Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-05-14
The
4artttnt1tra
Myatrry
BY
p. G. WODEHOUSE
Copyright
CHAPTER I.
A STRANGE Death.


of the typical better-class boarding
house, furnished, so far as it was fur
nished at all, with a severe simplicity.
1t contained two beds, a pine chest of
drawers, a strip of faded carpet, and a
wash stand.
All these things might have been
guessed at from the other side of the
closed door. But there was that on
the floor which set this room apart
from a thousand rooms of the same
kind.
Flat on his back, one leg twisted
clenched and his teeth cleaning
through his black beard in horrible
grin, Capt. John Gunner stared at the
ceiling with eyes that saw nothing.
Until a moment before he had had
the little room to himself. But now
two people were standing just inside
the door, looking down at him.
One was a large policeman, who
twisted his cap nervously in his hands.
The other was a tall, gaunt old wOm-
an in a rusty black dress, who gazed
with pale eyes at the dead man.
Her face was quite eXpresSiOnlesss
The woman was Mrs. Pickett, owner
of the Excelsior boarding house. The
policeman'S name was Grogan. He
was a genial giant, a terror to the riot
Gus element of the Long Island water
front, but obviously i'll at ease in the
presence of death.
He drew in his breath with a Curl
ousshissing sound, wiped his forehead,
and whispered: "WOuld you look at
his eyes, ma'am!''
Mrs. Pickett did not answer. She
had not spoken since she had brought
the policeman into the room.
Officer GrOgan looked at her quickly
from the corner of his eyes. He was
afraid of Mother Pickett, as was every
body else along the water front.
Her silence, her pale eyes, and the
quiet fOrmidableness of her. personal
ity cOwed even the tough old salts who
patrOnized the Excelsior. She was
queen in that little community of
sailOrmen.
you've phoned for the doctor,
ma'am"
Mrs. Pickett nodded.
The breeze, blowing in through the
open window, brought with it the
sound of noisy laughter. A cheerful
voice beloved a popular song.
That's just how 1 found him. said
hn
ly, but her voice made the policeman
start.
He wiped his forehead again.
ut might have been apoplexy," he
hazarded.
Mrs. Pickett said nothing.
"SOme guys drop in their tracks on
account of a bum heart" he went on.
There's no marks on him."
The old woman did not answer.
There was a sound of footsteps out
side. A young man entered carrying
a black bag.
Good morning, Mrs. Pickett. What's
the Good heavens!'
He dropped to his knees beside the
body and raised one of the arms. He
lowered it gently to the floor and
shook his head.
"Been dead for hours. When did
you find him?"
Twenty minutes back" said the old
woman. 81 guess he died last night.
He never would be called in the morn
ing. Said he liked to sleep on. Well,
he's got his wish"
"What did he die of, doc? asked
the policeman.
Impossible to- say without an ex-
animation. 1t looks like apoplexy, but
it isn't. 1t might be heart disease, but
| happen to know the poor fellows
heart was as sound as a bell. He
called in to see me only a week ago,
and / tested him thoroughly. Lord
knows what it is! The coroner's in
quest will tell u.s.
He eyed the body almost resent.
fully.
sit beats me-" he said. 1.-THE man
had no right to drop dead like this. He
was a tough old sailor, who ought to
have been good for another twenty
years. If you ask me, though L can't
possibly be certain till after the in
quest, I should say he had been poi
SOned."
"For the love Of Peter" exclaimed
Officer Grogan.
"How would he be poisoned?" asked
Mrs. Pickett.
That's more than 1 can tell you.
There's no glass about atahe could
have drunk it from. He might have
got. it in capsule form. But why
should he have done it? He was al
ways a pretty cheerful sort of old
man, wasn't hep
"Sure!' said Officer Grogan. she
had the name of being a champion
josher in these parts. I've had guys
come to me all raw from being mixed
up in arguments with him. He had
a way with him. Kind of sarcastic,
though he never tried it on me-"
'aThis man must have died quite
.arly last night" said the doctor.
What's become of Captain Muller?
he shares this room he ought to be
BILE to tell us something about it."
Captain Muller spent the night