New Britain herald., 1927-05-04

Vpreo1o0o 9CIU0o0 MECHANICS
 vagus doubts and fsasA
 And thsn. before Neville ha,
 scarce begun to tell Carmel elit,
 valdon the story hs had promised
 Hubby came to them and deliver
 ed . message from Mr. Pelham ask
 ing for their presence in Room J.
 This particular bellboy was ,
 favorite with the management
 because of his ready and willing
 service as well as his native wi
 and understanding. Already tho
 manager was planning to train th<
 little chap up in the way he should
 go to become later . valuable
 clerk in the hotel
 Tho only objection that could be
 raised asainst tho boy was hia overweight. This his superiors
 endeavored to reduce by advising
 the little gourmand against over-
 eating and under-exercising. So far, they had not effected much
 improvement, but they persevered
 hopefully. and meantime they
 called on Hubby. whose census
 name was Thomas Riordan. for
 any errands that required a dash of brains.
 A little unwillingly, Neville rose to obey tho summons. and they followed the boy to tho room des- ignated.
 Were sorry to seem persistent in our appeals to you. MT. Me- ville." Pelham said, apolosetically. but there is no one in the hotel who knew MT. Folsom 50 well as you seem to. Wherefore. see no other way but to ask your advice, or rather. your approval of my procedure. After all. 1t is merely a matter of form, for there is no choice possible on my part. Doctor Manning. here. informs me that Mir. Folsom was killed while in the ocean. Therefore, am bound to report the matter to the au- thorities at once. But I deemed it wise to tell you of this, for until Mr. Folsom's sister can get here, know of no one who Is in any way concerned in hts inter ests.''
 You did just right, Mir. Pel- ham," Carmelita returned. not waiting for Neville to speak. "Mr. Neville Is the only friend of MT. Folsom's here that we know of. And surely. if anyone else knew him, he would come forward and say 50. At any rate. MT. Neville will take charge in any way he can until Miss Folsom comes. Will you tell mo how MT. Folsom was killed?"
 But Pelham had many matters on his mind. Chief among them was to get out and mingle with the guests of his hotel, in a hope that he could set at rest the seeth- ing interest that was already mak- ing itself noticeable.
 Doctor Manning will tell you all." he said, rather nervously. And Mir. Dixon. here, will do whatever is necessary"
 He slipped through the door, and Dixon immediately assumed leadership.
 Doctor Manning saw Mir. Fol- som this morning as he was car ried from the ocean and laid on the beach. As nothing was asked 1 of Doctor Manning except whether or not MT. Folsom was dead at the time, he pronounced life extinct, and then left the matter entirely in charge of the beach authori- ties. The body was brought here at once. and as Doctor Manning had luncheon engagement else- 1t is only just now that he has returned and responded to our call for a death certificate. But here and now, having made ] further examination of MT. Fol- som's body. Doctor Manning tells us that death was not due to nat lral causes. Perhaps. Doctor, you will tell Mir. Neville the facts of the natter"
 Manning was of small stature, and possessed of the pompous dig 1ity and sense of personal import lnce that small men sometimes exhibit.
 He cleared his throat and, rais- ng his hand, shook an impressive orefinger as he said:
 Mind you, I was not called this in any official, or even capacity. I was mere- y asked, as the nearest medical nan, whether the man carried in rom the surf was dead or alive. his question answered at once. s life was positively extinct. hen, no further responsibility de- olving on me. went my way, not roaming of any other reason for he mans demise than some nat ral cause. But as I had not been sked to determine this cause, I aw no reason for obtruding my urther services. and I went about ny business. As 1t chanced, -ent away from the hotel for lncheon, and I have only just The management had ot called in any other doctor, 5 there was no thought of. foul lay, and so they merely waited or my return to ask for a certifi- ate of natural death. But when
 examined the body, I found at nee that the man had been done , death."
 Though neither of the absorbed steners spoke . word. their faces sked the unuttered question, and le doctor went on.
 "It is not only mysterious ase, but a most unusual, probab- unique one. Mir. Folsom was