J.
12-
v -.-
1 t f . .. .'
'; V,,;
) trior
I
' V--:"
H. NO. 1.
IiUTHERFORDTON, N. C, THURSDAY JANUAR
81.00 A YEAR.
4ifil it. I
M011
mil
it.
V..
It'
b-
4. rn.!
e mine.
! iABtir cf "Nor Like Other Men, " Etc
the bilfof the weapon that had taken
the life of his friend, but he did not
tench the body or the chair in which
it rested. Once he looked toward the
deer he had left ajar but not with the
startled glance of one who expects to
discover somebody peering in upon
the scene: it was more as if he were
measuring the distance and relieving
by calculation some mathematical
doubt that still possessed him.
There was a safe in one corner of the
rccm. one of those little iron safes
O .4 -.--- CViirlght. 1XU O
?' . Tltj fYcdct .-- ran KeiivelCMr Dev.
-c$oee3opoeoooooo
. ''i; vtoti't know wliat you mean, sir,"
ivpBa-jamr;i numbly. "I only know often seen in the possession of his
Xtk-tt-jVafer willing to do anything that friend.
I'iSn do if iu doing it I can serve kirn." Tt h, n.. r t
.V'-. ow- 1;S-tu . without hesitation, and with an air of
: what I have to say. Your famillaritv that Is indescribable ee
- itf'isdcad and by the act of r.a !pcml certain bundles of documents
. , usp. . groat crime has been com- whk.a b? deposited on the floor beside
..tuvduidthat crime is the result of Jlm Tben he romovo1 tne key from
: 'fefirta- that laappeued Ions ago. 1 know the ,ock. sceeted ano;her from the ring
;.-oaiftiansj of the history that led to .
bTbtoorL btTt rnv information is verv that was suspended to it and with that
. 1 :!:au' no doubt that yon are
.:"a--waro .of.:ihany t'iinrs ccimectod with
,J;-tkls r.-.i-aii-e iUcti.ry which will assist
expected to spend tne evening tn nis
rooms with Wyndham. It was the
first tally in the score that he intended
to make against the Mexican.
Refreshments and cigars were order- 1
ed and' two hours passed while the j
men conversed upon every subject that
either could think to introduce, and at
List M was the stranger who suggested
tbtt tL hour was so late that there
was smaR chance that Pendleton would
appear at the club that night.
It was Wyndham's suggestion that
they should go out together, and thry
-tiie to uiHwre! i.Lis tangled skein. YVe
talk, of tlia'.t later. The death of
..r yfisFw. Va'1. vn must Le reported to the
'.'.iitiee- artd u the coroner at once. If
we say aii.rtniug concerning the- visit
rot- ;Cbu; : f ti'an;:;cr and the -subsequent
ccf; door, as yeu believed you had
--iCrlcsvil iiiid' iutciked it. .suspicion will
"t'Pift: iis linger at him, but we cannot
" " t3 oi'.eViug or prove one eireuni-
...tftoe.to convict l.im of the crime, and
he. v.-oulJ therefore escape. Rr con- iowe.t neau ana tight i:ps. ami then
';jiectiTg 'i'hu with the afl'air at all we he wont out of the room and sought
U'wuwH srtre.nsthen the position he is in, the one habitually occupied by James.
, C for V;;u luay be sure that I:e has plan-: There he selected a handkerchief.
.' Viijd thorocgkly to save hims;if. Oti- the which bore th-j name of the old valet.
TjV Other, Jauie.. there :v those who : returned with it to the room of
i': : -vn: suwpet t or tne crime. , iuk
ja taes stafic-a back with a cry cf hor-
i ' 1 or. :
r'lHH t me!"' he almost shouted.
''V .Jacic;;. If you look at it calm-
Iy.y!ig w-'-l see that I am right, and.
-. V 4 f if me, t'.ir.t Is prwisely what I want
:' '-':t! vrpild to believe. I want you sus
. T :''po?t d of th's eriuie. but only for .1
Vr'.-'v;i;:t why. sir. why"'
frthrtt the person who really did
fr.u-.a.v he-thrown oft hi:- s'.:r.rsl; so that
.! v.-ill have time to work out to the
w:iJ a"! of the f.u-ts onnected with the
t : i:..e that i now k'rw so little about;
so-t!:t 1 may have time to guard
rpr.'r.Ft the revoh;ti.;:' of things that I
lull cure Rurr reu 'i. S n Oe.-.ired never
to lie known; Ht t'nu; 1 tur.y be enabled
to fr.I321 wiii;: ' I U:i:-w world he his
wish Wi-i-? he sriH Plive to direct us
v hat t! do., ivr.'t Jiti.illy so that I may
In the end palsy the hand that struck
yo;:r inastt.-r to loath. Mr. Pendleton
li -1 i: a t-ho I-.v.-. James a shadow of
the past. lie g'. arded it jealously, even
fo:u me. his elosesr fr:ejd. Xew it
l'.eeotues r:y duty to work it t ut until I
Iv.vtw v.l that I am sure he meant tj ;
ti'il me ton g'.-t. Lastly. James, there
is one reason more vital than all. It
5s mare than pr Lnhle that suspicion
will fail upon ine also. I think the
tula who committed the deed will en
deavor to bring that about. If.. von
disappear, thus convincing others that
yen are guilty, it v-Td leave me free to
work: if 1 am hampered in any way.
that fact will play ir.to the hands of
te enemies of Mr. Pendleton. Will
yon !o what I wish yen to do. James?"
"I will do whatever you think best.
