Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-06

mot now. The detective mouon-
ed him away, and Geoh reached IN
the tool box for his cap and tnen
strolled off down the terrace steps.
But as soon as he was out OF slgnt
from above he felt in the torn lining
Of the cap for the precious bit OF
soft, glossy, black fabric which ne
had secreted there.
Reassured of its safety. he went
on whistling his gay but monotonous
rerefrain OF the morning, at nrst
softly, then shrill and clear as ne
approached the boathouse. As ne
expected, two youthful, ANXIOUS
faces peered cautiously at him from
| around the corner of the tny
| veranda which faced the sound.
| Affecting not to notice them ne
stopped and ran his hand down one
| after another of the concrete pies,
but when he reached the one near
| est to them at the waters edge the
| whistle ceased.
| "'Tain't any O my business" he
| spoke as if to himself, "but | kinder
think somebody's been missed from
| the house. That young lady who's
| visitin' there. Miss Sherwood, just
come lookin' round outside, real
| anxious.
She's on the terrace now, but I
uou Techoii sue QudAhteu VII
that path leadin' out back o the
garage"
| Cutting short the grateful thanks
OF the pair by renewed Whistling, he
| turned and started for the terrace
| once more. But he silenced his re-
| frain abruptly before he reached the
steps, and ducked hastily through
| clump of bushes beside them until
he stood just beneath the spot where
he had left the detective. Miss Sher-
woods low, clear tones came dis
tinctly to his ears.
Eyes, I understand perfectly. I
make my home in New York with
Mrs. Harper Middleton on Park
avenue. . None except some
distant cousins of the same name
from whom I have not heard in
years"
The unintelligible rumble Of the
| detectives voice interviewed, and
then, at intervals, her replies.
"A frightful shock, naturally, al
though l am merely a friend of the
family. Mr.. Bernhard was man
who will not soon be forgotten by
those who really knew him. -
believe that l must have been the
last of the household to see him
alive, except for Carp, when he went
to lock up, for Miss Cayley had re-
tired some time before and Mrs Cay
ley preceded me by a few minutes.
In the library. Mr.. Bernhard
asked me to go for sail this after
noon, / remember, II he could ar
range to return from town in time
No, certainly not. Nothing
whatever of that sort! 1 have told
you that am just friend Of Mrs.
Cayley and not It particularly init
mate one! This is the first time
that / have ever been a house guest
of hers, in town or country"
The indignation of the young wo-
mans disclaimer made the nature of
Sergeant Eliot's question plain, and
Geoff waited to hear no more, but
keeping close to the house wall. he
made his way to the front and in at
the entrance. Dr. Hood was Just
crossing the patio from the staircase
to the dining room, half leading and
half supporting the shaking form OF
the old butler; he beckoned i'm
peratively. Geoff sauntered along in
their wake until they had entered
the room and he heard Henry's
quavering tones.
"Oh. Mr.: Dunn, sir! This is a sad
day for all of u.s."
~ day of shocking changes. in
deed, Carp" Dunns low, still dazed
voice replied; and then the doctor
reappeared in the patio.
Il want you to hear this. Geoff."
lie whispered. II told you it was
somebody Bernhard knew well and
perhaps expected. but I guess it
wasn't quite the way ] thought
and my theory is knocked into
slnlthereens! Go into the pantry: Ill
open the door between on a crack"
With wary eye on the opposite
gallery lest Lefty appear, and a
| quick glance or two toward the
library from which the subdued
sound of voices still issued, Geoff
hurried to the small door leading to
the pantry and slipped in silently.
"Henry,' DIR. Hood was saying in
MS most persuasive tones. Mrs.
Cayley wants you to tell the truth
and all the truth as far as YOU know
IT.. Mr.. Dunn has just told me some
thing that he is going to repeat to
you, and | want you to say whether
you ever heard anything about it or
not; whether it was ever discussed
by Mr. Bernhard and any of the
family at home in your hearing. Do
you understand ?"
IL, think l do, sir" Henry's
voice had risen a note, as if it al
ready anticipated what was coming
and was apprehensive of it, 81
haven't seen Mrs. Cayley, sir, since
early morning. and | don't know
that she would wish to have me
mention what might have been said
at hOme--?'
"She wishes everything done
everything told. that will help to find
the murderer of her brother, no mat
| ter what else should be brought in
She gave me that message herself!"
the doctor interrupted. Tell Henry
! what you told me, Mr.. Dunn.
Il said that for the last three or
TOUR years Mr. Bernhard had been in
fear for his life" The secretary's
low voice had steadied and now it
rang out with unexpected firmness.
Il said that he knew he had some
enemy who was biding his time and
would get him in the end. said
that he was man who walked in
the constant shadow of DEATH"
Mr.. Bernhard didn't know what It
was to be afraid of anything nor
anybody, sir. that I ever heard Of"
Henry cried. Tiff he did have
some enemy who-who might have
| threatened him. 1t didn't brighten
MIN, for he wasn't afraid of death
itself"
But he did have such an enemy,
He had been threatened with death,
and you and the family knew it,"
| DR.. Hood exclaimed.
Henry Carp did know it," Dunn's
level tones followed with almost sin
lister insistence upon the medical ex-
| aminer's accusation. you knew
when the anonymous letters began
coming on certain days OF every
year. and how he defied them. He
never would admit that he guessed
who sent them or why, and prhaps
| he didn't know the identity of his
| enemy hut he knn,r thn rnnrnr Iii