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2 ,
Barclay House I self in a few niin-
utes," he added, . "f you don't mind,
I'll just walk up with you."
“I shall be pleased to have your com-
pany," said Maria “My name is Mark
don."
“And mine is J. Frank Hartman," re-
plied the station agent with something
of an air of pride In the sound of the
name.
The two shook hands. murmurlng ex-
pressions of mutual pleasure.
“’l‘liere isn't much doing here," said
Hartman. "and as there will be no train
in for three hours, I'll have plenty of
time to stretch my legs a little."
lie closed and locked the door of the
oilice, and the two set out up the road in
the direction of Barclay House.
This wa3"lVIark siieluoirs first visit to
Missouri. Ills home was in Chicago,
where he had achieved some success as
a private detective.
But his coming to Barclay House was
iu'iio way connected with his profession
as a detective. Briefly stated, Barclay
House, the Springs, and a large tract
of land surrounding the hotel had re-
cently come into Mark Sheldoii‘s pos-
session thril the death of his uncle,
Silas Barclay, who had left it to him as
a legacy. And Mark had come to Bar-
clay Ilouse to have a look at his newly
acquired property, and
rangcmeiits regarding the renewal of
the lease.
Now, it happened that J. Frank I..
man had always had a deep interest in
the study of crime and criminals. and
had dreams of sometime becoming a de-
tective. He had fallen into the habit of
regarding each stranger who came to
the little station of Dogwood as a pos-
sible criminal, bent on some deep-laid
plot to commit murder or robbery, and
whose deed might furnish the stopping-
stones to his fame as a detective. Not
that he suspected people in general of
harboring evil designs, but from the
many celebrated cases he had read of.
where great crimes had been committed.
he had discovered that the guilty person
or persons were usually the ones not
suspected at the outset. So he had
come to the conclusion that the only
way to become a detective was to sus-
pect every one.
Bcfore he had
‘I
walked a hundred
in mind a complete inventory of all
the stranger's visible belongings "
the toes of his shoes to his soft “gray
felt hat; had noted the fleck of gold in
one of his upper front teeth and a slight
scar on the thumb of the rlglit hand.
And now he turned the conversation,
which had been of such trivialities as
the weather, to a more interesting chan-
el.
"You are a stranger in this region?"
lie ventured.
‘I live in Chicago, and have never
been here before in my life," confessed
Sheldon. “I am a relative of the late
Silas Barclay."
Hartman's face showed a sudden
light, “By George! then you must be
the one who has inherited Barclay
lIousc?"'he cried.
"Yes, and I am here to look after the
property," said Mark.
“I am glad to welcome you among
us," said Hartman, “and hope you will
decide to stay here. I had about made
up my mind that you were a detective.”
Mark Sheldon was surprised at the
zuiuouncement. Could it be possible, he
thought, that the little fame he had
achieved as a private detective in Chi-
cago had penetrated the obscure pre-
cincts of Dogwood‘!
“What. led you to think that?" he
asked, with a smile.
"Oh, I thought it likely that a num-
ber of them might be running out to
Barclay House."
“Why'.’" asked Mark.
"Then you have not heard the news?"
“Why, no, I have heard nothing."
“Tliere was a murder committed in
Barclay House last night. and the whole
region is excited over it."
“Good heavens!” cried Mark. "Who
was murdered?"
“A man by the name of Basil Smoot.
He was stabbed to death in his room
sometime during the night. Who he
was or what he was no one seems to
know. They are holding the inquest
right now, I understand. and there may
be some new developments in the case.
That is why I wanted to run up to the
Springs. The case interests me."
“By George! this is startling!" cried
Mark. “Have they discovered any
clciv?" "
Not that I have heard. It is‘ a
deuccdly bad thing for a hotel to have
such cri es committed in it."
“’l‘hat's so," assented Mark. “But I
yards with Mark Sheldon. he had stored,
CHICAGO LEDGER
dare say there is not much business at
the Barclay liouse, anyway."
