, 1913-01-23

W. o.
n have been hsre six times since noon.n
Almost Immediately after some one
entered the waiting room, and,the next
moment l was facing a man / had
never seen before. He was tall, with
thin, colorless beard. trimmed to a Var
dyke point and pale eyes, blinking be
hind glasses. He had q soft hat crush
ed in bis hand, and his whole mannes
was one of subdued excitement.
"Mr. Knox" he asked from the door
way.
Yes. Come In
81 have been here six times since
noon,s' he said. dropping rather than
sitting In a chair. my name Is Light.
J foot. I am-was-Mr. Jennings cash
fer"
"Yes?"
81 was terribly shocked at the news
of his DEATH" he stumbled on, getting
no help from me. q was in town, and
IL | had known In time I could have
kept some Of the details out Of the pa.
pers. Poor Fleming-to think he would
end it that wayi"l
END itY,,
"Shoot himself" He watched me-
closely.
|tY But he didn't I protested, at was
not suicide, Mr.. Lightfoot. According
to the police 1t was murder"
His cold eyes narrowed like a cats.
Murder is an ugly word. Mr.. Knox
Don't let IS be sensational. Mr.. Elem
ing had threatened to kill himself more
than Once-ask young Wardrop. He
vas sick and Respondent; he left his
home without a word, which pointi
strongly to emotional insanity. he
could have gone to any one Of a hall
dozen large clubs here OF at the CAPT
tai. Instead. be goes to a little third
rate political club, where. presumably
he does his own cooking and hides In
a dingy room. q Is that sanef Murder.
1t was suicide. and that puppy War.
drop knOwssit well enough.
II have cen the police" he went On
'They agree with me that 1t was sui
eide. and the party newspapers will
straighten 1t out tomorrow. The Times
4 VOL hAt 40 DCbuOSAabASs Va SoaloC
| l can not handle"
"SuicideF" I said finally. with no
weapon, no powder marks and with a
half finished letter at his elbow"
he brushed my interruption aside.
"Mr. Fleming had been-careless,"
he said.at"I can tell youth confidence
that some Of the state funds had been
deposited In. the Borough bank of Man.
chester, andAthe Borough bank closed
its do0rs at 10 o'clock today.
81 arrived here last night, and ]
searched the city for Mr.. Fleming.
This morning y heard the news
have just come from the houses his
daughter referred me to you. After
all. what I want is a small matter.
Some - papersAstate adocuments-are
missing and, no doubt areHamong Mr..
Fleming's private effects. I would like
to go through his papers and leave TO-
night for the capital"
~ have hardly the authority" re-
piled doubtfully.4 Miss Fleming, Il
suppose, would have no objection. His
private secretary, Wardrop, would be
the one to superintend such a search"
"Can you find Wardrop--at onceT
Something In his eagerness put me
IN my guard.
II will make an attempt" l said.
"Let me have the name Of your hotel
andsl will telephone you II 1t can be
arranged for tonight"
Oddly enough, 4 could not a
I wardrop l got the Maitland house
by telephone, to learn that he had LEFT
there about 3 O'Clock and had not come
back.
| went to the Fleming house for din
ner. Edith still was there, and We
tried to cheey Margery, a sad little -1g'
ure in her black clothes. AFTER the
meal l called Lightfoot at his hotel and
told him that l could not find Wardrop
that there were no papers al. the house
and that the office safe wou have 70
wait until wardrop s'found to open
1t. He was disappointed and furious
From that minute in the struggle that
was coming. like Fred, Il was "for
ninst'' the government.
1t was arranged that Edith should
take Margery home with her Tor the
night. thought 1t a good idea. The
very sight Of Edith tucking In her ba'
bies and sitting down beside the libra
ry lamp to embroider me a scarfpin
holder would bring Margery back to
normal again. Edith is the sanest wo
man / know. | recognized 1t at the
dinner table, where she had the little
girl across from her planning her
Ihmourningi hats before the dinner wal
lahalf finished.