The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-01-18
By
HORACE
HAZELTINE

! point concerning matters of national
and social import. For the time be-
ihs my consideration OF Cameron and
MS strange problem was suspended.
No" and then the subject recurred to
me, dragged Into the mental light on
the arain of Evelyn Grayson; but al
most Immediately it was buried be-
meath question OF editorial policy
or debate regarding contract for
white paper at an extortionate IN
crease in price.
When. however, my business day
was ended. and | had boarded the
train for Greenwich, the whole in
yoived enigma spread itself again
before me. demanding attention. And
in the midst of it, dominating it.
! stretching his great shadow over 1t
to the farthest limit, appeared that
frowsy red giant. Murphy, a mystery
within mystery; for. though he
seemed to pervade it. there was no
| point at which l could discover him
I, quite touching it.
In vain tried to detect a real con-
nection. l started with the letters.
They bore no single Characteristic
mark OF this uncouth creature. AS an
| artist he might have devised the curl
Gus silhouette signature. but there
was something about that-some cum
ming. inventive subtlety-which l
could not reconcile with the ogre
had played upon. stung to anger and
aroused to curiosity.
| That he could either have con
ceived or executed the ruin OF the
portrait did not believe possible.
The conception, like the letters and
the signature, bore evidence OF a
craftiness too fine for such as he; and
to fancy him. mammoth that he was
stealing unobserved into Cameron's
stury. was to fancy the incredible.
And so. though the impression OF
intimate relationship persisted. I
could find no point Of contact, closer
or more definite than through his
servants rifle practice, which after
all might have been quite without mo.
tive.
There was little. therefore, in the
line Of reason. to convict Murphy OF
had so disturbed US. And yet, as I
have said. felt intuitively that he
possessed an intimate acquaintance
with the whole affair.
At the Greenwich station. found
my touring car waiting; my mother
in the tonneau. My chauffeur touched
his cap as l approached.
| You may drive, Francois" l said
and L 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 eyes
were ever quick to note infinitesimal
changes In my appearance OF WELL
being.
| Not uncomfortable" / answered,
indulgently Il had 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 l happened to answer 1t. my
self. and when l told him you were in
New York. and would not be back
until six, It Just seemed he couldn't
walt to unburden himself. Won't you
] 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,"
ment.
| THAT is what he said. Then he
added that the poor fellows head had
been crushed with some heavy instru-
ment, and that Mr. Murphy had been
| arrested on suspicion and was in the
| Cos Cob lookup"
For full minute, l think, sat in
silent amaze. Then theories and con-
lectures in infinite variety gave
chase, one after the other, through
my excited brain. But 1t was more
| than ever difficult, l found, to reach
| anything like a satisfactory conclu-
| sion concerning the position the now
| lifeless Celestial and his accused mas
| ter held in the chain of mysteries l
wished so much to solve. That they
were both OF them more or less i'm
portant links, however, l had small
| doubt.
Did you know Mr.. Murphy" my
| mother asked And all at once
| realized that her question was
repetition. In my absorption I had
not needed the original inquiry.
| Nobody knows him." l answered,
unconsciously echoing the words
voiced by the man in the catboat on
the previous night. Nobody knows
him. But I've met him in rather
casual way"