New Britain herald., 1927-05-16
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! nctlS or d dOZen others, seems ! terrible thing to do."
 AM this is logical and even | ethical from the standpoint ot your uncle's victims. But, on the other hand, he was murdered. and i his murder ought to be avenged. No matter how great villain Gar | rutt Folsom had been. it doesn't cxculpatc the man who killed him. .
 T suppose not, but as l said. I'd hate to bring unjust suspicion on q lot of innocent men. and then perhaps not strike the right man among them.'
 It's a big question. ana f will require some thinking over before We can settle it. Look here, isn't Roger Neville an associate in business with you uncle?"
 He was in some ways. You see. Uncle Garrett had several lines Of business and many varied interests. all of which brought in money. Neville was with him in some of these schemes. But I've TO reason to think or assume that Roger Neville had any part in or even any knowledge of these things I speak Of"
 Well, we must ask Neville"
 "Do it guardedly. for if he knows nothing about il all. We don't want to enlighten him.
 Then again, would it not be wise to let your aunt in on this secret? To be sure. she would be dismayed to learn of your uncle's wrong doing. but as you have said yourself, Miss Folsom can stand shocks with forttudc. And it may he she would rather know tho truth, however bad. than to be kept in ignorance of it."
 ''1 daresay it may be so. But my aunt so revcres and chcrishes her brothers memory, that it would go hard with her to learn he was less than she thorA1t him"
 Well. leaving that question for the moment. let us get down to brass tacks. You see. your aunt has engaged me to investigate this case for her. Now. have a right 10 lie down on the job. because it sccms 10 he leading into an un- pleasant ficldo Moreover. is there not q possibility that you are mis- taken. al least to the extent or weight of these judgments your uncle held over his victims heads""
 You don't see it quite straight, Riggs. ] have reason 10 believe that my uncle. while not what may be called a professional black mailer. yet had few victims whose secrets he knew. and whom he ground down 10 the last de- gree. I believe that anyone of these-say a half dozen - would have murdered him gladly if they had thought they could do it with out getting caught And now one of them did murder him and get away with if, and to bring forward the evidence I speak of would be 10 arouse suspicion of the whole six - though that's only an ap- proyimate number and lay a black accusation for life on the great majority of innocent ones. And, at the same time. probably not get the real criminal at all"
 How many of these victims you speak of are down here at Ocean Town""
 That's just the worst of if. I know of two or three, but there may easily he more whom I do not know. Any one of them may be inc murderer"
 Complicated situation. And yet, have We choice in the matter? Must We not follow where the way is pointed out? At any rate. old man, l guess you'll have 10 let me look through those letters you speak Of"
 Tite Riggs chuckled 10 himself at the thought that Tubby's pre- cious secret was thus openly an- nounced by Pelton.
 IlSSS nau IOOkcu forward 10 q diplomatic effort on his part 10 get the nephew of the dead man to exhibit his unclc's papers. And here he was fairly thrusting them on Riggs attention.
 Was he. though? Was he the in scnuOus, straightforward character Ee appeared to be-
 His attitude about wanting to 1 shield his uncle's memory as far | as possible was all right. but could ! Riggs l,e sure that the letters and i q documents bn was now about to ! inspect were intact as when Pelton |, had found them, or had he tam | pcrcd with q lot and abstracted |