The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1913-01-17

VOWED enigma spread itself again
before me, demanding attention. And
IN the midst OF 1t. dominating 1t,
stretching his great shadow over II
to the farthest limit. appeared that
frowsy red giant, Murphy, a mystery
within a mystery; for, though he
seemed to pervade 1t, there was no
point at which | could discover him
quite touching 1t.
In vain ! tried to detect q real CON
nection. | started with the letters.
They bore no single characteristic
mark OF this uncouth creature. AS an
artist he might have devised the curl.
u silhouette signature. but there
was something about that-some Gun.
ming. inventive subtlety-which
could not reconcile with the ogre |
had played upon, stung TO anger and
aroused to curiosity.
That he could either have con.
eeived or executed the ruin Of the
portrait did not believe possible.
The conception, like the letters and
tho signature. bore evidence OF a
craftiness too fine for such as he; and
to fancy him, mammoth that he was,
stealing unobseryed into Cameron's
stury, was to fancy the incredible.
And SO, though the impression of
Intimate relationship persisted, /
could find no point of contact, closer
or more definite than through his
servants rife practice, which after
all might have been quite without mo.
tive.
There was little, therefore, In the
line Of reason, to convict Murphy of
any knowledge of the matters which
had so disturbed us. And yet, as |
have said, l felt tntuitiyely that he
possessed an intimate acquaintance
with the whole affair.
At the Greenwich station, I found
my touring car waiting; my mother
in the tonneau. My chauffeur touched
his cap as l approached.
y "You may drive, Francois" | said,
and I took the place at my mothers
side.
you look tired, Philip" she an
nounced when l had kissed her. Was
1t very warm in the city," Her ewes
were ever quick TO note intinitesimal
changes in my appearance Of well.
being.
Not uncomfortable" I answered.
indulgently, 81 had a very busy day,
though. But I'm not the less fit be.
cause of It,"
I'VE have had some little excite
ment here" she fastened, eager TO
give me the news. "Old Romney
called you up on the telephone about
noon | happened to answer It, my.
self, and when | told him you we're in
New York, and would not be back
until six, 1t just seemed he couldn't
wait TO unburden himself, Wont Won
please tell him, Mrs. Clyde he said.
that Mr.. Murphy's Chinaman was
found at daybreak this morning, lying
dead, just outside Murphy's back
door,"
Found dead!" I cried, in amaze
That is what he said. Then he
added that the poor fellows head had
been crushed with some heavy fnstrr.
ment, and that Mr.. Murphy had been
arrested on suspicion and was In the
Cos Cob lookup"
For a full minute, | think, l sat IN
silent amaze. Then theories and con-
lectures In infinite variety gave
chase, one after the other, through
my excited brain. But it was more
than ever difficult, I found, to reach
anything like a satisfactory conclu-
sion concerning the position the now
Iifeless Celestial and his accused mas.
ter held in the chain of mysteries
so much to solve. That they
were both Of them more or less i'm.
links, however. had small
ioubt.
did you know Mr., Murphy" nv
mother asked. And all at once
'ealIzed that her question was a
'epetitIon. In my absorption / had
needed the original inquiry.
Nobody knows him." | answered.
lnconsciously echoing the words
'oiced by the man In the catboat on
he previous night. Nobody knows
i'm. But I've met him in a rather
asual way" I