Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-24
AND HERE IT CONTINUES
Files Wood at Niqht

grow long and dark as the night came
swiftly down upon the land. One Of
the men had a lantern and he lighted
II. and by its dim rays the earth was
cleared away from this new victim and
his body gently raised and placed upon
the ground nearby. lnstinctivcly th1
bystanders removed their hats, and by
the side of the dead man knelt Captain
Wallace and Inspector Wilks. making
hasty examination that revealed no
more than was already patent. that
death had been caused by Strangula
tion.
A stretcher was improvsed and the
body placed on it, and in the darkness
that was now nearly complete little
procession formed. the man with the
lantern going first, the stretcher-
bearers with their burden coming next
and then the rest of the party. the rear
being brought up by Captain WalIac"
and Inspector Wilks, who were deep
In consultation together over this new
development.
No one took any notice of Keith, who
for the moment thought himself for
gotten. But he followed with the rest,
and all at once was surprised to find
Sergeant Price by his side.
II dare say | was mistaken, said
the sergeant apologetically. but l
thought | heard something moving over
there He nodded toward their left.
Likely it was rabbit or something, "
he said; there was nothing when |
went"
Keith turned and looked intently in
the direction indicated, and then glanced
toward the captain. He was on the point
of suggesting that another general search
be made, but reflected that when they
had failed so utterly in the broad day
light how could they hope to succeed
in this dense, battling darkness? The
sergeant had seen his movement and
said again,
There was nothing there. l expect
1t was just my fancy"
Keith did not answer, for he was not
so sure of that, and then Captain Wal
lace came toward them and the SER
geant discreetly faded away.
This is a terrible business. Mr..
Norton" the captain said to him in
tone more friendly than any he had used
to confirm very markedly what you have
told us. ! must say that | was in
clined to suspect young Mr.. Went
worth of being his uncle's murderer, but
now I am inclined to agree with you
that the stepson is more likely TO be
the guilty person. We must set to work
to find him. But. to speak frankly. it
is just as well that Mrs. Wentworth
can prove you were sleeping in the
house when her husband left it and
that you remained there after you woke.
Otherwise ~
Otherwise | might be in some danger
OF the gallows,' Keith completed the
sentence.
"Oh. | wouldn't say that" exclaimed
the captain. mo, no. But there would
have been unpleasant suspicious to face.
and you might have been exposed to a
good deal of annoyance and inconven-
renee Now ! want to ask you one or
two questions. This jewelry you found
and that vanished afterward what do
you think became of that"
Stolen" answered Keith. "by the
same man or creature. or whatever il
ts, that has been lurking in this wood
so long, that may very likely be watch
ing us at this moment"
Surely not. protested the captaiu
surely you cant still believe anv one
IN the wood after the way we have
beaten 1t from one end to the other?''
You certainly made very thorough
search agreed Keith; "aII the
same. ~
Quite impossible" declared the cap.
tain with emphasis Another tbipy
the young lady you speak OF as Mrs
Wentworth's sister? understand she
is staying not far from here
Yes" answered Keith. 81 dor.t
Know what the place is called. but |
know my way to it
Il think it would be as well if Won
went over at once and brought her
here, said the captain. "You will
understand from my making the sug-
gestion that / am quite convinced Of
your innocence, but I shall have to ask
you to take Sergeant Price and one of
our men with you. and / want YOU TO
promise to say nothing to her. nothing
at all, of what has happened today. i
wish to hear her story myself That is
r phItiy why am senulng Tor her. but
also if she is Mrs. Wentworth sister
1t will be as well for her to be here.
Mrs. Wentworth is quite alone and
she ought 10 have another woman with
her. As soon as you can get the sister
here ] shall send them off together in
the car to a place where they can be
put up for the night till their friends
can be communicated with. 1t isn't fit
for Mrs. Wentworth to stay here any
longer than can be helped
''You know Miss Esme has lost her
memory owing to an attack made on
her in the wood?" asked Keith.
'fI understood SO from what Wilks
said you told him." answered the cap.
tain. ''That is the worst of this case
there are so many side complications
like this young lady's loss of memory
and the disappearance Of Mr. Went
worth's chauffeur. But hope th,
sight >of young Mrs. Wentworth may
help TO restore her sisters memory
and In any ease she should be abe /,
eve Us usefll information. How lo4
xjll 4 take you 70 Sat tbers aud back =