The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-06-21

nation about the late Mr.. de Mount
ford's past life, or his former friends"
Il know nothing" retorted Luke
Dryly. of my cousins past or present
life. He did no confide in me-"
But you We're good friends" inter-
posed the other quickly.
We knew each other very little"
And to~night?'
Il saw him at his club"
Where was that"
The Veterans in Shaftesbury ave-
nue."
About time?"
Between S N 81
You had some talk with him.
Yes"
Pleasant talk. asked the officer in
differently.
Family affairs rejoined Luke dry
ly.
And you parted from him.
Somewhere about s."
In the club"
in the club"
The door steps,
No. The lobby
He was alone then? l mean-be-
sides yourself was no one with him.
n one The hall porter stood there
of course
No one joined him afterward?"
Alot L I'LL soy. 4 f"h w"
from him he was lone"
You know that Mr.. Phillip de
Mountford was murdered in a taNicah
between Shaftesbury ven II Hyde
| Park corner. o after 9 o'clock"
Il AVE heard most of the details Of
| that extraordinary crime"
And you can throw no light on 1t at
| all?"
None. How could T."
Nothing insisted the police officer.
occurs to you at this moment that
might help us in any way TO trace the
murderer"
Nothing whatever"
The man was silent. 1t seemed as
if he was meditating how best to put
one or more questions. Up to now
these had been curt and to the point.
and as they followed n another In
quick succession there was a marked
difference in the attitude both of
the queStioner and the questioned.
The police officer had started by be-
ing perfectly Observation-Disclosures like a
man accustomed to speak with people
whose position in the world compelled
a certain regard. He had originally
addressed LUX as sir" just as he had
invariably aid my lord" to Lord
Radycliffe, but now he spoke much
more CURLY. There was a note of de-
mand in every question which he put,
a peremptoriness of manner which did
not escap the observation OF his in
terlocutOr.
AS the one man became more ag-
gressive so did Luke also change his
manner. There had been affable cour-
tesy in his first reply to questions put
to him, a desire to be of help If help
was needed. but with his senses at
tuned by anxiety and nerve strain to
distinguish subtle difference of manner
and of intention, he was quick enough
- - .LAA L.. ~-R xao a- st
were, in a witness box, with a counsel
ready enough to bully. or to trip up
any contradictory statement.
Not that Luke realized the reason
OF this change. The thought that he
could be suspected of a crime was as
far removed from his ken as the desire
to visit the NOON. He could not under
stand the officers attitude; it puzzled
him. n put him ON his guard blu
it was just the instinct of self preser-
walton, of caution, which comes to met
who have had 20 fight the world, and
who have met enemies where they least
expected to find one. ?
DO you remembtI," now resumed
lTravers. after that slight pause, which
had seemed very long to Luke, but as
=, a matter of fact had only lasted a short
l minute, whether you saw Mr.. Philip
de Mountford speaking with anyone
| when you left him ir the lobby of the
1 club"
Il told YOU said Luke impatiently
that he was alone, except for the hal
: porter"
Alone in the whole club house?'
Alone" reiterated Luke with mea-
t sured emphasis, lin the lobby of TIN
Veterans club"
: How many rooms has the club?'
II don't know; it was the first tim
e l had ever been there"
did you know any of the staff?'
"No-since / had never been there
3 before
J. You We're. not known to any member
of the staff?"
t Not tina l know of"
=, THE Veterans club is q new one ant
j, its rules apparently are not very strict
l asked if Mr.. de Mountford was in tn,
club and was told that l should fine
i him in the smoking room, and l did"
= How long did your interview viii
Mr.. de Mountford last?"
G About three-quarters of al hour,
should say"
And it was of a perfectly amicabl'
nature?"
"Of a perfectly Indifferent nature
corrected Luke.
"And after the interview wha die
: you do?"
Il walked out of the club"
But after that"
Il walked about"
I'm the fog?" This in an undisFuisct
d tone Of surprise.
I'm the fog"
"In what direction?"
Really" here rejoined Luke with
sudden show Of resentment, NIT
lTrayerS / fail to see how INV move