"You are quite iiiistaken. The house
has been full nearly all summer. Ilut
just now, as the weather is growing
cooler, many have returned to their
homes. Do you think of taking charge
of the place yourself?"
,“0b. no. I may sell it if I have a fair
offer. I want to look it over ilrst."
"I should consider it a good piece oi
property. But as I said, the fact that a
murder has been committed in the
house is not the best sort of advertise-
ment-especially to the timid who have
come for their health. The mystery
surrounding the case is likely to mag-
nify its importance: the newspapers will
see to that. But once the mystery is
solved, the public will quickly lose in-
terest In it."
“That is quite true." agreed Mark. “I
shall make a careful inquiry into the
case as soon as I reach the hotel, and it
is no more than likely that I shall offer
a reward for the apprehension of the
guilty party or parties."
“A good idea." nodded Ilartman. “A
little money is a wonderful lubricant
when applied to the machinery of the
law. And by the way, Mr. Sheldon," he
went on, lowering his voice and speak-
ing In a confidential tone. “I do not
claim to be a detective, but I have
dabbled in that sort of thing in an
amateur way for some time. and it is
barely possible that I may be of some
service in uncovering this mystery."
“Good!" cried Sheldon. “If you can
do anything to help clear up the mys-
tery you shall be suitably rewarded."
“ h, I’m not thinking of the reward
particularly," Hartman made haste to
ve assurance. “You now we all
have our hobbies. and we ride them-
not for the sake of any sordid gain, but
we do it, like the artist. for art's sake."
“I can well understand that,” said
Sheldon. “Have you had any success?"
“None worth mentioning, for as you
well know, there is little opportunity in
Dogwood for a detective. However, I
don‘t mind saying that I have found my
theories to be quite in harmony with the
facts in cases I have followed in the
papers. I work on theories evolved by
analysis and elimination.” ‘
Have you
“Very good.
Smoot case any attention?
“Sure thing! It‘: the nrst real im-
portant case that has come within my
reach. ' " I am trying my hand at un-
raveling the mystery. That is why I
am going up to the Springs right now.“
“I wish you success." said Mark, “and
by the way," he added, “I-may as we
tell you that I, too. am a detective, and
have been on the Job a couple of years
in Chicago."
"Why, now, that's fine!" cried Hart-
man. "I am glad. indeed, to know this
and thank you for your confidence.
Shake!" -
lie grasped lllark’s hand cordially.
“I am going to help you all 1 can," he
announced “You are the ilrst real de-
tective I have ever had the pleasure of
meeting. and it will be of deepest in-
terest to me and give me great pleasure
to be your understudy and take notes of
your methods of work, if you will so
onor me.”
"Oh. I am no William J. Burns,"
laughed Mark “I shall be glad to have
your assistance."
“You shall have it.”
his head in thought for a moment.
me see,” he mused. en‘t you the
young detective spoken of as having lit
on the mystery of the Montague jewelry
robbery case Ln Chicago about a year
a 0?“
Mark nodded. “Yes,” he confessed.
“that was my first bit of success. and it
gave me a pretty good start.“
“So I should imagine. This Smoot
case will give you a chance to win an-
other victory. I have picked up a few
points in the case. but I‘m not going to
intrude these on you just at present. I
shall be interested to see if you take up
the same threads. It's going to be an
interesting game, and I am real glad
that you are on the job.”
They were now ascending the lilgh
terrace to Barclay House. The grounds
surrounding the building were spacious
and shaded by spreading elms, with
here and there a maple all aflame with
the rich coloring of autumn. The build-
ing, a three-story wood-structure. pre-
sented a. rather imposing aspect, with
its wide, sweeping verandas, vine-
wreathed and inviting.
To the left, along the border of the
grounds, a gray wall of a cliff rose al-
most perpendicularly to a height of nfty
feet, and from the base of the wall a
crystal stream of water fell with mu-
sical plash. On the right was a vine.
