The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-26
HEGIN HERE TODAY

investigator, is takiIg holiday on
Dartmoor and is engaged by Jenny
Pondcan to solve the mystery of
her husbands disappearance Mich
ael Pendean is last seen in the COM
pany of Jenny's uncle, Robert Red
mayne, when the two go to work on
| new bungalow for the rcndcans
| near Foggintor Quarry.
Blood is found on the floor of
the cottage and several witnesses
| testify to having seen Robert ride
away on his motor bicycle with a
heavy sack behind the saddle.
A report comes that Rcdmaync
has visited his boarding house since
the disappearance of Michael. A
cement sack from the new bungalow
is found in rabbit hole at far
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
An hour later Mark Brcndon had
packed bag and started in police
motor car for Paignton.
He called at Robert Redmayne's
lodgings after he had eaten some
supper at the Singer Hotel. There
he had taken Il room, that he might
see and hear something of the van
ished mans future wife and her
family. At No. Marine Terrace
the landlady, a Mrs. Midway, could
say little. Captain Redmayne was a
genial, kind-hcarted, but hot headed
gentleman, she told Mark.
Brendon examined the motor BIZ
cycle with meticulous care. There
was a rest behind the saddle made
of iron bars, and here he detected
stains of blood. A fragment of tough
string tied to the rest was also
stained.
Later in the day Brendon return
cd to his hotel and introduced him
self to Miss Reed and her family to
find that her brother, Robert Red
mayne's friend, had returned to
London. She and her parents were
sitting together in the lounge when
he Joined them. All three appeared
to be much shocked and painfully
mystified. None could throw any
light. Mr.. and Mrs. Reed were
quiet, elderly people who kept a
draper shop in London; their daugh-
ter revealed more character.
"Did you ever hear Captain Red
mayne speak of his niece and her
husband?" Brendon inquired, and
Flora Reed answered:
"Hc did; and he always said that
Michael Pendean was 'shirkcr' and
a coward. He also assured me that
he had done with his niece and
should never forgive her for marry
ing her husband. But that was be-
fore Bob went to Princetown, six
days ago. From there he wrote
quite different story. He had met
them by chance and he found that
Mr.. Pendean had not shirked but
had done good work in the war and
got the o. B. E."
"You have neither seen nor heard
of the captain sincc:'
Indeed, no. My last letter, which
you can see, came three days ago
In it he merely said he would be
back yesterday and meet me tt
battle as usual. l went to battle anC
looked out for him, but of course
he didn't come"
"Tell me, little about him, Miss
Reed" said Mark. Captain Red
mayne, l hear, had suffered from
shell shock and breath of poisor
gas also. Did you ever notice any
signs that these troubles had lief
any mark upon him."
"Yes," she answered. "We all die
My mother was the first to poin
out that Bob often repeated him
SELF.
"Was he man you can conceiv,
of as capable of striking or killing
a fellow creature?"
The lady hesitated.
81 only want to help him." sh'
answered. Therefore l say that
given sufficient provocation, cal
imagine Bob's temper flaring out
and l can see that it would hav
been possible to him, in momen
of passion, to strike down man
He had seen much death and wa
himself absolutely indifferent t
danger. Yes, l can imagine him do
ing an enemy, or fancied enemy,
hurt; but what [. cannot imagin
him doing is what he is supposed t.
have done afterward-evade tn
consequence of mistaken act"
"And yet we have the stronges
testimony that he has tried to con
ceal a murder-whether committe
by himself, or somebody else, W
cannot yet say"
~ only hope and pray, for all GU
sakes, that you will find him. sh
replied, "but if, indeed, he has bee
betrayed into such an awful crime
l do not think you will find him.
"Why not, Miss Reed? But
think knd1t. What is in your min
had already passed through my owl
The thought of suicide"
She nodded and put her handke1
chief to her eyes.
Mark Brendon thanked her for he
information and repeated his grow
ing conviction that the subject {
their speech had probably committe
Suicide.
For two days the detective r,
NAMED at Paignton and devoted a
his energy, invention, and cxperient
to the task of discovering the val
ished men.
Then Brendon prepared to retul
to Princetown. He wrote his inter
ton to Mrs. Pendean and informe
her that he would VISIT Station Co
tages on the following evening.
happened, however, that his lett,
crossed another and his plans wei