Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-29
The Solitary House s,1s ns';S s''s"or s';'S

baby, only few months old, he was
stolen by baboons and brought up by
them till The was twelve years of age.
One hears stories of that sort Of thing
happening in India, where sometimes
native children wander into the jungle
and live and grow up there with the
beasts, but never before heard of such
case in South Africa. According to
Wentworth's 8 story, Joe became lust like
one of the balloons and lived with them
as one of them till he was. wounded
and captured by natives during a raid
the balloons made on some mealie fields.
His story attracted some interest, and
missionary undertook his education,
but he remained undeveloped mentally
and very malicious and mischievous. He
seemed as though he could not get rid
OF the traits brought out in him by his
life among the baboons, though in time
he learned to wear clothing, to behave
with some regard for ordinary ways and
customs, and to talk well enough, though
he was always apt to fall back on an
incoherent animal chattering when ex-
cited. Finally, he either ran away from
the missionary or was sent off on ac-
count of some especially malicious trick,
and came in contact with Wentworth,
who seems to have realized that such
creature might be useful under certain
circumstances. At the time Wentworth
was in funds, and he was thinking of
returning to England to make an at
tempt to reinstate himself with his step
father, old Mr.. Wentworth, and get
hold of some or all of his money. He
brought Joe back with him, and setting
himself to watch his stepfather and
Dick Wentworth, who had taken his
place as heir, soon discovered that Dick
was secretly married and that there was
,, chance for him to act. His first step
was to inform old Mr.. Wentworth
anonymously of the secret marriage, in
the hope that the old man would at
once destroy the will making Dick his
! heir. Though he does not say so, /
, think there is no doubt his plans also
included numbering his stepfather before
: he could make fresh WILL, in which
. case Bert would have been able to claim
the greater portion of the estate under
$ the marriage settlements. Or, If Dick
, could be effectually disposed of, either
r by a second murder or by fastening on
him the guilt of his uncle's death, Bert
E would have taken it all The plan was
= quite a good one, and I think might
= very well have succeeded, but for youl
e unexpected, unprepared for, and some.
S what unauthorized interference, Mr.
t Norton. Bert Wentworth seems to have
= begun operations by sending his tele
= gram to his stepfather to inform hin
!. that Dick was married and was staying
e here.
e ''As it happened. Dick got to know
y the contents of this telegram; rushet
IS over in panic stricken haste and whirle'
e his wife away, leaving everything jus
as it was and leaving even the store o
u iewelry he had collected as a nest -eg
II for emergencies. But old Mr.. Went
worth met with a slight accident as h
was hurrying here and never arrive
il at all, and Bert Wentworth was yer
le much worried by your appearance o.
'e the scene. He had not wished to shoy
himself, but he had left his creature
W Zoe, in the wood with orders to watc
81 carefully and report everything tina
IS happened. On hearing of your arriva
4. he came to see you and failed to max
u ont who you were or what you wanted
ie At that time he knew nothing about til
it hidden jewelry, but Joe, some time j
re his climbing and watching, had got
as know of its existence, and though
Id don't suppose he realized what it wa
le or understood its value, he was at
tracted by the shining of the jewels an
e, was planning in his own way to get pos
to session of it without saying anything
1rtl 7 So, fIpE
lie he came prowling about the house
tn the way he did, and that was why h
ne made his first attack on you. H
f. thought you were hunting for the jewel
ng ry, too. Then Miss Esme appeared
search of her sister who had vanishe
d, from her home without giving any eS
he planation. She took you for Dick Went
a. worth, and it seems that on her fir
ch visit when she went upstairs. in the bt
ep lief that her sister was hidden thel
it by you, she had glimpse of Joe peer
in ing at her through the bedroom windoy
t. He had way of lowering himself fro
ng the gutter to the window sills beneai
ho and either peeping through the glass
OBJ else letting himself in that way to RI
sumo his search for the jewelry. Pc
- haps he was peeping through like tn
X when he got his first glimpse of it. An,
how, his face at the window gave Mi
We Esme great fright, but some furth
it? information came to her to make h
certain her sister was here, and so s.
on returned and was attacked in the wot
p by Joe and rescued by you. l gath
NJ it was because her memory was go
lie and she did not know what to do tn
be she stayed on here and Joe was st
he lurking in the wood, watching you bot
his He found out somehow, perhaps
rs watched you hiding it, where you III
ill put the jewelry, and he removed
de and hid it on the roof of the hou
Jay near one Of the chimney pots. ! su
w. pose he thought it quite safe there, a
at indeed I don't suppose any one won
ever have looked for it on the hous
III top. Everything else you know,
lid think. Bert Wentworth, as soon
Joe informed him of his cousins retur
ith let old Mr.. Wentworth know and tri
the to dispose of you but failed. He sa
t l YOU were getting on his nerves at tin
rth he suspected you of being a plain clotl
her detective.