‘wrealhed pavilion, while farther back
given the
Hartman bent
“Let
sinuous walks led thru shad)‘ 11001“
that breathed an air of isolation and
.2
E
It was the dinner hour, and Mark
Sheldon invited the station agent to
dine with him. After they had finished
eating Hartman went to interview the
coroner’s jurors. who bad Just finished
their work, while Mark Sheldon. W110
had introduced himself to Mr. Aaron
Quick. the landlord and lessee of Dar-
clay liouse, was conducted into the lat-
ter's private olilco.
“I am truly glad you came right at
this time, Mr. Sheldon," said the“land-
lord, a troubled look on his face. I am
quite upset by this tragedy. And 11153
to think, that the murderer may be”un-
der this roof at this very moment!
CI IAPTER. II.
I CAN understand how you feel about
It,'' replied Mark. “It is a bad'l>19C9
of business, and it is my purpose 10
stay here till the mystery is cleared “I3-
if it is possible to get at the bottom of
the facts. Did the inquest bring out
anything in the way of a clew?"
“Not a thing; at least, nothing that
was looked on as a cleiv. The fact that
Smoot was a stranger hero, and that
there was positively nothing known of
his past history. makes it all the harder
to form any opinion respecting his mur-
der. The coroner’s Jury simply brought
in a verdict that he had come to his
death by a wound in the region of the
heart, inflicted by a dagger in the bands
of some one unknown to the Jury. But
for all that there may have been many
things in the testunony before the coro-
ner that would furnish a clew to one
skilled in picking out claws from the
other rubbish."
"You are quite right," smiled Mark.
“It is often the most inconsequential
things-or things that so appear-which
often prove to be of the greatest import-
ance. I have had some little experience
In such matters, and I shall be glad to
have you give me the details of the
whole affair as nearly as you can.”
"There isn't a whole lot to tell. as I
said before," said Quick. "Basil Smoot
came to the hotel yesterday evening. He
had arrived on the 3:54 train from St.
Louis, and came up In the back. He had
a rather large leathern suitcase, but no
other baggage. IIe registered as ‘Basil
Smoot, Yuma. Arizona.’ Ile went to his
room directly after his arrival, and had
his suitcase carried after lie was
a man of about 35 years and was well
dressed. IIe wore a diamond ring-a
very valuable one, if I might venture to
judge. ’
"He impressed me as a man of means
and a gentleman. He had at low, well-
modulated voice. but bad but little to
S3)’.
“What was his business?"
"He did not say. I took him to be a‘
professional man-a lawyer or a. doc-
tor "
"Have you had any oomrnunicatiuu
with any of his relatives or friends?"
“A telegram has been sent to Yuma,
Arizona, but the authorities there have
replied that no such person as Basil
Smoot is known to them. So the body
still lies- here unclaimed by either
friends or relatives. Among his effects
were a valuable gold watch. a diamond
ring. and something over six hundred
dollars. This goes to prove. of course,
that the motive for the murder was not
robbery." - -
“I see. Were there any strangers at
the diotel last night who might be sus-
pected of having committed the crime?"
"He was the only stranger here. All
the rest have been here some time, and
not one of them. it appears, knew Smoot,
or had ever seen him before. And there
no one among the guests or the ser-
vants who could, for any reason, he sus-
pected. The guests aie all, without ex-
ception, of the highest respectability-
or have so impressed me. There are
Mr. Henderson Wirt. 3. real estate man
from Springfield. who has been staying
here for his health; Judge Anson Lacy,
from Jefferson City, a man well known
among the legal profession of the State;
and there is Mrs. Mary Baggs, a widow
from St. Louis, a lady of refinement and
Wealth, who has been here most of the
summer. She is suffering from asthma,
and has found the Water beneficial. She
has with her a maid, Fanny Nelson, and
1191‘ niece. Miss Katharine Turk, an ac-
complished young lady of some 18 or 20
"There is Dave Snoggles, a cripple
suffering from intlammato y rheuma-
tism, and the servants; and there is not
0116 8111003 them all that any one would
suspect, for if not for robbery, what
could have been the motive for the
crime? We must fall back on the theory
of revenge; but who kills a stranger for >
revenge?
course. we must look for the mo- '
0
tlve," said Mark.
