Show TELEGRAM FICTION The The Mill MiU House Home Murder I FLETCHER FLETCHER- By J. J S. S Ronald Camberwell private Is 15 asked by James Marten- Marten royde owner of or mill mm to make snake a a. confidential report on SUgden Sugden Sug- Sug den James James' nephew and London representative An old employs William has hu Informed that the young mans man's life in London Is la lanot not what it should hould be Before going to bed James goes for tor a a. walk A Afew Afew few tew hours later Camberwell and Orris the chauffeur find his murdered body A mill hand tells tella and others that Sugden supposedly In London was near the scene at the 6 time of oC the murder A mere glance at the faces o omy of my two companions was as sufficient to show me that neither approved Mrs assurance to use no stronger expression in thus taking possession of ot a dead mans man's hearth before he was we even laid in his coffin Mr Halstead whom I had set down as a very quiet re reserved reserved reserved re- re served man gave a start tart of unfeigned unfeigned unfeigned un un- un- un feigned surprise at what he saw Mr Eddison's upper lip stiffened and his manner became starchy anc and professional But Mrs John Mar Mar- saw nothing of ot this she was too much occupied with her present enjoyment and her own awn af at- fairs A As if Grange had belonged to her from the time of ot its building she waved L us forward forward forward for for- ward to the fire We Make A Visit Come your ways wey in in gentlemen she said cheerfully Im just having having haying hav hay ing a cup of ot tea and Im I'm sure sure I needed it after all weve we've been through me and Ramsden But weve we've got all done now I sent for Mrs Catherall and Mrs Spence from the village they're experienced hands and end they've laid poor James out beautiful as you'll see if it you go up to his chamber But perhaps you'd take a cup of tea first This tea has been made a bit but if one of you'll ring yon bell Sarah made mede a fresh brew for fory y you u and no doubt you could do with it after such a trying night as weve we've had She pointed to a pull bell-pull which hung down the wall on one side of the big fireplace Mr Eddison was now standing there facing Mrs s. John and her tea table but his hands remained in the pockets o ohis of his overcoat Thank you not at present he said paid Where is your son Ramsden Ramsden Ramsden Rams- Rams den There was a distinct iciness in his tone which anyone but a self- self absorbed woman would have no no- Mrs John at any rate showed no sign of noticing it She gulped down a e. mouthful of toast and tea Ramsden she replied has gone down to the post office Of course they arent aren't supposed to send any telegrams of off before eight o'clock but Ramsden thought that as this was a special occasion he could maybe persuade Watkins n to sent send one a bit earlier You see Mr Eddison we must have Sugden here as quick as possible If Ramsden Ramsden Rams Rants den can get a wire off early this morning morning Sugden will be able to catch the ten o'clock train from London London London-I I forget which of them stations it is I always get mixed I up with London stations but I Ii i know there is a train at 10 o'clock get him here by the middle of the afternoon And of course we want Sugden here Now that thai Ramsden and him have come into their uncles uncle's property therell there'll be a adeal adeal adeal deal to see to especially down at at yon mill I said to Ramsden just before he went out Ramsden my lad lad ladI I said now that you and Sugden Sugden Sugden Sug Sug- den are masters masters- She paused suddenly catching Mr Eddison's eye and seeing some some- thing there which reduced her to instant silence Mr Eddison lifted a hand Hot Words Stop there he said Mrs Mar Mar- youre you're under a very serious serious seri serious seri seri- ous misapprehension Your sons are not masters of ot the mill nor have they come Into their uncles uncle's property You'll know all the particulars particulars particulars par par- in due time but so that you mayn't cherish any false hopes hOopes I may as well tell you that everything everything everything every every- thing that your law in possessed pos pos- has everything everything has been left in trust And the two trustees are Mr Halstead and myself In plain words words you'll und understand we are the masters As Mr Eddison went on speaking speaking speaking