Mr. Wyudh:m." replied the old man
simply. "I know that Rr.rr loved you
f nd trusted you more than any other
rers-.y.i its the world. Tell me. what I
uru to do. sir. and I will do it."
"Then yen must leave the house at
euro, taking uoiidng with yon. ! will
Vs-rite an address upon this card where
you are to go. Assume the name of
Thorns Jrrdso:;. Wait: I will write a
Sine fur you to take with yen."
"Wymiham tore a leaf i'rem his notv
I:ook. wrote rapidly upon it and passed
it to the old servant-
"Give it to the lady who will admit
yon at that address. Wait there for
c.e tr.:t;i I come, no matter how long
that time may Le. Will you do it.
J amesV"
"Yes. sir."
James, very much In the manner of
0:10 who is-stupefied, found his hat and
then returned to the room where
Wyndham v.-as awaiting him. The
friend or his master was still standing
in the middle of the floor and evidently
l:ad not moved after the instant when
James left him.
"I am ready, sir," he Eaid. "Can I
would it be possible I mean are yon
willing that I should see him before
I go?"
"!o, .lames." was the calm reply.
"Go as you are. Forget that you have
Been 1dm at all except as you saw him
Inst in life. What comes after that
ah, well! Go as you are. James. Do
not forget your overecr.t The night is
cold.".
Jame3 hesitated at the door, ne
Etr-pped ar.d looked back, but Wynd-
ttiat lock witn a key. I lie Uev was :
In the lock, and from it dangled others' j strolled along the avenue side by si1 3
attached by a ring a ring that he had i as far as the hotel where the Mexican
was stopping. After tUat Wyndham
returned to the club and. finding a
number of congenial friends engaged
at one of the card tables, played with
them until daylight.
It was rarely that he did such a
thing, but that night he had especial
reasons for it. and never had he ap
peared to better advantage or played
the g.-jiwe with more scrupulous care.
Always during the game it seemed
to him that he could see his friend as
he saw hiin in the sleeping room of his
apartment sirring dead io. the chair in
the corner, and at such moments death
ly faintncf.s stole over hiin, which re
quired all his strength of will to con
quer. ! lie knew that he was incurring a
deadly risk in acting as he had done,
for if it frhould appear that he had been
to Pendleton's rooms suspicion, which
might in any case attach to him, would
in the minds cf many lake the form of
certainty.
Still for the plan that l:e had formed
during the few moment:-, when lie stood
by the window while James wept near
him he was pursuing the only logical
course. lie felt that he must take the
chances.
What nervous force he was compelled
to exert in order not to manifest the
perturbation he felt during those hours
of the night nobody but himself could
ever know, and when he left the club
in the fuli light of the early morning
in the company of one cf his compan
ions in the game it. brought the iiist
. moment of relief he had had from the
terrible strain.
At his own door he left his friend
and, saying ;hat he would get two or
three hours" sleep, entered the house
where he lived, iie knew that he was
in a position to prove an alibi for every
hour that had passed siuce he parted
with Pendleton except those that were
one opened an inner drawer of the
safe. Prom that, also, he removed the
papers, but those he placed in his
pocket. Then he relocked the drawer,
replaced the larger key in the safe
109' "Josed the door again, arranging
it as iiearly as possible as he had
tound it and deposited- the papers he
had abstracted from the safe in va
rious pockets about his clothing.
Then he sighed while lie looked again
intently upon the body in the corner.
For a moment after that he remain
ed apparently in deep thought, with
Ten minutes later he quietly left the
house, and as quickly as he could
traverse the distance he re-entered the
club where he had parted with Pendle
ton less than live hours before. He
went at ouce to the desk.
"Has Mr. Pendleton returned?" he
asked, and on being informed that be
From that, ais:, lie removed tltc pnpers.
had net he added: "You may destroy
the message I left for him. 1 expected
that he would be here a half hour ago.
When he comes in. say that I am in the
cafe." And as he turned to go to the
cafe the outer door opened, and the
very man with whom Pendleton bad
left the club entered.
Rut Wyndham did not turn his head.
He went calmly on his way to the cafe
e
CH AFTER V.
THE GESTLr.MAN FliOM MEXICO.
RAIG WYNDHAM had been
only a few moments in the
cafe of the club when a card
was given to him by one of
the servants. Upon it was engraved.
"Carlos lie Escudera y Romero, 4 Iu
caruaccion. Ciudad do Mejico."
"Ask the gentleman if he will not
join me here," he said to the servant,
and presently, approaching him. he
discovered the same personage whom
he had twice scen that evening and
whom he verily believed to be the as
sassin of Burr Pendleton.
With a lcok of unrecognition in his
eyes Wjndham rose from his chair to
receive the stranger, extending his
right hand as cordially as if he did not
believe the one it graspsd to be guilty
of ihe foulest deed he had ever known.
"Mr. Craig Wyndham?" said the
stranger interrogatively. "The friend
of Mr. Butt Pendleton?"
"Yes." replied Wyndham, noticing
that Escudera used perfect English.
"Your name is not known to me, how
ever. Will you be seated, sir?"'
"Thank you. I also claim friendship
with Mr. Pendleton. I made his ac
quaintance in Mexico, where we had
many pleasant hours together. I met
him here early this evening before the
dinner hour, in fact and expected to
see him again about this time. I have
heard him speak of ycu so often that
really the most vital between 5 and
10 -o'clock the preceding evening and
for those he must trust to nerve and
chance in case the question should
arise.
