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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1908-04-09, Page 6The Marathon Mystery A Story o} Manhattan By BURTON U. STEVENSON Author of "The 1lolladay Gasc" Cop.YrlIht. f$0#, by Henry Hole and CDmpany THE WINGTIA)tTHL1 S, APRIL 9, 49Q8 CHAPTER XVIII. -1'124 horizon was gray with the coming dawn, but it was stili too dark on the pier to see anything distinctly, so they 'went slowly back to the boathouse, and eleffetbower turned back to Make la pore detailed examination of the body, ""Dr. Wise," be asked, after a 'mo- ment, "from which direction sbould you say t'ese blows were struck?" "From directly' in front," answered the doctor promptly. "But I see he has a pistol at his belt. Why did he not tefend himself? Why should he allow himself to be beaten down?" As he spoke be lifted one of the mus- cular hands. Then, with a little ex- clamation of surprise, be bent and ex- amined it more closely. "Come nearer, gentlemen," be said, his face flushed with excitement. • "I want you to witness t'at he has snee- ring between his angers" They stooped and looked as he Lucie eated. They could see that the hand clasped tightly some small, dark ob- ject, "Let us see what it is," Ileffeibower .continued, and bent back the ntiffeuing angers. The object fell out into has hand. He held it up in the glare of the light so that all might see. It was a button with a little shred of cloth attached. "If we eau find t'e garment t'at t'is came from," said the coroner trium- phantly, turning it over and looking at :it, "we shall probably find t'e murderer. It iss a good clew." Ile placed the -button carefully in his .pocketbook and turned to the window. "I t'ink it iss light enough," he sald;, "to take a look at t'e scene of t'e .crime. I shall t'en return to Babylon." They went -• together down the pier to the spot where Graham had fallen. The rain had ',washed away nearly all the blood stains. His rifle lay ou the pier beside the chair in which be bad been sitting. The chair was overturned. "But t'e wind may have done t'at." said the coroner when Delroy pointed out that the overturned cbair suggest- ed uggested a struggle, "or maybe he knocked it over when he fell. Let's have a look :at t'at little cage." , He pulled up the rope. The Iid of the cage was open, but it did not seem to be injured. "Maybe t'e waves proke it open," :suggested Heffelbower. "They couldn't have done that," ob- jected Delroy. "See; here's how it fastened," Be closed the lid and snapped into vplace three small but very strong ;looks, which Iocked automatienlly. $effelbower opened his lips to say, eitenething more; then changed his naiad, closed them and turned away with a significant smile. Fie examined the knots in the rope, the pier, the. wa- A Prized Cough Cure "I have not boon without a bottle' of t7oltsfoete Expectorant in the house for over nine years. At that time I procur- ed it for a bad cold I had. It worked each Wonders then that it has been a. household remedy ever sineo, and wo will leave no other for eoughs and colds ---it is so pleasant to take, and all of my eltildren look for it as soon as they get a cold at all. Nearly all of them have been subject to croup, and that's when i And Coltsfoote Expectorant use- ful. You are welcome to use this testi- monial taI as you t h. n y t wsM1 S. LEWIS NIGIT. Free Sample of Coltsfoote Expectorant will be seat to any person sending their name and address and naming this paper. It has established a wonderful record as a successful euro for coughs, colds, sore throat, croup, whooping cough, bronchitis and all irritated con- ditions of the thro. t anti chest. It is the preacription of it specialist in. nnedicino. At allood druggists, ii3c. .Dr, T. A. slocnm, Limited, Toronto. Send for :'rota Sample Teeter, Vet thehit afisuea3nff;`Qraham"sliir'ciifefitq the water. tens of tate bay, on welch, just beyond the pier, .a small boat was riding at audios. "T'e boat iss yours, I suppose, Mr. Delroy?" he asked. "Yes; it has ' been thele ready for use since Saturday." As he spoke a gust of wind simile the boat in toward them. Young Graham, who was standing ou the extreme edge of the pier, glanced down into it and uttered II sudden exclamation, "What's that?" he cried, with arm outstretched. The others followed the gesture, bat a second gust swung the boat