Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-05-01
The Mysterious Monogram
\ An Absorbing New Novel
BY Howard P. Rockey
Copyrighted by the Author
Copyrighted by the Author

For a time Harcourt sat staring
into the fire, pulling at his moustache
what do you make of it?" Car
rington asked.
~ don't know what to say, Dicky
must have made a perfect fool of
myself, for / honestly can't remember
single thing that happened after we
left the table. The whole thing is
positively uncanny and the notoriety
is going to be unbearable. l don't
see why an affair that takes place in
gentleman's club can't be settled
quietly among its members without
being dragged through all the news
papers. i could stand it myself, but
it's simply beyond the pale that it
should come just after the announce
ment of my engagement SO that Grace
has to be dragged into the internal
messw
at is indeed" Darlington agreed,
"but there's no help for it. The whole
thing seems almost unbelievable, but
it is undoubtedly clear case of muir
der, and we'll all have to bear the an
noyance of the inquiries. Unless one
of the servants did it, Towney was
killed by a member of the club, for no
outsider could have gained access to
that ROOM"
"That is true" said Harcourt. "And
does it also occur to you that last
night no one was in that part of the
house except my guests?"
glove! l hadn't thought of that!'
Darlington exclaimed. at is true,
though. 1 can't think of any one there
who could have had the slightest
cause to dislike Towney, nor of any
one who could be guilty of such a
thing under any circumstances. Why,
with the exception of Cornish and
Kandwahr, all the fellows there have
known Towney since boyhood, and l
don't believe that Cornish ever saw
him before. He's only been in Eng
land few days, hasn't he?"
Harcourt nodded and was about to
speak, when Fergus, his valet, en-
tered. ~ beg pardon, my lord" the
man said, "but were you injured last
evening, sir?"
"No. Why?" Harcourt asked, look
ing up in surprise.
"Ah-nothing, sir. 1 beg your par
don, sir" he said, with a glance at
Darlington.
what is it-why did you ask?
Harcourt insisted. "Do not hesitate to
speak before Mr.. Darlington"
"Well, sir, it was only this, SIR
the man said, reluctantly. "In put
ting away your evening clothes,
ound a dark stain on the right sleeve
sir, and the shirt front was quite COW
cred with blood"
With an exclamation of astonish-
ment, Darlington sprang to his feet
and Harcourt, startled, nervously
gripped the arms of his chair. "You
say there is blood on my coat?"
"Yes, sir. And in the pocket of
your greatcoat, found this" the man
continued, handing Harcourt a long,
S ender dagger.
In amaZement the two men looked
at the glittering blade. Taking it from
Fergus hands, Harcourt examined it
slowly and carefully. The blade, about
eight inches long, was of the finest
steel, exquisitely chased in a design
of the most curious workmanship,
while its ivory hilt formed unique
speciman of the carver's art. Neither
Of them had ever seen a weapon like
it and they shuddered instinctively as
they looked at it.
"You found this in my coat
pocket?" Harcourt asked at last.
"Yes, my lord"
"Did you ever see it before, Fer
gus?"
"No, sir. I'm quite sure l never did
SIR"
Nor did l." said Harcourt with con-
viction, and passed the knife to Car,
rington. "Fergus, has anyone but
Mr.. Darlington called this morning?'
eyes, sir. Seevral persons who sale
they were from the newspapers anc
this gentleman"
Inspector MacBee, Scotland Yard,
Harcourt read from the card the valet
handed to him.. "What did you tel
them all?"
81 told the newspaper men that yor
never gave interviews, sir, and coulc
not be seen at any hour. The inspec
tor, sir, said that he would not disturb
you, but asked if you would wait fol
him to return before going out"
"Then ring him up and say that
am ready to see him as soon as he car
come here" Harcourt directed. "Asl
if he can conveniently come at once
The valent withdrew and the two
men stared in silence at the daggel
that Darlington had placed upon tn,
table, reluctant to hold it in his hands
"Now what do you think, Dicky?'
Harcourt asked
"It's more puzzling than ever" saic
Darlington. "The blood on you
cothes-and this thing"
"I'm sure | can't explain it," Har
court admitted in perplexity. obi
you ever see more wicked looking
thing? 1t isn't mine and Pm posi-
tive that never laid eyes upon it un
til now. Yet if the thing was in m,
pocket, / must have had it," HI
paused and gazed silently at the dag
ger, then his Mortified eyes met Car
rington's. "Dicky," he whispered ner
vously, "Do you suppose could"
"Nonsensew Darlington broke in
"The thing has unnerved you. Don
get all upset. There is some explana
tion of course, but if were you /,
see my solicitors before taking witt
Inspector MacBee."
Harcourt shook his head. "Lool
here, Dicky," he said, slowly. "fh
idea is so utterly absurd that | can