"That's it. I can't find it Just get-
But I'm going to give you a look at the
articles in Sinoot’s suitcase, and then
you can take a look over the field. You it
better have a talk with the coroner and
the sberiif, and make a survey of the
case. I u.-guld like to have 5'0“ d9 "118.
Mr. Sheldon, for this is a bad business
for the hotel, and unless we can get the
affair cleared up, it will be a regular
lioodoo.
"I must go and have a talk with the
sheriff, and I will leave you 10 Your
own devices for the present."
“Very well; you may tell the sheriff
that I am offering a reward of five hun-
dred dollars ior the arrest and convic-
tion of the murderer. It is possible I
may increase the offer."
"Now, that's line. Mr. Sheldon!"
cried Quick. “I think that will help a
whole lot. There's nothing like 3. little
money to quicken the wits of the of-
ficers of the law. You must see the
sheriff before he goes away. I'm sure
he'll like to make your acquaintance
and confer with you about the case."
Mark went down and strolled thru the
spacious grounds; lie was charmed
with the prospect as he flung his gaze
at the richly colored hills with the deep
glens between. The musical splash of
water came from the wall of the clili.
and the song of a bird in the red-ban-
nered maple made lilm forget for the
time the shadow of the tragedy that lay
over Barclay Ilouse.
He walked across the grounds to the
western extremity, then turning, fol-
lowed the walk leading by a pic-
turesque little summerhouse, vine-
wreathed. the dark mass of cypress that
covered it necked with crimson bloom.
The place looked inviting, and he
strolled thru the vine-fringed door. Then
he stopped abruptly.
Kneeling by a rustic seat was a girl.
III: first glimpse of her revealed a
ilexuous figure with a wealth of dark
brown hair that glinted with flecks of
gold where the dappllng sunlight fell
upon it thru the parted vines.
She looked up with a visible start as
Mark Sheldon entered, and the lace she
turned to the Intruder was flooded with
a swift coloring. The calm beauty of
the perfect oval face, the light in the
deep gray eyes, flashed upon him like a
sudden glow of light ,
room. Mark. whose timldity in the pres-‘
ence of a beautiful woman had always
been one of his regrettable weaknesses, "
felt the awkwardness of the situation.
He lifted his hat involuntarily. “I beg
your pardon," he stammered. “I had
no intention to intrude-"
She rose and stood facing him, a faint
smile playing about her parted lips.
“There is no need for apology," she
said. “I have no right to monopolize
any part of the grounds-even if I e-
slred to be so selfish.” She was hold-
ing a pretty mesh bag in her hand-a
- very pretty and shapely hand, Mark
noticed. despite the sudden ilutterlng of
his usually well-regulated heart. “I
had spilled some trinkets,” she added.
her fingers toying with the silver mesh
of the bag. "and I was searching for
them when you came in."
Mark was in the act of turning away,
with the rather vague notion that that
was the proper thing to do, when he
checked himself.
“If you will let me. I shall be glad to
assist you," he said.
“Oh. you are very kind," she said. “I
am not quite sure-but I thoughtl
had recovered them all." She was ex-
ploring the contents of the little mesh
bag as she spoke. "1 think they are all
here,” she added, after a moment’:
pause. ‘ “I thank you very much." She
nodded to him blithely, and passing
thru the door, walked In the direction
of the hotel.
And Mark Sheldon stood watching
her as she passed leisurely down the
path, a strange fluttering at his heart
He would make it a point to see her
again. He was quite sure- that she
was the Miss Katharine Turk who was
staying at the hotel with her aunt.
As he turned to continue his walk. lie
noticed a’negro who had just come
from the barn start down the path. but
on seeing Mark, he stopped, hesitated
a moment, and.then turned abruptly
and re-entered the barn. Mark no-
ticed the movement and walked on and
entered thebarn. The negro's mort-
ments had attracted bis attention-and
had raised his suspicion. Why had he
avoided meeting him?
negro was busily engaged in
Cllrryillg 21 horse when Mark entered-
Ile did not look up. tho it was evident
that he saw the intruder. Now. how’
in a darkened;,