As soon as he was in his own room j
he carefully examined the papers that!
he had taken frm the safe and in the :
interest he felt in them for the time .
partially forgot the awful reason for
the esamiitatirn. j
From them he selected several which
he concealed. The others he destroyed.
But after he ha.l baihed and refreshed
himself, thus destroying all outward
appearance cf the effect of the events
of the past night cpon biro, l.e return
eel to the club for his breakfast.
He had found among the papers the
key to many tilings that he did not un
derstand, and he felt certain that as
soon as he could have a protracted talk
with old James he would be enabled to
sec his way clearly before him. The
mystery by which Fcudietcn was sur
rounded was beginning to unfold.
At the e-lub he met Carleton Biggs, a
character whose prototype may be
found in almost every club of promi
nence in New York. They belong to
the "has boons" in that they are nmong
the oldest members, are always serving
on some committee and have from
some mysterious source income suffi
cient to pay tiieir dues and purchase
nu occasional meal. But they are al
ways ready to accept an invitation to
breakfast or dine and regard their
abilities to entertain as sufficient equiv
alent for the favor. More than that,
they are ever ready to perform any
slight gentlemanly service which will
place one of tlie-ir benefactors under
obligations to repeat the invitation at
the first opportune moment. Wynd-
ham desired Biggs to perform just such
a service for him. and for that reason
invited him to take breakfast.
' When they had lighted their cigars."
Wyndham put out his feeler.
"By Jove!" he said. "It is too bad
that Pendleton has not come in. Did
you see him last night, Carleton?"
"No. I heard that he was back, but I
did not c him "
"Certainly not. Just tell him thai
it is very important that he should
meet me at tue sawyers' ciud at j
o'clock sharp. That is all. It relates
to some business matters that we tanc
Kl tbout la,st night and had not time
to finish. We were interrupted. V
gentleman he knew in Mexico came in,
and Burr left the club with him. I
have not seen him since. Duu't forget
at 2 sharp."
"All right, Wyndham."
"And I say, Carleton, make him
come. You know what a lazy duffer
he is. Come along with him .if you
will and lunch with us at the Savariu.
I'll be at the Lawyers' at 2 precisely.
Out I'll be in a hundred places between
now and then, so there'll be no chance
to get word to me. You'll be there,
eh?"
"If you have business matters io dis
cuss, per ha-, s"- -
"Bosh! There is nothing that yon
cannot hear all the world, 'or that
matter. I'll expect you. You"il see
Burr soon, won't you?"
; "Within half an hour."
1 YVyudham went do wn town then and
during the remainder of the forenoon
attended to his affairs as stoically and
as systematically as he always did.
Not once did he deviate from his usual
S habits. He went to the san e places,
saw the sums people, cracked j.'kes.
laughed aa.l in every way was just
the tame a.-i he always was io those
who knew him intimately.
Fortune favored him in one respect.
! Shortly after noon he met on the s-.ivet.
near the corner of John, Ser.or Escu
dera. I They shook hands cordially, and
Wyndham invited (he Mexican to see
the pictures ' at Stewart's. There he
, introduced him to a number o.' ac
; quaintances. and, selecting two of
. them, he asked ibem, in company with
the Mexican, to go with him to the
Lawyers' club, where he expected to
meet two friends.
"We'll all have lunch together," he
said by way of clinching the kiviration.
Thus it happened that just as beta
hands of old Trinity clock pointed at
2 the four gentlemen entered the E sui
table building together.
They had haroiv crossed the thresh
old of the entrnr.ee before Carh-t -:i
Biggs rushed forward and confronted
Wyndham.
"T thought you'd never coin?." he
said, "although, as a matter of fact,
yon are en time. I have been here
nearly an hour."
"That was foolish of you. Carle! on,"
drawled Wyndham. "I told .von that I
:;evi.
1'. e::
r'y mat l'eudle
.ed him to paj
.-. e.-'ee .leted annuity a
'.-:. a ad there were sev-
sis of like nature. The
contained the following
Where is
ham was 'still in the same position in I when the clerk at the desk told me
your name 1 entered tue ciuo imme
diately after you I took the liberty of
sending my card to you."
"I am very glad that you did so. Mr.
Tendleton and I had only just mot
when he was called away, doubtless
by you. I also expected him hereabout
this time. We will wait for him to
gether. In the meantime ba my guest,
Mr. pardon me, but I am unused to
Spanish names. May I ask how you
pronounce your name?"
"I use the tirst one of the two, Es
cudera. Yes. I did leave the club with
Pendleton. In fact, I went to his
house with him, but I remained only a
moment. 1 discovered that he vvas
very tired anil so agreed to meet him
here later, where he did me the honor
to say that he would present me to
you.
the middle of the floor. He did not
raise his head or make a sign, and the
eld servant stepped sadly into the hall
and c'osod the door.
Wyndhani still remained in the atti
tude of one w ho is listening. He could,
in fact, hear the old man's footfalls as
he descended the stairs: he could hs&r
the bang of the outer door when it
closed, and not until then did he make
a move. Even then ho only raised his
head, so that Le could listen more in
tently, and waited.
Many minutes passed in this manner,
but at last. ;:s if satisfied that there
was no chance that James would re
turn, ho closed the inside shutters at
the windows, after which be lielped
himself to a portion of the brandy on
the center table.
After that, with distinct deliberation,
he opened again the dcor which com
municated with the room where Pen
dleton's body had been discovered.
He approached it and for a moment
stood silently regarding the grewsome
aspect. - Twice he sighed deeply. Once
1j boot forward and intentlv esamned
would ba here at 2 sharp.
