Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-25
THEDOUBLE CHANCE
Fascinating Wrongly Accused Hero and Loyal Seear
By J. S. FLE1 CHER
Authox of Raruex-
Aatho, of "Rayney-Slade Amalgamation," etc.

"A very excellent rule. Go on
said the inspector.
L come to the next point Of my
story" continued Stead. Il do not
know whether you are aware of the
exact position of my residence
shall be pleased to see you to a cur
of tea there one of these days-but
close by it is a quarry which has
long been out of use. 1t Is very
badly fenced i'm and at one part the
ratings are broken down. There
are no lights about there, and :
stranger wandering about or losing
his way could easily fall over the
edge. Now, on the night of Sir
Roberts death"
Murder" corrected the detective
laconically.
LAS l was returning home" Stead
went on, ignoring the interruption
Il heard groans proceeding from this
quarry as from some one in great
pain. The quarry lies between my
house and some old cottages which
were left in the fields when the COL
liery was laid out.
Il procured help from the cottages,
and lantern. and went down into
the quarry. There l found a man
lying at the foot of a steep wall of
rock over which he had evidently
fallen. He was grooming, but I'M
conscious. AS soon as l saw him l
recognized him.
Inspector Cortelyou looked up with
quickened interest. "Ah. YOU recog-
nized him." he exclaimed. LAS
whom"
LAS a certain DR.. Julius Steinthal,
from London, who for many years
had from time to time pestered Sir
Robert with a scheme for neutraliz-
ing the effect of after damp in the
case of an explosion, and had given
him a great deal of annoyance" an
swered Stead.
in fact. lately he had scarcely left
Sir Robert alone; and though Sir
Robert did not believe in the in
vention or scheme. Stenthal's letters
became almost threatening. My own
impression is that he is not quite
sane"
We'll. you found him in the quar-
ry-what them" asked the detective.
Il had him conveyed to the cot
tage OF a woman who goes out nurs-
ing and has a room to spare, Mrs.
Hardacre," answered Stead.
Il sent for DIR. HILBERT and a
nurse. The doctor found that Stein
thai had broken leg and some ribs.
and that there was some injury to
his head AS a matter of fact, he
has lost his memory"
Inspector Cortelyou closed his
pocketbook with snap.
He is still, then. at the cottage?"
he said.
ooh, yes, and is being we'll looked
after" answered Stead. He can't
get away"
Now. then, what is your theory"
asked the detective.
Il believe he killed Sir Robert" re-
piled Stead, slowly. He had no hat
or cap when | found him-the deer
stalker fits him; moreover, have
seen him in it. for he has visited
Mannersley several times. He knew
the castle well-my theory is that he
obtained admission through that
open window, and left by it after
he had committed the murder"
The detective. who had put on
his hat and picked up his umbrella,
nodded.
I'm very much obliged to you. Mr..
Stead" he said. "You are helping
considerably to clear matters up.
Now, you won't object to walking
down to the station with me? We
must tell this to Illingworth"
"Oh, not at ALL" replied Stead. 81
am glad to be of help. Anything to
clear Sir Clinton of this dreadful
charge"
He accompanied Inspector Cortel-
you to the station and into Hing
worth's room. The latter looked at
them in surprise-Tnspector CorteI-
you gave him a look and a wink.
And somehow the little man from
Scotland Yard managed to get be-