Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-01

CAPTAIN FRANCIS NEWCOMER. ex-
4tcer in the great war. who breaks
thto. society. but who is really
! World, and in charge of various big
seals that have set London agog. :.
PAIL CREMARRE. noted French
the back waters OF the war; along
RIsNNELLs. a valet. who has done
some big thsfts on his own account,
The FOURTH sTRAGGLER, who
hears the crooks agree to combine
after the armistice and who disap-
Folly wIcKEs. a f,ower-sirl. whom
Newcombe has adopted and sent to
the idea OF insuring social contacts
II the best before he leaves England,
after executing some big hauls. She
DORA MARLIN, daughter Of an eccen-
tfic millionaire, and her guest on q
hig show place on the Florida keys
MI MARLIN. the mad magnate. has
=, lars, the existence OF which New
cpmbe learns inadvertently from
lis beautiful ward.
HOWARD LOCKE. son OF big DUST.
Runnells TO Florida on his steam
lunch. He falls in love with Polly
The smile passed. His face be-
came grave again. There was Cap
tain Francis Newcombe now-at the
far edge of the lawn.
The man was strolling leisurely
toTard the house, then, suddenly
passing for an instant. he as sud
dehly broke into run. elbowing
his way unceremoniously through
II
ing the steps, covered them In
bound to the veranda.
I say." he burst out breathlessly
asYhe halted before Locke. What
ever Is the matter? This hour in
thS morning and every light on in
tina house--and all those Negroes
out there"
sIve been waiting for you said
Locke quietly. LONE in here" He
led the way to the French window
bys which he had found entry into
the house a few hours before. and
passed through into the room be-
yopd.
Captain Francis Newcombe fol-
loved.
81 say!" he repeated, closing the
glass door with a push behind him.
Whats up. old man."
sNir. Marlin is dead" said Locke
briefly. .-
sDead" Captain Francis New
coo1be stared incredulously. why
heswasn't ill--at least not In that
way / don't understand"
Il was a small room. a sort OF ad-
tuact to the library which led off
. from It toward the rear of the house.
Howard Locke's fingers were aim
lessly turning the leaves of a book
Which lay on the table in the center
Of. the room, and beside which he
wars standing now.
sA~ belief that he was being fol-
lowed. that some one was trying to
take his money away from him.
TUNED him from a harmless lunatic
into a dangerous madman." Locke
sal slowly. .'He seemed to believe
that | was, to use his own words.
'orte of Them and he Ncied to shoot
me in my room. The household
we tried to subdue him. But he
brske away from us then. and In
running down the stairs fell, I think,
ana his revolvers went off in his
haad, killing him instantly"
Good God." said Captain Francis
Newcombe heavily. That's awful!
Ana that poor girl Miss Marlin!"
Eyes" said Howard Locke. his
fingers still playing with the leaves
of the book.
Captain Francis Newcombe ap-
peafed to be greatly agitated. He
TOOK out his cigarette case. opened
and shut It several times. and finally
restored 1t to his pocket with its
contents untouched.
ITS CHASTITY" he calculated: and
then in a slower, more meditative
tone: "But with the shock OF 1t
over. I can't say I'm particularly
surprised. He struck me as acting
| in more than usually peculiar
Imanner all day yesterday, and
ESPECIALLY last night, or. rather, this
morning-as a matter of fact, IL
was OH account of Mr.. Marlin HIM
when it. happened. He telephoned
Polly about o'clock this morning
and nearly frightened her to death.
She came to my room in a pittful
state of distress. He told her her
mother was dead. God knows why
except that II shows how mad he
VASE From Polly's. description OF
the conversation, during which she
had distinctly heard the sound of
waves and the slam u door in the
wind. 1 decided that he must have
telephoned from somewhere outside.
Thesonly place could think of was
the sboathouse. II the man was as
bad as that, was afraid something
might happen to him, so / dressed
and went out. IT Is obviously un-
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