Burr?"
"I could not Cud him."
"Couldn't find him, ch? Well, it
doesn't much metter. Fortunately. I
did not nerd Llm."
Then he introduced Biggs all around
and added:
"Come into the P-avarin. We'll have
luneiioo:; anyhow."
Y"hen they were seated at the table
ar.d the order had been given, he turn
ed to Biggs again and asked:
"Did James teli you where he had
gone?"
"I couldn't find James either."
"That's strange."
"I went back three times and rang
repeatedly each time, but nobody
sworcd. Perhaps he did not go to his
own rooms last ni.;ht."
During this con vers.il ion Wyndham
had glaiH-'d In the- direction c f Escu
dera several times, but if the Me.!ean 1
heard what was said he gave no indi- ;
cation of it '
"Oh. yes. he did." ri plied Wyndl.r.m
in response to the last remark. "Senor
Escrrdera went there with him from
the club. Did I not so nuderstar.d yov, '
senor?" he ton tinned politely, turning
to the gentleman from Mexico. !
"What did you ask, Mr. Wyndham?" :
said Escudera calmly. J
Craig Wyndham smiled, but he found ,
it difficult to conceal the gleam of .-at '
isfaclion that came in:o his oys, fr
he felt that the Mexican had slight iy ,
overdone his part in that counter move, j
When the question was repealed., Ks-'
cudeza replied:
"Why, yes. I went with Mr. Pendle
ton from the club to 1 is place cf resi
dence. I believe it was his int"i,'io:'
to remain there last night, although I
do not know. Perhaps he has been
called away again."
The subject was changed after that,
and when luncheon was finished the
party separated. Rut Craig Wyndham
thrust his arm under Biggs' and drew
i him along with him.
j "Come with me." ho said. "I have
; one or two thing? more to attend to.
and after that we will go up town to
; gether. If vre do not find Burr at toe
club, then we will go around and P-n.-k
I him up. I shouldn't wonder if he v.-.n
sleeping and had given James orders to
admit nobody. lie has done that thing
before, you know."
tcgatee of
ten h;;-i e
to i ..
F-:r. i
er-d .,- -- r
will e:.o
clause:
"I make also the fe'lowirg express
wish: With this my last will and testa
ment I will place in the hand:; cf u:y
attorney a certain scaled envelope
which will be delivered into the ban '
cf my legatee and excc.uer. Cm'g
Wyndham, as soon as eonv.u;tnt afi :
he has been made a
tents of thb my w-il.
my executor certain daiks which I desire-
him to peiiVaoo in the event of
my death and v. hicb 1 believe he will
perform to the Lest of his ability and
which, for reasons cf my own. I do not
care to embody in this document. I
do, however, eo::.-l.l -r it .lost that 1
should here f.sk na;do fur pkieiug
such grave responsibilities up 01 hhu
and also for keeping secret ironi him
the fact that I have done so."
The will was drawn and executed im
mediately before I'enu'cHio Vp:u t d
for Mexico, and only the lawyer who
drew ii and i'c-rdioton himself wcr"
aware of it- ce:io nts. Inasmuch as
Burr Pendleton tool i:o near relative,
the will was probated without obj. -tion.
and Crelg Wyndham found him
self suddenly a very rich man.
In the meantime he met Escudera
frequently at the club, en the sire, t
and in diver:- places. Indeed it seemed
to him that it was the ir.tetit-im .f the
Mexican to throiv Lims if censori! y
in his way. but Vf. oe:i them co t':
occasion of such n.-'etings there wes
always exhiioo'u the ::;:::.' I e-.rdialhy.
E--eiuura retain- u his ;;u--si member
ship in the flu'.t. .'.w.l nivvays Wy:::'i;:! m
watt hod kirn iurihely while he a. veil
ed replies i-i certain ;:uir:es he had
sent out to Mexico and to ether phw-s.
It seemed to c-iei that !--csivro had
the air of one v. bo v.s 1 ioi-.", too .::
best he 00;:!.' wbl! le ovro'is H. e
peni:;g cf O'.U'c c;. I -. Hi but
what that event ml; - t ir:
could ne t oven c;:n.je lure.
The' interview . tv.' -.- i
and old Join;:-; h:.b t ;':e:
fact, several of tliei,: Pu; lies pedro
u is necessary only to i f . r io o::e f
them.
They !:'. c.'. u-H:'!. ft such times
boo'i ejigs-rid io c: - :. Ike i::; i-
d.oos thai le d happ-md to 1'er-iletoo
io Mo.i. ee i f:o- tie 1! ire - r f .efli
tim ' t-- the !'i-l. WyieihsiT;!
had nh ; c-uo . -i the u; .. .:f i, -
i wn:i io.-? ot . sen.;. !; :.::; w- -.
;e opinio:: the i o w.-re .r; d.
t' ( r see I be- io:. o y i
!a:i seer f-oieht the duel?"
i.uo. s
I V.i v.-
I'cuaicton was misy ror some tii.iepre
pnri eg his affairs. Then he went out.
ostensibly to the opera, but i know Le
did net go there. A.r ;! .ut midnight
i or a ii-tlo after Copla'o Agraioouto.
; who was to l.e Ills s-j:; 1. ended and
j told me so, inquiring for him. The fol
; lowir.g meniing I loceived a note in
; bis handv. rbing telling me to defer all
, fo'tioo tw: ".y hours longer than
he had tel.. me to do when he went
away, and he note was br.e-rpt by the
sr.roe person who on the preceding day
, deiivc;. -1 one to my master in the
IPO cf the COO- i l!.i;r-.-nf 1hf bote! vi;t r. ri wrev. on.
