The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-30
The Fortunes of the LandrayS
ssrc By Vaughan Kester Author ~. Ts s ' Tsnss. .
Author Of The FrodtgA Judge"
-yust and the Unjust" etc

aereu AZ nc recalled that day but tne
general had not been engulfed by any
such rush of. sentiment. His con-
science was singularly inactive; not
a line of his bad old face showed emo
ton. He was eating and drinking
with undated relish. perhaps Ii had
not occurred 10 him that out OF his
part in that days doings, tragedy
had come.
Yes. remember the child, repeat
ed the lawyer.
Well" said Wade. "Reddy's near
est neighbor is this man Rogers son
Impossible, cried Benson
why impossible, Mr.. Benson"
said Wade.
Because the boy was killed along
with the others, Ben"
1T seems not said Wade Hes
furnished pretty conclusive evidence
! that he is very much alive. He's just
sent through Reddy a bundle OF old
papers that belonged 10 Stephen Ian.
dray"
The knife dropped from Bensons
hand with a noisy clatter. He uttered
an angry exclamation. but recovered
himself Immediately. II seemed an
hNNiuChb, AhOuBH ldlcT tdCu VI VIC
three men present at his table re-
membered the circumstance.
What were these papers, do you
know" he gave Wade a sharp glance.
Il don't" said Wade, and he met his
glance frankly. But II seems they
were papers that Stephen Landray
gave the boy the day he was killed.
He wanted them sent to his wife,
but they fell into the hands OF a third
party, and Rogers only recently recov-
cred them. In the meantime he APP
pears 10 have forgotten all about
them. II will be rather startling 70
Mrs. Landray TO receive them after
all these years"
Il still think there must be some
mistake" said Benson. "As you are
Mrs. Landray's lawyer you'd better al.
wise her TO be cautious in dealing with
this man Rogers. or course. Critten-
don Is perfectly honest and we'll mean
ing In the matter"
Wade looked at the older man with
a puzzled smile. This struck him as
the absurdest Of theorizIng. the most
primitive OF suspicious. II was the
first weak spot he had ever detected
in the lawyers Judgment. II was more
than primitive. 1t was positively child
ish.
Perhaps you were not aware that
visited the scene OF the massacre;
was accompanied by a-man who had
taken part in the fight. and who as
sured me that every member OF the
party but himself had been killed by
the Indians. AS he afterward buried
the bodies. It is scarcely likely that
he could have been mistaken
But II seems he was-that is, am
going on the assumption that the pa
pers are what they purport to be. A
point, OF course. that only Mrs. Ian
dray can settle.
The lawyer gave him a frankly hos
tile glance. 1t angered him that Wade
should abide by his own conclusions
In spite of what he had said
my guide, he was the survivor OF
the party, OF whom l. have spoken
stated specifically that the boy was
dead. 1t Is incredible that he could
have been mistaken, when he returned
to the scene OF the massacre weeks, II
may have been months, afterward.
and buried the bodies"
Il admit that's a hard point TO get
around. On the other hand, how does
Reddys friend know all the facts ne
appears to know Can you explain
that?"
Likely enough he got 'em out OF
Mrs. Crittendon;, she knows good
deal about the Landrays,- suggested
the general.
Her fathers cousin was a member
OF the party" said Benson. 1T Is pos
sible she knows all that any OF us can
know"
But the papers, Mr.. Benson, the pa
pers! Suppose they are genuine. what
then?" asked Wade.
| I'VE don't know that yet. Mrn.
Landray Will determine that point"
| And you always understood that
the boy was killed with the others ?"
| Yes, Raymond distinctly stated"
| Walt a minute-who's Raymond,
Mr.. BensonT" interrupted Wade has
tily.
Hes the man Of whom rye been
telling you"
| We'll. Rogers claims TO have recov-
cred these papers from a man named
Raymond"
Benson looked a tr1ne blank at this
He tried TO remember Just how Raw.
mond had impressed him, but the
years had effaced whatever impress
sion good or bad he may once have
had or his guide. He was troubled In
spite OF himself While he could not
think that the papers meant anything.
yet there was something ominous in
their recovery after all these years.
| We'll, you must admit It's a mighty
singular incident any way you view
It," said Wade. After all he was not
disposed TO hang to a point when 1T
cispleased Benson for the older law
yer had been useful 10 him IN the
past, and II would not he his fault n
this use was not repeated in the III.
ture.
| I'D advise Mrs. Landray TO look out
for this man Rogers. His recovery
OF the papers comes too pat on Mrs.
Crfttendon's meeting with him"
| "Oh, I don't think that" said Wade
Freddy says he's a rich man, and that
he's known him intimately for some
| time"
Rogers is the name OF the CIR,
Reddy's going TO marry" said Ste.
| phen.
He had been an interested listener
to all that had been said. though he
had taken no part IN Aeseonversa.
ton. He believed that ne whole cir.
cumstance OF tfe recovery Iof the
papers was merely one OF those mys-