the story of it as soon as / can.
Perhaps you can give me brief outline
of what happened
1t was perhaps my straightforward man
ner. and my quite apparent assumption
of his intelligence. that made the man re-
lax little and reply in more converse
tional tone.
Were forbidden to chatter, SIR he
said. but, bein' as you're the detective, l
S'pose there's no harm. But it's little We
know. after ALL The master was well and
sound last evenin', and this mornin he
was found dead in his own office chair"
You mean a private office in his
home?"
Yes. sir. Mr.. Crawford went to his
office in New York most every day, but
days when he didn't go. and evenin's and
Sundays. he was much in his offi.e at
home, SIR
Who discovered the tragedy
Il don't rightly know, sir, if 1t was
Louis, his valet, or Lambert. the butler,
but it was one or t'other, SIR"
Or both together" l suggested.
yes, sir, or both together"
rs any one suspected of the crime?
The man hesitated moment and looked
as if uncertain what to reply, then, as he
set his jaws squarely, he said:
Not as l knows on, sir"
Tell me something of the town., l OBJ
served next. feeling that it was better to
ask no more vital questions Of a servant
We were driving along streets of great
beauty. Large and handsome dwellings
each set in the midst of extensive and
finely kept grounds, met the view on
either side. Elaborate entrances opened
the way to wide sweeps of driveway cir
cling green velvety lawns adorned with
occasional shrubs flower beds. The
avenues We're wide, and bordered with
trees carefully set out and properly trim
med. The streets were in fine condition,
and everything betokened a community
not only wealthy. but intelligent and pub
lie spirited. Surely West Sedgwick was
delightful location for the homes Of
wealthy New York business men.
'Well SIR said the coachman. with
unconcealed pride. 'Mr. Crawford was the
head of everything in the place. His is
the handsomest house and the grandest
grounds. Everybody respected him ana
looked up to him.. He hadn't an enemy
in the world"
This was an opening for further con-
lecture as to the murderer, and I said:
But the man who killed him must have
been his enemy"
Yes sir; but I mean no enemy that
anybody knew Of. 1t must have been
some burglar or intruder
Though 1 wanted to learn such facts as
the coachman might know, his opinions
did not interest me. and / again turned
my attention to the beautiful residences
we were passing.
THAT place over there" the man went
on, pointing with his whip. SIS Mr.. Philip
Crawfords house-the brother of my mas
ter, sir. Them red towers, sticking up
through the trees, is the house of Mr..
Lemuel Porter. a great friend of both the
Crawford brothers. Next, on the left is
the home of Horace Hamilton, the great
electrician. Oh, Sedgwick is full Of we'll
known men, sir, but Joseph Crawford was
king of this town. Nobody'll deny that"
/ knew Of Mr.. Crawford's high standing
in the city, and now, learning of his local
pre-eminence, 1 began to think 1 was
about to engage in what would probably
be very important case.