The content 4 of i lag ottt for luncheon, and. -;r what !
more important, it was t'.-.o .- on e per
son who came to me f. few h.rars be
fore Mr. I'ondlciou's ret art! and gave
me a verbal message to have cvery
t'u'ng packed a ad in r ;.onoss. t". :
last mos-age I am sure my i.ia--ter did
not send.
"1 know that Mr. Pendleton enen:: -s
in the duel with Canial i 11 .! :.. red
I know that he sh.: hoo, !.r ! "...:r-i
hiin a -!. Captain -.g- aioeole y..--t !-t -fore
r.r.r t'-i.hi left 1 be solium al.o t
the condition cf Romero. I: is iny
opinion, sir. that the lady who was
donbtb vs the real cease of the !ri
sent for iilei thai evening when be v.';:
to g-i to the .pera. and i Kliove 1 1 t
she trie.i to prevent the meeting. Th'
is ooiy guesswork. lr, bet I csimoi
help rhinklig that tin- dot was a c; o-
se'p.ieio-c of that c-nc, outer (,ti ihc
Pase.?, e.iol teat foe murder ef Mr.
Pendleton is somehow related to Loso
affairs."
"No doubt. James: 1:0 d.-ubt what
ever. But I believe we i:.-ay go b:u .:
farther than that eo l say th: t all
tbne of the occurrences, grew cut o.
the causes i-i your mos".- r's j .r.O'y io
' Mexico. We w ill h.i ve ee searcl- f n !b r
back than tae oiieyiuuer en the Its o
for the mclive for the taUio.g .:" toe life
of Fiiir PeiidJeidii. w,!S tl is
trip ;! i-ia';e with Iv.-rr the first time
yon ;:; 1 hoc;, to Mexici ':"
: Jam -s !,e.-i.::te-i ;,o:i looked awr.y fer
a n'.oiie.-o.l. 'iheo, eiere i.t Ulu:. elf than
to liis leap liiieii. !.' i:
"It cao do no l a;-::; :or me to tell
i al.'Otit it now."
: "It is yr:v dvty to tell every tbh g
that will help mo to clear up iLis mys
tery," ssi.l fib;::lh.-.;i vherplv. "That
; v. rs your second visit to Mexico, then
: "My third, sir."
1 "I:. deed! Vt II ii;e al.r-.d the ethers."
"I was there twic-. sir. with the fa
, taer of Mr. t-urr. 1: ill 1 pre vised t.ii 1
that I voile never sccak a; eib it, s.r.
to anyh-ody. aed I i;,-,ri' lie.ve until
Vx'sj.O.O;; in
YV y-O.iie :n
Isc - io
me
of
"Rid yen
whom y ..on
ce ssiod cf ,
"Yes. sir;
tiroes.-
"Fid the man v bo
Poo lleieo ti e ;vi
re- tie do -ii- : :.:
" X:-- st s .:. ;'. ! i 1- s
"X-'.''. J-.'-fo s. : ,; ',-.(;
yoo iirst knew that a
fought. How did you 1
"Mr. I"s;i- ;--.!;! to.-."
him two cr i lire.
'vas vriUi
v.-' f sand
di:"
, e- r."
!- the !'!.
i : e 1 w . s ',
"The; v
"Tl..-; r
Velio-, e-1 I
"V.'e
me v. le 0 ;
"it
i'.Jia':,: e;
ceo to Burr:"'
br: not ev v. 1 1 id:)'."
. be. Mr. V.' s 1' aa,
V.SS (; - ;ey .:..;y."
net s.r -v that p- ::r'
O 'S ( '.. : t.lst."
thr
ooli. t o;
1 1-t.
'aaidv
buv
-. T('
'. n:
I s
.::.. iviitueioti. n"e t.ave.Mt in
ie nflder auo:!wr u-nue. b'.; 1 eiiunef
t: II you that name. Mr. Wyudkam. S -cause
I !.ave lorg lten :t."
"Fc-gi Uen it. James V
"Yes. sir. I have fergettcn it."
Vi'y oilLiun did not believe this state
inert. 1 i;t To a: :o-.:n; of ::rTei:,i at
ocrhi induce James to change Lis re
ply to the question, tsi.t it was loudly
abandoned.
"Ti 11 me about your se-nn.i tri.
there, Jam, s." he proceed' d.
"We Were called ile re by tVec iiloo -:
cf the iad who was j , ;, ,j
wife. rd:e died and ,. bri ied b; .
we arrived. lie was greatly le -.-.cd.
We did ii;.t re:ia:;j very ioug -i.'.ee.l.
ten days. 1 thiok. I saw very Hill- 1 f
liiui lie. ii. as before. 1!,- t'.i.i i,.;t seen;
like hio'.s; If e.i all. and he !:ecr recov
ered from the si.cl- Aitk.oub he bv
e,l n-.any year; af.erward. if iiffeet.-;
tim until hi- leaih."'
' V.'as ti.eie a chiller v ere the:-.-(-l;:I-.!ie;i
by that see- ;id ino: i i;.:e.
James?"
"Xo. :r that is. I den't rer.lb
ki;ow. but - j!,i;:e 1..,;. i s;n!; j-r.
Pev.dlcio:: won!.! Into told tie- Lad
suck been tlie case."
"Let n -v ss'in tld--- ! ;j.-i::.v ;:; a !l!ll".
