Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-08


itinerant vegetable vendor. had be-
come, first a merchant prince, then q
company promoter, finally million
aire. having a mansion in Park Lane
and interests in a dozen ventures a:
over the globe. Thousands of poor in
vestors blessed him when his comra-
MES declared their annual dividends OF
twelve and fifteen per cent. In his
coronation year the late king had
knighted him. And now, immensely
prosperous, pompous and self-sufficient,
Sir Moresby had come to America to
Interest meself in the development OF
your magnificent but unprogressive
west" as he phrased it to the reporters
who met him when the ship locked
In New York harbor.
Mining ventures were the cause OF
Sir Moresby's visit to America. He
purpossd to develop 'all the mineral
resources of Harizona, including bis
muth, copper, and hantimony." Ii ST:
Moresby's his were tri1e superiuous.
his pocketbook was evidently in the
right place He was condescendingIy
atfable 10 his visitors, and. after regis
tering at the New Hague hotel. an
nounced his intention of doing" the
town alone, in order to rediscoVer
America.
His little, rat-like English secretary,
who had accompanied him, afterward
conducted the reporters to the magniii-
cent Offices in a Fifth avenue building,
which had just been opened to accom-.
modate the American branch of Sir
Moresby's business, and where two
dozen recently employed clerks were
busily opening letters and filing appii'
cations for shares along the sides OF
the new mahogany table.
1t was with establishment, therefore,
that, on opening my morning paper on
the day after the millionaire's arrival,
/ saw, in great, black headlines, the
announcement of his death.
He had gone out alone, to "redis
cover America" on the preceding even
ing, and, when he did not return short
ly before midnight, his secretary be.
came alarmed and telephoned the po-
brought into the morgue, dripping wet
from the cold waters of the East
river. The skull was fractured and the
face beaten almost out of all recogni-
ton; but the clothes identified the
man beyond all doubt. Sir Moresby
had evidently been struck down from
behind while proving in the unsaVory
purlieus of the East side, robbed oil
money, watch and chain and jewelry
and flung into the stream, which
washed him ashore opportunity in the
vicinity of the police patrol station.
Hardly had l laid down the paper
when there came ring at my te'e
phone. I took the receiver off the
hook and heard the agitated voice O.
the general manager of the Salaman
der Life Insurance company, for which
acted as lawyer.
'I.angton," he called, 'have you seer
the account Of the murder of Sil
Moresby Blount?'
Yes" called back. What of it,"
What of it? My God, Langton, h
insured last month with our English
branch for two hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars"
Ten minutes later the manager wa:
in my office and urging me to look int
the matter. There might be some mis-
take, he said. 1t might be suicide, il
which case the policy would be invaii
dated. There might be some flaw il.
the policy, or the premiums might
have lapsed. They had cabled to their
English branch; meanwhile would
proceed to the New Hague hotel and
see the dead mans secretary?
| summoned Peter Crewe over the
telephone. If there were any mystery
Crewe could clear it up. With his
wonderful optical powers, which hac
already helped me in solving many
mystery, knew that I could have
chosen no better confidant.
met him by appointment at The
door of mis- hotel. Crewe, however, was
not disposed to see any prospect o
helping the company.
1T looks like clear case Of murder
Langton," he said, "and between yol
evade their responsibilities"
But you'll come with me?" urged
Gladly" said Crewe. And if there
is any legitimate way in which | can
serve your interests you may count on
me-"
At the entrance to the New Hague
hotel we ran into the little secretary
Randall, whom I recognized from his
photograph, which had been published
In the newspapers. had expected that
he would not be over-zealous in assist
ing me, but to my surprise he placed
himself at my service in the most cor
dial manner.
II have to go back to the morgue,
he said, land you had better come
along with me. There is, am sorry to
say, no doubt but that the body is that
OF Sir Moresby. Even If could not
swear to the features-which am pre-.
pared to-the clothes would prove the
identity beyond all possibility OF
doubt"
It was no pleasant sight to see the
millionaire, lately so self-suficient, now
compressed into that narrow measure
of man" Crewe, standing beside me,
looked hard upon the battered features.
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 il