The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-09-17

and that no card was necessary. He'
however, gave the name of Chatter
"Chater!" cried, starting up. Are
you certain of that Nance
Il only know what Cowan told me,
was my uncle's reply. But do you
know him."
Not at all. Only I've heard that
name before" | said. 81 knew a man
out in Italy of the same name. But
where is the visitor now"
In the hospital at Dumfries. They
took him there in preference to leaV'
ing him alone at Rannoch."
"Alone?"
"Of course. Everyone has left, now
the host and hostess have slipped or
without saying good-by Scandalous
affair, isn't it? But, my boy, you'll re-
member that | always said | didn't
like those people There's something
mysterious about them, | feel certain.
That telegram gave them warning or
the visit of the man Chatter. depend
upon it, and for some reason they're
afraid of him. 1t would be interesting
to know what transpired between the
two men in the library. And these are
people Who've been taken up by every
body-mere adventures, should call
them And old Sir George shifted
again at thought of such scandal hap
pening in the neighborhood. IF Gilrae
must let Rannoch, then why in the
name of Fortune doesn't he let it to
respectable folk and not to the first
fellow who answers his advertisement
in the Field? It's simply disgraceful!"
Certainly it is most extraordinary
story" l declared. "Leithcourt evil
IDENTIFY wished to escape from his Wis
itoS and that's why he drugged him. "
why he poisoned him, you mean.
Cowan says the fellow is poisoned, but
hat he'll probably recover He is al
ready conscious. hear"
resolved to call on the doctor who
happened to be well known to me, and
obtain further particulars. Therefore
at eleven o'clock | drove into Dunn.
fries and entered his consulting room.
He was a spare, short, fair man, a
trifle bald, and when | vas shown in
he welcomed me warmly, speaking
with his pronounced Galloway accent.
well, it Is very mysterious case,
Mr.. Gregg" he said, after | had told
him the object of my visit. The gentle,
man is still at the hospital, and | have
to keep him very quiet. He was poi.
soned without doubt and has had a
very narrow escape Of his life. The
police got wind of the affair and Mac,
kenzie called to question him. But he
refused to make any statement what
ever, apparently treating the affair
very lightly. The police, however, are
mystified as to the reason of Mr.. Leith.
courts sudden fight, and are very anx.
ious to get at the bottom of the curious
affair"
Naturally. And more especially
after the tragedy up in Rannoch wood
short tina ago. said.
That's just it," said the doctor. re-
moving his pince-nez and rubbing
them. Mackenzie seems to suspect
some connection between Leithcourt's
sudden disappearance and that mys.
ferrous affair. 1t seems very evident
that the telegram was warning tc
Leithcourt of the man Chater's inten
ton of calling, and that the last-named
was shown in just at the moment
when the fugitive was on the point OF
leaving"
Knowing all that did, was not sur
prised. Leithcourt had undoubtedly
taken him unawares, but knights of in
dustry never betray each other.
My next visit was to Mackenzie, fol
whom l had to wait nearly an hour
as he was absent in another quarter Of
the town.
"Ah, Mr.. Gregg" he cried gladly, as
he came in to find me seated in a chair
patiently reading the newspaper. "You
are the very person wish to see. Have
you heard of this strange affair al
Rannoch?"
81 have" was my answer. HAS the
man in the hospital made any state
ment YETI"
None. He refuses point blank" an
swered the detective. But my OWL
idea is that the affair has a very close
connection with the two mysteries Of
the wood"
"The first mystery-that Of the man
proves to be a double mystery,
said
How? Explain it."
well, the waiter Olinto Santini Is
alive and well in London"
"Whatl" he pasnpd starting I'D