speak speak- ing the color on Mrs Johns John's cheeks naturally high rose to a deep crim crim- son Slowly as if it fascinated by what whet the solicitor said she rose to her tier feet A plate on the edge of her tea tray caught by her action slipped off the table and crashing against the fender shivered into small pieces Mrs John paid no attention to it Planting her hands handson on her hips she faced Mr Eddison and end spoke sharply Do you mean to tell me that James has left leCt yon mill away from my sons she de de- de And do you mean to say too that this house isn't ours she went on That hes he's left left left- This house is certainly not yours Mrs interrupted Mr who was showing signs of or impatience That Thet I can tell you youat youat youat I at once Then damn and blast James Mar- Mar f for o r a mean-hearted mean lound Mrs John burst out I hope hes he's roasting in hell this minute minute min mm- ute Not ours Not my lads' lads Hed He'd no kith nor kin in the world over but them But Ill I'll not take your word for it Eddi Eddison on you lawyers law law- rera are all ll liars lius and thieves Theres There's others than you and cleverer clever clever- er than what you are and well we'll set them on your track Leave Mill and this house away from us us- us My good lady said seid Mr Hal Hal- stead Mr Eddison mentioned a trust rust Calm yourself now now now- Damn you and your trusts cried Mrs John Youre in it with him I trust you no more e than han what I trust him Trust In Indeed Indeed Indeed In- In deed Where are my two lads goIng gong go go- Ing ng to be with you and your blasted blast blast- ed trusts I should like to know Its It's ta naught but another way of robbing us L of ot what weve we've a e. right to o. o But But But- I The door opened and Ramsden walked in to stare star at what he saw His mother turned turne on him still furious still declama declama- tory Ramsden she shouted Ramsden Ramsden Ramsden Rams den What do you think Eddison says He says that naught o of what James has left comes to yo you and Sugden neither mill nor house hous nor business nor aught Its aught its it's all le leto left to him and Halstead there a couple of blasted mischief-makers mischief They're the masters it seems and were we're Ramsden said Mr Eddison your mother is wrong She neither I understands nor will understand I Your uncle has left his property i in I trust and Mr Halstead and myself myself myself my my- self are the trustees You'll know everything when the will is produced produced produced pro pro- and end you'll have no cause t to complain Take your mother awa away and get her to be sensible For a moment Mrs John glared glare at Mr Eddison almost maniacally Then she suddenly caught sight o othe of the tea tray lying before her on th the table With a e. sharp sweep of he her hand she dashed tray and table into int the fireplace and amidst the cla clater datter dat- dat I ter of crashing crockery turned t ther to te her son Come away lad she said We Well go and find lawyers of our own awn Ill I'll show you she went on turning turning turning turn turn- ing on the two men and shaking her fist Youve led James Mar Mar- to this to feather your you own nests Trustees indeed Thieves Thieves bloody bloody thieves Ramsden pushed her toward d th the thedoor door and through it Ill take he her down home he said nodding at us got upset one thing and an an- other You mustn't think aught o of what she said Mr Eddison Sh She has a bit of ot a temper you know at any time All right Ramsden my lad re replied replied replied re- re plied Mr Eddison But have yo you managed to wire to your brother send a wire off a at eight o'clock sharp p answered Ramsden Ive sent it to Sugden Sugden's lodgings so hell he'll be able to catch the ten He stood hesitating hesitating hesi hesi- tating for a moment Id best b boff be off oft with her he said jerking hi his head toward the hall ball where I heard hear Mrs Johns John's voice still lifted up though in quieter tones If yo you should want me send down Theres There's women upstairs looking after you after yo know Trouble In Offing He gave us another nod and withdrew withdrew withdrew with with- drew and Mr Eddison looked down at et the broken crockery and sighed A dreadful woman he said Her father was like that at th the last We shall have more trouble with her Halstead More indications of possible trouble trouble trouble trou trou- ble