Aeeo. ei:;g to ye i:r staioiUe' ' s. Mr. Feo
d.ieton lived v;til hi- t-e :.. wife tuu
leo.s.hs jr.c.i then cau.e n-.it.b ooi-j. is
that right ?"'
"About that, sir."
"ii'.w i-o g ai'b r tb- t wes H that you
made the second trip to Mexico?"
"Al.o'U ;i .-ear a !i:;!e no re than
tket. I think. Xo. rit. paidou ::,e; it
was se :iciul:ig 2 vs l--::i a year. My
memory is no! as ci.-ar as it used to
be."
"How do y.-u ace coot for the fact
that l.e remained so long a tii!.e away
from ids bride':"
"I hardly '..now h er. to reply to that,
i kTeov tiiat he was iry foosl of leer,
and it is toy belief th.-t v.-'e u wl- e , no
north auo left ii. r I here h - i" tsret-d
that she vulu follow hir.l very ; o "..
I ihiok liiei" was son." tie.. !'. of seoie
kiiid. l-ot I never ko.-w wis.; ii v.e.s.
lie '.vas overv. . h 1 wiih bi'siuest;. !
know that he receiv. d Jt iters frotn U: :
at leasi from Mexico, eoosto'-tiy.
and ! know that i. wrote to her very
ofien. ! think it likely th.it her co:o
ieg was delayed rr.r.i we- '; to wee':
and tlia.t he refrain? d tr;.!.i goi:.;: t
her 'v.ri ::g thei y. -sr at h r r i;oi-rt. i
am si o e ii. biog e!:-e could Iri-.
kepi him Sure waithig."
"lie ei i tet : !. - e; ioto liis ceo i
': s-e i.- e .ester. :b.--!?
"?'(. si i ; or: v cu.:. raiog the li
rh-.e.e itself"
"io I yi o ever see the lady V"
"'.NiO'. r. sir."
f i erV"
I
i:M r i teiril f r
y-ur ii'-'sor !
Hove!
"Tell 10
ju;-t wnat
Tie : -
iuci-.b e: :
ea: ill- I's
from ii'c :
o:Ieti:ee
'Tell e ;
"V.b. v, -: "
v.. i k . 1
ib .: :
Low
s. i
be r
,J-
i
?""
!.'
: ' I 1 a- i. l e' . .1;; Toe s."
i a . Fas -o t e'et le-r.
.- s few feet behi. d Mr.
'. w-.'.e :,:::: r;:::t is
ki'sv.-ii as the Indirtti sietue, wi.e-h "s
located i.i.'. r far:i.;r u., the :iv.i;ae
that; ie.be lee-...- ue-iaiiy ;'o. A llil'
way in ad wr.ee of vs va-; a lady j.u i
.'.- r t.:." 'it. W'e : wo y i i ' :r
the iatue, a mnt: sis.-.;:! .- ? : !y
f.o:u Lehlud it or t is- cf t
tiers. I (b-u'i knew v.-'.ii 1
raoioly toward the lady,
pad Mill, as if " were
I da n knew if ':.-.t ,v
Clthere'i I thick if -so.
"Y hat t'r.. of day w-
n
si.
e- i
: r, -
Lb
bb -
r '
1 7
"A
.!
'bi:e-s
v-vl -.1
be l-teo-1
i.t
; , ris.o;:.
ii."
!ai oesV"
io il:o a f e rilis-n.
-. si; i ibt-r" were
wjihin call: s.i I
r.!:v :ae:M:t aoy-
: !.a e
ihat. .
"He was to" meet me here during the
evening and did not come Then I
supposed he would blow in for his
breakfast. I really ought to get word
to him before I go down town, and yet
I haven't the time. I'll have to write
a line and send it down by a messen
ger boy."
Biggs fidgeted an instant In his chair
and then took the bait.
"I'm going down that way presently."
he said. "I had it in mind to drop in
and see Burr anyway, so if I can carry
Wvndham s eyes sparkled tor one , mMSn for rnn. old man"
brief instant, for he knew that state- j "Would von?" That is just the thine.
nieut to be a lie. lie. knew that Pen- i It -m he a rreat favor, Carleton, if
dleton did not intend to return to the j yon take e trouble."
club that night and that be luoS- not ; x 'trouble at all. I intended to stop
premised such an introduction to the tbere anyhow, you' know. Will yon
Mexican for the very reason that be , f iw'mr4Ki orcboivv..
CHAPTER VI.
y.'iiat jayes e:.f:w Ar:cb"T the pa??.
T is not nocessary to describe In de
tail the discovery of the body of
r.urr Pendleton or the effect that f
uor iiseei e: e.iiu i? a:uhi-ij.;; nuc.- Hf-y
' produced upon the community and par
! ticularly upon those who knew him iu
i timately.
j Tlie mysterious disappearance of the
servant James pointed the linger of sus
picion in his direction and naturally di
verted it from other suggestions. Not
even a faint indication of such a thing
attaching to Craig fvyudham was heard
or thought.
The coroner's jury found that death
had been caused by a dagger in tLe
hands of one James Ferguson, valet to
the deceased, and every effort of the
police was exerted to bring about his
capture, but even such a sensational
affair was soon partially forgotten, and
the newspaper comments diminished
from columns to paragraphs and then
ceased altogether.