away, Without answering, Graham. sprang into the water and with a few sirOken reached the boat. He climbed into It and untied it from the buoy. Then, sa the instant another gust of wind came from the ocean, he released his held. Tho boat was swept against the pier. Ile fended ber off with the boat hook and made fast. "This is what I meant," he aid, and pointed to a pistol lying at eet. They stared down at it,' a It was the coroner who spoke ftres . • "Pass it up," he said. He turnetlb it over carefelte hie hand, It was a ane type of the Smith & Wesson. It was Nile leaded. None of the chambers had berm discharged. "Ah," he said, "see yens," ands pointed to a clot of blood on the bu "And, see, here are some initials --J. T. D. 'Whose are fey?" "They are John Tolbert Drysdale's,;" answered Delray in a low voice.. CHAPTER XIX. tlet a tall moment the coroner stood looking down at the pistol in his hand without speaking, but bis face bard- ened and grew stern, so far as lay in the power of a countenance so rubi- cund. "I t'ink I shah have to see air. Drys- dale sbefore rys- d le,before I go back to Babylon," he said:•"But first let us try to account for tee presence of t'is pistol in t'at boat." "How can it be accounted for?" de- manded Delroy impatiently. . "Good heavens! I tell you Jack Drysdale never tented that man. Perhaps he was boating yesterday. No; he was In New York?yesterday-well, Sunday, then— and had the'pistol with him and lei it in the boat by mistake. How else• could it have got there? The murderer wouldn't have put it there.'.: «Nobody's used th' boat, sir," said William. "How do --you know t'at?" asked the coroner sharply. "Because, sir, I tied it t' the buoy, an' I know my knot. It's tit' same ene I jest untastened." "Nobody went out except Mr, Drys- dale," spoke`"up Thomas. "I was in th' vestibule till nearly midnight, when Ur. Delroy told me t' go to bed." "You saw Mr. Drysdale come is i "Yes, sir, an' I never saw anybofiy, so worked up an' nervous -like." e'Do you remember What outer gate anent he worer' "Ile wore his raincoat, sir. I helped ham on, an' off with It." "Where are t'e raincoats kept?" "They usually hang oil the rack in' th" vestibule, sir. Thar dale's coat that Me. D bow." "Yen;' paid Delroy, Io .•.,,, r b It; "I didn't notice. I , in such a hurryeee Be. stopped, atm,. tor the coat, his face suddee The others follert s glance. The top butdon of'the coat was miss - i. It had +e'viden'tly been wrenched dray with violence, for the cloth was badly. torn. _ Y Amid a silence strained, absolute, the coroner took from his pocketbook the button he had found' In Graham's hand. "I believe Mt, Drysdale will find it difficult to explain t'is, gentlemen," he said, his face glowing more and mote, and he held against the place the but- ton be bad found. It fitted exactly; the button matched the others on the coat; the shred of cloth was of the same color and ma- terial as the remainder of the garment. It was a proof there could be no dis- puting. "Let us go up to t'e bouse and have a talk with Mr. Drysdale," said the coroner. They foliaged hint in sllenee from the boathouse and up the broad gravel path. "Shall I have Drysdale called down?" asked Delray as they stepped inside. "No," said the coroner; "I'd prefer to see him in leis roam." "Very well,, the other aequleseed, and led the way tbrottgb the still deserted ball and up the stair. At the top, Tretnaiue turned to the Coroner. "If you don't mind," he said, "I'll go an to my room. I'm feeling pretty well used up;' The others went on to the next door. Delroy knocked. "Who's there?" queried Dryadttla'at *oleo, upr 1104" called- Delroy "Wive got to see you en Sonne] ratlid;r important business." "Important business]" Drysdale re- peated, and they beard bits cross the room. The the door was dung open, "Come in—why, what the deuce is ell this about, Dickie?" "Come in aad shut the door, rate#," replied. Delroy quietly. "This gentle, man is Coroner Heffelbower of Ilaby. Ion. l' Ie wishes to ask you a feSV giieetlons," Drysdale answered with a stare Rf amazement, but be stood aside and let them pass into the room. "1 was packing, DIeWe," be said. "I've got` to go back to New York today, to look after some investments. I'd like to stay, old wall, but I really can't" -- Something in the faces of his audi- tors stopped him, and he changed color. "Sit