Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-10-21
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
The constable looked at me for an
instant as if rncertain whether to re-
gard my manner Of getting his narra-
tive as altogether friendly.
you we're telling what I wanted to
know" I suggested. II came in be-
cause was directed to inquire for
you there. I did not interrupt you,
but it was without intent of gaining
information that I did not expect to
gain otherwise"
''It's all right" said the constable.
''You see through me, though I was
just thinking how uncomfortable I
ought to have been with you listening,
and I was pretty near getting sore.
The first thing is the Identification Of
the body. For the time being, It is in
the station-house."
There was ne possible doubt. even
before looked at the face, from which
the constable drew the sheet which
covered the body as it lay on bench
The shabby little: lawyers r,rscally
schemes, timid But villainous-neces-
sary, probably, i'm his gnarled and un-
happy life-were closed by death.
A deputy of the coroner was present.
and he took deposition by me which
gave merely the dead slan's name
stated that he had called several
times at Hartley house on business
and that had no personal knowledge
of the manner in which he came to
his death.
That was all the authorities needed
Of me. A matG by the name Of Agnes
Mitchell had been given temporary
employment at Hartley house. It was
undoubtedly she who was the COM
/ paniOn of the. man. who had been
killed.
asked the constable where I might
see the maid and whether 81 was
too badly injured to talk to any one.
He said that she had been taken to
the nearest hospital. which was ten
miles away. He did not know how
serious her injuries were. had my
driver take me to the hospital and
found that as q representative OF the
family for which she was employed
might talk to her.
She was In pain and heavily ban
daged, but WAS conscious and willing
to talk.
agnes" said. when the nurse had
left us, = am not here to make great
deal Of trouble for you, but If show
leniency It will be in exchange for your
confidence. We have knewD that an
unconscionable gang Of rascals have
had designs on Hartley house. Evil
IDENTIFY you have yielded to some temp
tatfOR they offered you. Deal with me
frankly, and I'll be more than lenfent."
She told me that the lawyer had
tried to corrupt the maid. Anna, who
had asked, later, for months leave.
She found that she did not have the
courage for the work. The lawyer
evolved the plan Of introducing reso-
lutte and reliable woman into the house
by the expedient adopted. Her in
structiOns were to find and take away
manuscript she would find concealed
IN Jed's room. The abduction Of Jed
had made 1t easy for the maid to search
through his belongings. Agnes did not
know: what value was attached to the
manuscript. 1t was her obligation
merely to get 1t.
The lawyer was to have an autOmO-
bile waiting on the road beyond the
oak grove. He was to be by the small
door, through which the maid escaped
She ransacked Jed's room in the fash.
ion Of which l saw the result, and
found the box cunningly hidden in hii
bedsprings In manner so cOntrived
that except to careful investigation II
| seemed to be part Of the structure Of
the bed. y ,:s354s
Agnes said that she had planned ID
make her escape after my round Of
the house, but her excitement at find
/, ing. the thing so earnestly sought be
trayed her into incautiousness.
The lawyers plan was to take thu
road we would think them less likely
to take in case there were pursuit
and for that reason had gone toward
Norwich. The. Spaniard was not ex
pected to meet them, but he knew
they intended to 90 through Horwich
and he knew approximately the time
they would get there II they were sue
cessful. The train which stopped q
Norwich to let OF passengers allowed
him to act upon a plan which his sus
picions OF his lawyers good faith sug
gested. He thought that II the lawye,
cav q barroom light he would stop fol
drink. ..,5y. q i.
(Coatansd nsxt wesk.)
u Reer,i q .oo. sS "a Il a 81 B