. The day after the funeral Pendle
ton's lawyer sent for Wyndham and
told him of a will in ids possession by
, ivhich Craic. Wvnflhsm was "made solo
; "Abt-ut 5 o"f -I..-
The s;::i was si io
i htua'r 's :i peoj.
i do not think ihc s,
. ti,i. '. like io'- ."
i "'..'( il. go ;o-ea.b fbot lie; eenel
j t!s .-."
i "The le.dv was a hui.dre:; f.-.-t cr
in jidvait.-e cf us wheti ti. 0.0:1 -:..;i-fror.tcl
her. We wer.- -a a; king shc.v'v
(toward tle;i. Vf Lether 1;: r. Feadieb.o
1 was lo'.-kir.g at tl..-:-i or n : i c :
; know, bi.t 1 vas. fe-r I ib-?-e:bt i.o ro -!
tir-ns of bet;: rat In-r i :;:: .',
i that they taiko!! ra:i:er .e.cipvil,- an i
Hint Jiiry ;i !-r:el io J-e '; oc . t.j eacli
i other. In the :r :.rulo-e ve v. -re dra w-
ing near-r to I '.scan. We had almost
;r;o-i:ed them when the Io dy turned
' sud.b-idy away, as if lejtve the man,
1 f 1 he readied out f 10 scia-cd !e r by
; the ar: ;.
! "The.t va-: tsore than Mr. Ieuiieton
i could stan 1. as yoo i-::;ov, sir. I i
I io-eoutiy. raised hi bat. a-l-
d -i sseo tp,. ;..). y i; ::pa:;ir 0. as th-.e;g:i
; he Lad kr-'e.vit her all lbs life, a :id at
the ssiae tioo; utU-riy ignored th man.
him. he bc.-itatoel :,:. io. la:iu and
; :;:! :: sooi; a tleiellsh e?:.o-es-.i' at
on the face of a ns that wibeh
svrept over his at that i 1st out. Feat I e
did not say a word. In.-Ua.l he iuracl
away r.nd walked rapidly (town the av
enue. "The lady murmured a few words Io
Mr. Perolieteii. I thiib: they were
words cf shanks. lie roised his hat.
said two words hi reply, ar.d we con
tinued on our way.
"T!;at. sir, is ail there was ef that
Incident, but the man who afterward
insulted roy master and thus compelled
him to sea l a challenge was ibe same
man. Captain lioniero. who is cull d
the deadliest duelist in Mexico: r yen
Fee, sir. there must have Leeo orne
connect;. i2: between the two affairs."
"UudouLteuiy. Jan-f-s. '
"And now, sir. if you will permit me
to surmise a Utile, I have an id-a."
"Lei i.i liear it, by -il means."
"Tie-;, evening before Jhe duel Mr.
'77(C '.-'Ol ?',-: C'.'pf-.obl Hi-. -.:
(.-", ;.i it !:: tn i.- eej be.
tw.-: t vca: - , !! Mr. Rob-rvt !'
too. Purr's f-i'her. v. a a-. ! toiek.
thiriy. It w:;.s liv.rln - I'o- s.i:lo v
when p.;;T-i 100; h- r died."
"Ii "' . was lb ;; "
y.:.'. p:ite two y sir."
"Weil. v. hat took you titer:-;
tbr.
r. !,
so t'.ci
l liblC! '
at b- ;
H..t ka.
I
.! I.
el;
ai
i .
!
a.
b;y
tae!
I ba
le -a
. a 1.
w -
ii IV
bad par.-l:
que;;;!'.- d:.-
" e b 1 :i
"Ti - v i
"v- 1 .
del a- .
his o .
i di
Mr. W
tap. -o io
,. .
: t'
v e
to
'. ee'-e
.ths.
sN.rt lime. 1 :.
' "be:; -. ti e. -e
ry liuie f n-y .or. -tor
ee. W e aa: ;;. ; at lie
-. v V-e 1 it'esbi. ,:. 1
co vras rarely tbeia . ib.
t, ati l i 'oily i that :
s . . ! at a. boas' ie T.o :'
:. i 1 :.' vLieli ; i..l
: :i
io lie;
au I l
d,. 1:
Hotel
:t M
; r day
.-: t.L:
::. ; '
Ii!" 1 '
eh Lo Ki'l.s-e-
s 1. let;
e..-.e.d ef."
.l h ev;"'
.: i-.-i kts.-w, '":."
-S he ir.:y tie1 i-etise abd "' hy
o la - ' it. e i,. .-, in.-t. ad et at
:: is:-; are
1 net."
1 "I wish yeu
na'.e 1- i! r wb
in 'lexieo. Ja:,j'.
"1 am s:i ry toot I '-;no re; ! o
l.e o'o i:i-. i obstitsa.e'.J. "bet il h: s
;: '. :m re- entirely, i vo-iM t.-.-t
r . ; e .. o it I hook! tc ..1 it '
:! 1 '.:! ! Wyeoisi :! thai Jem -s
::!: u- lei !, aoe-i li.ai lee ,M't:!i! t re
j e..l le- ISO." a). I b;'d i!! ; 1 ! t ll
I pi n .,' f.rg tfo'.a.-ss as : lie be:-; 1.. -,
ol -.e-io.i ai geeo ai. ;:od tl:e old
!:e '.b V- seltliiea C" iti-l be Mi eooate.i
. fee io . eiy ceo woy. v. ideii was Halt
', :: ': : i oiver, :io abwdule p.;- oido" that
t ii .. if i v. r e'll 1.
ie-is'it l ei .:;-too most h:ive b id a
j s'ro: g reason lor bioilio ; bis. i-a rvaot
; to .- '.' !; I ir i'.'at" secrecy," ldiiKi d
, Wyi.dl.-' 01. :;io: he al.-o must Lave
had a s-irong r.-:e 011 Tt.-r adopting it is
the ;:! ;,;:..-e."
i lie leoai -d !) J::e"S :i rain.