dowu, Mr. Drysdale," said the coroner solemnly, himself taking g chair, "Our business tasty take some little time. You own a revolver, I believe." "Yes," said Sack, "a Smith & Wes- son. I was just looking for it, When I opened my trunk just now I missed it." "How long has it been since you saw it?" "I can't say—two or three days, per- haps." - "Did you bave your revolver last night?" "No; I haven't seen It for a day two, I tell you," "Iss t'is your revolver?" asked the eoronor, producing the weapon. Drysdale took it and looked at it with and air of astonishment, "Why, yes," be said. "Where did you get It?" "And isst'is your raincoat?" "Yes; but what"— "You wore it when you went out last night?" "Yes; but I insist"— "Mr. Drysdale," asked the coroner sternly, "for what purpose did you go out Inst night, and where did you go?" Drysdale sprang to bis feet, his face red with anger. "Why, you infernal busybody!" he cried. "It's none of your business." "T'en you refuse to answer?" "I most certainly do, and I think you'd better go back to Babylon." "I shall go back in dug time, Dir. Drysdale," retorted the coroner in a cool voice, holding up his hand. "Per- haps you have as yet not beard of t'e murder committed here last night and of t'e robbery which accompanied ib?" Drysdale paled suddenly; his hands were trembling. "Murder!" he repeated blankly. "Robbery!" "Precisely. Graham, t'e gardener, was murdered last night and Mrs. Del- roy's pearl necklace stolen. You were t'e only person who left t'e house. Your revolver was found beside him. T'is button, tors from your coat, was found in his hand. I hope you will now per- ceive t'e wisdom of giving us a retailed account oryour movements while you Wee away from t'e house." Drysdale had listened with a grow- ing pallor. when the coroner bad fin- ished lie was fairly livid, and..be passed his band. helplessly before his eyes. But be did not speak. "Well?" asked -1Teffeibower impa- tiently,after a moment. Drysdale took down his hand and steadied himself against the back of bis chair. "'I have nothing to say," he mur- mured hoarsely. `gear -you persist in t'at decision?" asked the coroner sharply. "I certainly do." "Then," said Heffelbower, rising In his turn, "in t'e name of t'e lav, I shall haf to arrest you. Please finish your dressing." Drysdale was ready in a few mo; ments, and the little party passed out into the hall. Suddenly from the farther end came the swish of skirts, and Grace Croydon appeared, radiant as the new day. She paused in astonishment as she saw the group, Then' she came forward. Her eyes went anxiously from face to face. "What is it, 1Richard?" she netted. "What has happened?" I Delroy laughed a mirthless laugh. "Enough and to spare," he answered. "They're arresting jack, bere, for mur- der." "For murdert Ob. why did yon kill him?" she cried, turning upon her /over. "Why did you not wait"-- "Teill him!" echoed tielroy` "Sot he' tiara..... . _... _ - - flEFORII I►Hi3 iAFTER TREATMENT.vii Oauadian " Tetterine is an absolute, certain tore for 1:?ezema, Berne Rosea, Tatter, Pimples, Blackheads, ?tingwonu, Barbers' Itch Scalddead, Itching Piles.Uleera, Sores, and all cutaneous and facial blemishes.. Has been thoroughly and successfully tested in hundreds of so caned incurable cases.. R is entirely unlike any other preparation, mixture or ointment that has been sola or pre- scribed. A few applications will convince that is has wonderful medical virtue and intrinsic merit, It is made in Canada. A good honest Cana., dian.preparatiou. l'nce one box Ihfty Cents, or five boxes Two Dollars. Mailed to any address on receipt of pries. Sold and 'recommended by all leading Drug- gists in Canada. Pamphlet free to any address. Manufactured and solid by the sole proprie. tors. The Tetterina Chorales! Co. Windsor. Ontario. Sold in Wing/tam J) 1. W,.,i ,:, ,Nclicbbon A, G Hamilton and >`, II. Walley, liru,tgits. Salt Rheum on Hands WINTER ECZEMA -It h well known that cold water aggravates eczema, and with many cold weather has the same effect and they suffer from eczema or salt rheum an the hands and chapping and cracking of the skin, . there is no treatment so effective and so lastingly beneficial to the skin as Dr. Chase's Ointment, which heals up the taw, flaming, itching sores and leaves the skin soft, smooth and velvety. Dr. A. W. Chase's Ointment Is also wonderfully successful as a cure for chilblains, which for man yy ppeople make the winter a season to he dreaded. By applying the ointment freely the dreadful itching and stinging is relieved almost immediately and its regular use prevents the return of this annoying trouble. 