Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-16

life, Zoe Dawn, and that Il young
embezzlcr had committed suicide IN
crash Of Consolidated Lead Stock.
Geoff Offers a Suggestion
Consolidated Lead. The name
rang in Geoff's cars while he fed the
dogs and the mare, performed ms
additions and prepared supper 1or
which he all at once discovered mat
lie had no appetite. 1t held no
significance for Doctor Hood, but he
had not heard Robbins story, that
day. Of the pititul suicide of the
young embezzler. Lawrence Shirley.
| or about the curious coincidence of
| its date and that Of the financial
! crash which had preceded 1t with inc
! dates OF tho anonymous letters.
| Geofr sat down with his pipe on
| the porch steps, to await the honk
of the doctors car from the road,
thankful for the respite afforded him
| to ponder over what he had learned
| that day and make UP his mind how
much he would disclose. IL he were
mixed up in the investigation willy
,, nilly and couldn't quit, as Doc Hood
himself had insisted, then there
were some points in it he meant TO
| work out in his own fashion.
His thoughts wandered however
to William Dunn's inexplicable re-
tusal of Benkard's bequest to him.
The man was broken i'll health and
it was easy to see that his days of
usefulness to any other employer
would be numbered even If he could
succeed in obtaining Il now position.
Twenty-Five thousand would have
meant security for a future that APP
peared none too bright.
That was problem, however,
which must be left to the future.
Geoff, himself, could see only step
or two ahead Of him on the path
he had chosen. but as he reflected
those few steps became as plain as
if n searchlight had been thrown
across them. BY the time the
wheeling cough of the car sounded
over the meadow, his decision was
made.
Were lotc." the doctor announc-
cd, as they ratified off down the
road. "Sim Perkins ran Il nail i'll
his foot some days ago, and hes
poisoning"
THAT orncry cuss's blood has
allus been 'pisened," commended
out to die after overworkin her for
| nigh onto sixteen year when found
her hounderin' round i'll that first
big snowstorm last winter and took
Eer home? It's funny he amt sent
for You afore this If it's some days
since he got hurt, for he's precious
| careful % his own hide
There's something funnier yet
about it, He says he stepped on a
piece of driftwood while he was
wading around on the shore, but he
wouldn't tell me just how long ago
it was; says he forgets. What do
YOU suppose he was doing down
there?'
"Snoopin' round somebuddy's
boathouse, likely, to see what he
, could pick up. Dunno when he
amt thievin.." Geoff dismissed the
reprobate with shrug. Time TO
turn the flights on. Doc? It's
mighty dark long here
Il guess it's safe enough now. -
| the doctor responded. whatever
took YOU into the city today? 1t
wasn't some notion you got about
Lane, was it?"
II wanted to see a Teller that
works for Mr.. Ashc. young Rupert S
! father" Geoff's reply was con-
| scientiously literal. Il picked up
| more'n a little, one way and another,
| bout Lane and Bernhard today, but
! I'll tell it to you when we see what
this detective from headquarters has
| found out. / got a sort o s'picion.
but | may be dead wrong and |
amt goins to git myself mixed up
in this business worsen | be-
Doctor Hood glanced sidewise at
his companion. but the rugged,
homely face was set and deter
mined in the dim glow from the
lamps. and from past experience he
! knew better than to pursue the sub
! icct further. Geoff would unbosom
himself in bis own good time and
not minute before.
The ancient car ratified and creak-
ed but gathered speed, and the titled
fields gave place to pasture land and
stretches Of woods, with here and
there a dark and silent farmhouse.
The distance seemed interminable,
but the picnic grove was reached at
last. and theyl had scarcely pulled
! in under the shed when q figure adj
| vanced as before to meet them.
Evening. Doctor. was begin
| ming to think you and your friend
here couldn't make it." The voice
of Detective Lyons spoke from the
dense Dlack0eSS. sorry maven
got anything to report except where
our man wasn't last Wednesday
! night.
i've checked up on every friend
! and associate of his that ] could To-
| cate, but from the time he left that
| garage at Brooklands until he drove
into his own in town he seems to
have dropped off the face of the
| earth. There's just one point.
! though he wasn't riding around
| very much. / saw the garage help
er again at The Cavendish, the one
! who gave me the first straight dope
on him, and he says that II Lane
! stocked up full with gas and oil at
about the distance Brooklands is
| from the city, didn't give him the
name of the burg, OF course. only
| the approximate number of miles
| there wasn't but a little more used
| up than would bring him in. besides
| keeping the lights going for that
| time. and the water In the radiator
wasn't even hot. That looks as If
| Lane had driven straight to New
York and the car had been standing
| somewhere, not any great distance
| from the garage, for a good part of
those four hours. I'll get the goods
on him yet. though, il you'll give me