Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-02-07

ner IN an American financial company
which has recently opened Offices In
the West End. He seems to have ar.
rived ia England about two years ago,
to have taken q house In Hill street,
and to have spent a great deal Of
money. A month or 80 ago, his partner
from New York arrived In London, a
man named Jordan OF whom nothing
was known. Il has since transpired.
1 however. that bis journey to Europe
was undertakeR because he was unable
to obtain certain figures relating to the
business from HlIditch. oliver Hi.
ditch met him at Southampton, trav-
eled with him to London and found him
a room AT the Savoy. The next day the
whole of the time seems to have been
spent In the Office, and Il is certain,
from the evidence OF the clerk, that
some disagreement took place between
the two men. They dlned together,
however, apparently on good terms, al
the Cafe Royal, and parted In Regent
street soon after ten. AT twelve o'clock
Jordan's body was picked up on the
pavement In Hill street. within few
PAGES OF Hildltch's door, He had been
stabbed through the heart with some
needle-like weapon. and was lutte
dead"
"Was there any vital cause OF quar-
rel between themf" wIlmore inquired.
Impossible TO say" Francis replied
THE financial position Of the company
depends entirely upon the value OF
large quantity Of speculative bonds,
but as there was only one clerk en-
ployed, II was impossible to get at any
figures. Hilditch declared that Jordan
had only small Share in the business.
from which he had drawn q considera-
BILE income for years, and that he had
not the slightest cause for complaint"
"What were Hlldlteh,s movements
that evenlngY wilmore asked.
mot a soul seems to have seen him
after he left Regent street." was the
somewhat puzzled answer. "Hls own
story was quite straightforward and
has never been contradicted. He let
himself into his house with a latch
key after his return from the Cafe
Royal drank a whisky and soda In the
library. and went to bed before half.
past eleven. The whole affair.""
Francis broke on abruptly in the
middle OF his sentence. He sat with
his eyes fixed upon the door. silent
and speeches..
'What in Heavens name is the mat. |
ter, old fellowr Wilmore demanded, /
gazing at his companion In blank
amazement.
The latter pulled himself together
with an effort. The sight of the two
new arrivals talking TO Louis. the head
waiter, on the threshold Of the res
taurant. seemed for the moment TO
have drawn every scrap Of color from
his cheeks. Nevertheless. his recovery
was almost instantaneous.
IF you want to know any more" he
said calmly, 'you had better go and ask
him to tell you the whole story himself.
There he is."
and the woman with him. VIII
more exclaimed, under his breath.
ellis wifel'
To reach their table, the enc con.
-erning which Francis and his friend
had been specializing, the new arrivals.
plotted by Louis. had to pass within a
lew feet OF the two men. The woman,
,erene, coIdly beautiful, dressed like a
in unrelieved black, with
extraordinary attention 10 details.
passed them by with a careless glance
md subsidized into the chair which
.ouIs was holding. Her companion,
Iowever, as he recognized Francis. hes
tated. His expression Of somewhat
ustere gloom was lIghtened. A pleas .
mt but tentative smile parted his lips.
lie ventured upon a saIutation. half q
cd, half a more formal bow. a saluta-
lon which Francis instinctiveIy re-
nrned. Andrew Wilmore looked on
nth curiosity.
$50 that is oliver Hilditch7" he muir
lured.
THAT Is the man." Francis observed.
Of whom last evening haIf the people
this restaurant were probably asking
iemselves whether or not be was
uiIty Of murder. Tonight they Will be
ordering what he is going TO order
,r dinner. II ls q strange world
Strange, indeed" WiImore assented.
rhis afternoon he was IN the dock, =
ith his fate in the balance--the con- r
smned cell or a favored table at
Iaridge'G And your meeting One
in imagine him gripping your hands,
ith tears in his eyes, his voice broken
lth emotion. sobbing out his thanks
nd instead you exchange polite
Tvs. / would not have missed this 4
ruation for anything" 4
"Tradesman r. Francis scoffed. zone /
n guess already at the plot OF your
xt novel.
HE has courage" wiImore declared
Ie has also a very beautiful compan-
!. Were you serious. Francis. when
o told me that that was his wifer L
.she herself was my informant, was :
3 quiet reply.