' U'hy ei 1 Mr Pen.!!. -tun make use
of an iiS'o:i,i ! o :;:." ;.t ill?" he j'.ylo-ij.
i "II" mi r ! me 1 hat, t-ir."
"I 't you ! oiov ?
i "i Hoel; so-porlly. I do ! now that
it. la-il o .ihooa- lo d with bis mar
riage. r,:r ps. ,o. 11, t iiruee '.efote we
le.'i Nb--.v V 1 tee never sa w her
nr.!'! of! r ve ss'bvcd io 'levin., lie
ver.t Mu re on soou- I usb:i-:: tbat !. 1
lid bis f oiiers. !! bcpcve'l that l
best ::l,'-'e! to it If he wore :ot
, tie. -.vi . Ai. l ;.oo saut rr m- t.i'eer ;oe
; tbi; g. sir-aJt!oi;g!t people i:. Mexico
know hioi by 0 1:0 ee n-t ids own. b-s
wife, aiile .'iili s'.e never bere I. is ri-;.bt
uiii.i-.' op;:.!y. must '-ate known whrt
it was. f .r the leU"fR he refidvo d v . ;-e
pruperiy e.l'iressed. I hobeve oti-.-r.
were dteeived. but that s'-e ws ;c.
New. sir. ! hove n: dy b bl you all I
know ie re. in fa-i. for 1 bate ma is
bold b eoajecrure a gr-.? di al. Per
haps o;.t o" it all yoo m.-v :c.d ;!.e
n.is.dr.g bohs !a the br-.hen 1 io I
am sore I cauiiet !.t lp yon any 1 :-!
tirl .-s yoo ake no- ic Mi-iiim and I t
ioe p.vu: out liie !:ei:-e where he lived.
Thai i .lgkt help y-E. sir."
b! : !:o. ;
ha.ov i.o- 'i ! '.. nl'- v
v. :-:::. ' i.r : l.e f.e t is I.
e a Meai- ao I s!
wrrl.
e ba-1
v au i
mr.rr.
is r."
la gin to see .I.'vPgM. Jani' s.
Tt-:i 1 - : :: ';.; buow -but l!o-t event."
"I l:::ow vry l-tci
tarrh d v.-;h":i a i:e tik ::f.'
rived i'l ?.i- !eo f ud T'ee;
four '..soiths of (be d . 00 ef '
iootl.e-r. Perhaps it . as for
t'a-t le;
ar-
. c l:!.'-i
. . Perr'o
:i:et n a-
K.e.. ihat he ir.sisted upon kr-eplas the
loa' r a p efe :od a- er-t and no de i ;e
preiai c t.atl I wonld r.fver r for in our
virdier tl.eie to :,:iyb!eiy loeier jy -ir-c-.iooTaia-is.
I hae kept that premise
uniii teee.y. : ir."
"!o yeu liiink teat i'.v.rr kuew of tld'
second 1: a fringe h: father. Jslcs?"
I am quite M-re that be did not, so;."
"i Lean at the lira P." vent to lles
ai any time before his d .!'."
-1 let thii.'k ho eer '.:sv of it.
Mr. W i.'ihar.i."
"i:o ;,:;; L!i-JV tL-
th'- lady l.o !;ecauit
1 "No. sir. and. Lei-ifr 1, an
other thiii!, sir, wlvch iyr'Ni
' tnt the Lidr was never knowa
cH U'Tr.i: vn.
wyNa.vM'S ;a!; or t.crtE?.
J PTE It tion tier? wr.s a Llstn
JLtA -vhh h i::'ed sevf itd weeks.
.Vi during w! ieh nothing v orii.y
of r ('Oil br' L lp; SfL
V.'ypdbsni r.r.d E eudera roi oioaed M
ineel as l!,cy Lsd done before, and
'tin If- writ- o'ker J-.UOVtew j Leiv.i-eii
.i:i:..t?i! 1 V. j toii sin. whb o. however,
d vt-p.i.c l rotl.ieji e.cw.
Tho It Iter? k; f.t to Mexico by V.'ynd
ham v.ere aosv.e.c.L but frota ".lo-ta be
ierivtd no ioforroation that v.;s of
! ei?r s to klru ia Ills pea nli. for i:.
defjant myvtery 'i.i'.l Lad shrcnde.l thi"
life t.t V.x-.rr P. lo'ietcu.
With lac cm-eptinn ll2t now
then sen..- incid-jit tvaid-l r".c'd il'
ereat to tbe meiaory of n it'iol'-r. tf.e
tr;jpedy cf v.iiicb Pendleton Hie
victim rrr.s abaoi forgotten,
r.ven Wyt: Ibnri ldi;i- lf lrt ?Tt ;o de-.
sps'r tf ii'titpSe stu cen. or. 1 t;!-er.
be had about made ep hl miJ 10 s
to Mcxieo Sdmself. wher l: N !;evel
the sdnti-j!! of :h- cTtr wns l...-afrd.
nheii an ever.i oc -uir.fj v l.ick ali'ret!
oil Lis pi .ns sad wb.cb trougl.t tiii:g
family r:ai--e cf , c)tjInat4.iv (l, a dim .x.
Mrs. ! .-odoi :r." ; 1Je p-aK siuvs p.v la
I
the i-!:Mi ,o4
one aflertou. m'o'lv leli!!.iug uvr
IS :t ti;. 11 'i ,,...-. .
4
)
7
J -
,11
f. .
"