60 cents a box, at all dealers or Edmanson, Bates bi Co.,Toronto. Mr. J. H. Anderson, Chapartan, West.! raorelantl Co., N. B., writes t " For ten winters t was troubled with eczema 7 onmy hands and cracking of the akin, which 1 was very painful. No treatment seemed to be of benefit until I used Dr. Chuen Ointment. h brought immediate relief. took out the sore. nese, softened the skin and made a ceiaplote and Tasting cora six years ago: ti - didn't, Grace] Ilow can you think such a thing? Ile could clear himself by telling where he was last night, and he refuses to do it. Maybe he'll tell you." She turned her searching eyes to her Iovel's face. • "Mule ware you last night, Jack?" she as1:Ld. "You'll tell me, won't you?" "Tell you?" he sneered, his eyes blazing with savage auger. "Wbere was I? You ask me that?" And with a gesture of fierce con- tempt he went on down the stair. CHAPTER, XX. T was not until the Sunday evening following Tremaine's departure that I found my- self alone with Ceeily and in a position to begin that conversation from which I hoped so touch. She had arrayed herself in the same garments she had worn the first night I had met her—the gorgeous costume of the belle affranehie, in which she was most at home—but I had grown more accustomed to her and sat down near her without any great bedazzle- ment. She was lying on the couch en- gaged in rolling cigarettes with re- markable skill anal celerity and had quite a pile ou the taboret beside her. I sat and watched the supple fingers and the red, red lips and the dark face ebauging with every wave of feeling. "My friend," she said suddenly, turn, ing to inc with intent gaze, "do you know where doutloux has gone?" "No," I answered; "he did not tell me. Ile said only that his business was calling him away." "Business! Obe! And you believe that?" "Why shouldn't I believe it, Cecily?" "If it were merely business he could have taken me eking. Tambou] He is growing Weary of rue; I annoy him; I can see it. It was', of course, inevita- ble. Soon he will be sending me away. Ole!" And she stretched her arms above her head with that gesture I had seen before. "Ab, well, d'amour, de vires et d'oublis!" And she laughed, but_I fancied there was a sob beneath the laughter. "At least I shall be again at St. Pierre." Suddenly there came a soft hissing from the little cage over the radiator. "Ah, I must feed Pe Fe; she is call- ing me!" she cried, and she sprang up, ran to the next room and came back with a little wine in n glass. I stood and watched her without be- ing greatly impressed. Fe Fe seemed very harmless and lethargic—evidently the climate of New York, even tbough mellowed by the radiator, 'did not agree with her, "Of course Tremaine will go back with you," I assured her. I was won- dering if she really suspected. his in- tention. "No; he will not," she said decidedly. "But," she added, with an electric flash of the eyes, "he may come in time." I lighted another cigarette. "Where did you meet Item, Cecily?" "Ile came to St. Pierre three, four years ago. Ile saw me one .day stand- ing at the door of my house in the Rue Peysette," "Do you know where he came frons?" "No; it mattered nothing to me." "He never talked about his past?" "His past? No, no. What was it to us? We bad a pretty, pretty place at Fond-Corfie. Tambou'. I wish I was there now!" "You were happy there?" "Yes—except for the times doudoex was in his black spells." "Isis black spells?" "Yes—oh, then every one ran from him --even I. Ile was terrible --raving and cursing erseer Johnson." "Johnson?" I repeated, with a sud- den leap of the heart. "Who was he, Cecily?" "Ile was doudoux's zombi," she answered with conviction, and crossed herself, "Then lie didn't live at Fond-Corre?" "At Fond-Corre? Oh, no! He was n zombi --in the air, in the earth, every- where. Doudouz would fight with him en hour at a tinge. Oh, it was ter - 7 lemma back in nay chair and stretched the 811101 C0 from my cigarette circling upward. I remembered the letter that had been tattooed on the man :ill i 1 arm i~ the killed in suit fourteet . a So Trennaine ]lad some cause