Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-03-12


1T was a very simple and straight
forward case" Francis said slowly.
oliver Hilditch is the principal part
ner in an American financial company
which has recently opened offices In
the West End. He seems to have ar
rived in England about two years ago,
to have taken a house in Hill street,
and to have spent a great deal of
money. A month or so ago. his partner
from New York arrived in London, a
man named Jordan of whom nothing
was known. 1t has since TRANSFERRED.
however, that his journey to Europe
was undertaken because he was unable
to obtain certain figures relating to the
business, from Hilditch. Oliver Hill
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 it is certain,
from the evidence of the clerk, that
some disagreement took place between
the two men. They dined together,
however, apparently on good terms, at
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 Hilditch'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 them?" 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, it was Impossible to get at any
figures. Hilditch declared that Jordan
had only small share in the business,
from which he had drawn a considera-
Bile income for years, and that he had
not the slightest cause for complaint"
What were H:lditch's movements
that EVENING"" W.Imore asked.
mot soul seems to have seen him
after. he left Regent street." was the
somewhat puzzled answer. His own.
story was quite straightforward and
has never been contradicted. He let
himself into mis- house with a latch
key after his return from the Cafe
Royal, drank whisky and soda in the
library, and went to bed before half
past eleven. THE whole affair.""
Francis broke off abruptly in the
middle of his sentence. He sat with
his eyes fixed upon the door, silent
and speechless.
What in Heavens name is the mat
ter, old fellow?" 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 u.s."
"And the woman with him?" Will
more exclaimed, under his breath.
Ills wifer'
To reach their table, the one con-
corning which Francis and his friend
had been specializing, the new arrivals,
piloted by Louis, had to pass within a
few feet of the two men. The woman,
serene, coldly beautiful, dressed like a
Frenchwoman in unrelieved black, with
extraordinary attention to details,
passed them by with a careless glance
and subsidized into the chair which
Louis was holding. Her companion,
however. as he recognized Francis, hes
itated His expression of somewhat
austere gloom was lightened. A pleas
ant but tentative smile parted his lips
He ventured upon a salutation, half
nod, half a more formal bow. saluta-
ton which Francis instinctively re-
turned Andrew Wilmore looked on
with curiosity.
$50 that is Oliver Hilditch?' he muir
INJURED
THAT is the man." Francis observed,
of whom last evening half the people
in this restaurant were probably asking
themselves whether or not he was
guilty of murder. Tonight they will be
wondering what he is going to order
for dinner. 1t is strange world"
Strange, indeed Wilmore assented.
This afternoon he was in the dock,
with his fate in the balance-the con-
demned cell or a favored table at
Claridge's. And your meeting! One
can imagine him gripping your hands,
with tears in his eyes, his voice broken
with emotion, sobbing out his thanks.
And instead you exchange polite
bows. 1 would not have missed this
situation for anything"
"Tradesman Francis scoffed. zone
can guess already at the plot of your
next novel;"
He has courage" Wilmore declared.
HE has also very beautiful compan-
ion. Were Won SpriouS Francis vvhnn