arrived before Mr Halstead could make any response Mrs Haines obviously much disturbed and trembling with indignation pu put her head into the room A slight accident Mrs Haines said Mr Eddison I hope the china is not very valuable Mrs Haines threw up her hands Our best sir she would have it she answered Oh dear oh dear Half Helf of it in pieces Mr Eddison I came caine in sir to ask you a ques ques- tion Is Mrs John become mistress of this house I If S she's mistress here then Im I'm going And so will the two girls and Orris Mrs John we will no not stand stand not not for an hour hour her her that's old John daughter Be easy Mrs Haines replied Mr Eddison Mrs John Marten Marten- royde is not only not mistress here but has has' no right to enter unless she's invited to do so If It you wan wanto want to know v who's master here I am am- am for tor the present I put you in charge of the house for the time being so SoO youre you're mistress Now my goot good soul have that mess cleared away and dont don't distress yourself Mrs Haines mollified went off oft The parlor maid came with brush and ind pan and cleaned up the hearth When she had gone Mr Eddison turned to me Mr Camberwell he said what are you going to todo to-do do I suppose my commission is ended ended ended end end- ed I replied My employers employer's dead Id I'd better return to town Nothing of the sort he an an- You cant can't either Youle You'll Youl be e wanted at the inquest You found bund James body No I want you to stop here Ill I'll commission you I want you to see this thing through When I asked what you were going to do I meant where are you going You cant can't stay in this house now it wouldn't be comfortable for you Come and stay with me Im I'm an old bachelor but Ill I'll see that youre you're all right very kind of 01 you Mr Eddison I replied Ill come on condition that you turn me out when youve you've had of me I Ill Ill do do that that that- h he e. e answered smil- smil ing ng Now then let that young fellow Orris pack your things and bring them down to my house Halstead Halstead Halstead Hal- Hal stead come with us and well we'll have an early breakfast and consider what's to be done Ill I'll just see those women again and end give them some orders and then well we'll walk down I was relieved when we got out of that house The morning had worn wornon wornon wornon on to daylight as we took the road to the the- valley and the storm of the previous night had died down downto to a calm But there was no calm calmin in the atmosphere of the village People were at their doors or standIng standing stand- stand Ing in groups about the bridge and near the mill and the mill itself was silent silent for for the first time for many a long year Near Mr Eddison's house we met Beverley Mr Eddison asked him to breakfast with us w. During breakfast breakfast break break- break break- fast tut we discussed matters Bever- Bever ley since our l ving hi mill had been m making king inqui various sorts Of s one thing h hi satisfied himself self Nowhere 1 he hear of ot any e aga again agala dead deed man If the thee the e ever bail bad dissension betwee him Y 1 workpeople it hat hac b be points had need tie settlement In Aall lall all of ot the business th ere h. h had d been a strike or a kout 01 In short concluded tided BeY e giving us an account c chad of hid had learned Ive heard except what nand and G Guest us And between going to know if it Suo J royde when these mer night was on his wa waW y t tOl t House or to the miU mill mill-i vor orto tol wait walt for lor his uncle 8 alt t. t iel bridge Its It's no use ie x- x eY everything points to l i y Im some reason for cl uncle As we were still talk breakfast a boy brought dison a telegram stating t Ramsden had just received I Inow now sent it on for Mr Ed T l read And Mr Eddison rea I passed it round It was fro froden froden den sent of London at a quarter to nine CAnd cAnd c t And it merely said that was returning home at one would be at cathe ea ca the afternoon Mr Halstead voiced what of us at any rate were think If It Sugden was in Land Lond early this morning ho salt sale impossible that he should ba baat haat hat ha at at ten oc ae night the night the time at which Ja killed Impossible But Beverley shook his No it isn't he could have caught the f press at Shipton at 23 Continued Mono Mone The McClure cate 75 West Street City Copyright 19 1938 for It r 1 |