to hate him—lie bad helped him, bad supplied him with whisky, with money, through, fear and not through friendship. To establish that Was to take another step forward. "Did be have those spells often, Cecily?" t asked at last. "01, no; sometimes notf n I e a or ]noxi]] . When, pht, the zombi would] charm hint." 61Vith' t1 -Mile scrap of paper, yes. There would ewe a letter; doudoux voik11d open it; always itt It there would be a little piece of paper. Sonletlmes . it had writing on it, sometimes print Mg, an tholigb it had been cut from e newspaper. Then, talnbou, doudoux's face would; grow blaek, be would tear the paper let° little, little bits, uttering curses the anent terrible, and we would all ruts!" Cllppings from a newspaper: Ilene was a coincidence. But- I cudgeled my brain vainly. I could form no theory as to why a clipping should cause those fits of rage. "The last one, though, did not give him a spell," she added, after a mo- ment. "We were watching the sunset out across the water when IDodo1 brought the letter to him, This time it was printing and writing both. I got up, ready to flee, for I thought that would be • twice as bald But no. He sat reading it, and his eyes glistened. Then he sent me ruuning tor his bat and hurried away to St. Pierre. When he came back lie told me that we were to conic at ouee to New York." "1'ou have some very pretty jewelry, Ceeily," T salad, reucu::t a:o:eat •)road•!] of kohl that glean:e.l itt het- hront. laughed like a pleased child. "Yes. Are they not pretty, chc? Let (lne show you," and, springing from the eraeh, elle ran inta lien bedrooul. In at .uo:tient She was back again, e box Of inlaid] ebony In gar hands. "Seel" she cried, and threw back the lid. Indeed they were worth seeing, and it was not wholly to disarm her sus- picions, if she had any, that I linger- ed over talent. At last I carne to the piece I wanted. '.Here is a beautiful pin," I said, "an opal in a circle of diamonds," and I hold it up to the light. "But see, Cecily, one of the diamonds Is missing. iiave you lost it?" "1)oudoux lost it," she answered. "Ile wore It sometimes as a pin for his T unwrapped the little brilliant and ap- plied it to the ];weak in the circle. scarf. Tambou! I was angry when l found it gone. You should have heard me!" "I have a diamond," I said, getting out any pocketbook, "that might do hi replace it. Let us see if it will fit." I unwrapped] the Iittle brilliant and applied it to the break in the circle. Then my heart fell. It was evident in an instant that it had not come from there. It was much smaller than the other stones—differently cut. - "No, it will not do," I stammered at last. "It is too small," and I returned It to my pocket. "I shall have to get you another trinket, Cecily. Good night." y CHAPTER XXI. ` T seemed that my,sudden de- parture had offended Ceeily more deeply than I imagined, for when I knocked at her door next evening she told me curtly that she was not feeling well and in- tended going early to bed. So I went back to my room, rather glad of the chance of an evening to myself. Besides, Cecily was a good deal like the highly flavored dish—to be fully enjoyed only at intervals. And, too, there was only one.point as yet nuset- tleal—where she and'Trea'aine had been the slight of the unurcicr. That, I felt, could be cleared up without much die. ficultythe first time she received me, whieh would probably be not later than tomorrow. I had a premonition that that line of inquiry, too, would lead nowhere, that Cecily would prove by a word that neither she nor Tremaine had been anywhere near the Marathon at the hour of the crime. In any event I had plenty of time, and I could spend this evening very profitably in weigh- ing and classifying luy discoveries, be getting a fresh start. As I opened my door I noticed it scraped on the carpet, and an examina- tion showed inc that the carpet bad Otte loose along the silt. I stepped to the speaking tube and blew down it. "Ilello:" called up a voice in a ma meat. - "Is that you, Itiggius?" 3 "Yes. sir." "Th1+ 1s Mr. Lester. Conga up after awhile, Will yeti? I've a little job lip here I want you to do." "All right, sir. Will half an hour do?" "Oh, yeel Any time this evening," I got out pips, tobacco and niatehea most eonlfo table u I t r and sat dawn t1 �y elixir. 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