That Mainwaring Affair

about Fair Oaks, instead of diminishing, seemed

ed in the past, the drawing up of the will on the preceding day and its strange disappearance in connection with the sudden and mysterious death of the testator,-all

interspersed with numerous reporters eager for the details of the affair, covered the grounds and even sought admittance to the house,

s it stopped, Mr. Whitney alighted, followed by an elderly gentleman of fine appearance and two officers of the special police, who immediately began to force back

est. There was a brief interview between the three, after which Mr. Whitney begged his compan

ess? Have you st

ed back on the trail pretty adroitly, but I have made one or two litt

which were so blackened that the faint traces of writing which they bore were ille

iscolored paper for a moment, and

these rooms yesterday! See, here is the date, 'this sev

," said the detective,

s amount of annuity to be'; and here are other bits, 'as to my estate and all property,' 'to hold

small fireplace behind the safe, ne

ney. "I never noticed that bef

this grate is very small and was concealed by that large screen, as well as by the safe. Evidently, it was s

ing these partially burned scraps. I wonder that he or she, whoe

fearing detection, hastened away before t

ee, we must hasten; y

ned one fact, however; the murder was never

! Why do you

e were making the examination this morning. Say nothing about

the library, they descended into the lower ha

one of the private apartments where lay the body of the murdered man. Under the direction of Dr. Westlake, the jury individually viewed the wounds, noting th

seated together near his left, while on each side of the table chairs had been placed for the accommodation of a f

th white, frightened faces, the men standing a little farther in the rear, while in a dim corner, part

score of pencils at once began to rapidly sketch the features of the young Englishman, the intended heir of Hugh Mainwaring. The young man's face wore an expression of unconcern, but his father's features were set and severe. To him, the loss of the will meant something more than the

look of haughty disdain on the faces about her. Bringing up the rear was Mrs. Hogarth with her two charges, Edith Thorn

y crowded, and Miss Carleton, seated near the door, with a quick glance invited the young secretary to a vacant chair by her side,

ney, and seated herself in a position as remote as possible from the guests of the house and commanding a full view of the servants. Her gown was noticeable for its e

itness, George Hardy. A young man, with a frank face and quiet, unassuming manner, steppe

been in the employ

four yea

you have held the

s,

rning did you discove

ven o'clo

me to make this discovery

several times, I unlocked the door and looked in. I saw he had not occupied the room, but I didn't think much about that, and went on through the smoking-room into the library, and then I saw

id you

and I went to call hel

son whom you met and t

thought he would know what to do; but on my way to his room I met Wilson, Mr. Ralph Mainwaring's valet,

t himself from the fact that the revolver lay near his

at was the o

belonged to Mr. Mainwaring?" asked the coroner

oment's inspection, "that is Mr. Mainwaring's revolver. I've cleane

. Whitney, did you call any ot

nwaring and Mr. Thornton, and was on his way to the room of young Mr. Mainwaring. Down the hall I met the butle

last see Mr. H

ening, between seven and eigh

e was

at he would not need me last evening, and that after lockin

ooms usually included amo

te rooms and the hal

ny stated time

e o'clo

e rooms as usu

cked them all right, but

was t

asked me to keep the rooms open till about ten o'clock, as she was expecting

e did you lo

the rooms be shut at nine; so soon as 'twas ten o'clock I went around outside, and, seeing no li

rangers about the p

, s

any of Mr. Mainwari

rs, you mea

any one in

that way, she said, and had found the door into the main hal

the door into

the evening. I don't know who locked it, but

was no one else in tho

uncommon thorough last night. I thought at first that I smelled smoke, like

ld a whispered consultation

ught you smelled something burning; could

must have been mistaken, for the papers on the table

ing unusual about the plac

, s

a slip of paper which had been passed to hi

ribe the locks used on the doors of Mr.

t when a certain spring was turned the door locked of itself and could not be opene

ys to fit t

ocked, he hung the keys in a particular place in the library where I

the library door

had nothing but an ordinary lock; but the other door, into the south h

any one else in the house had knowledge

r certain, sir,

nd came forward, while Hardy resumed

arrival in the tower-room in response to the valet's summons, "will you please

ront of the house. I remained with him about ten minutes, I should judge, talking over the events of the day which had been of unusual interest. I remember his remarking that he should not retire

al, but as he repeated Hugh Mainwaring's words a smile of scorn pass

oroner, "how Mr. Mainwaring had bee

stance of his secretary and myself, and the execution of his last will and test

nd in general terms the

uest to her son, it conveyed everything to his cousin and namesake, Hug

document place

quest, placed by his secretary

r information regarding

marked emphasis, "that we now have po

the attorney, closely observant of Mrs. LaGrange, saw her cheek, which but a moment before, at his

d a small memorandum which he held, "do you know whet

. Mainwaring in the afternoon, and remarks were made at luncheon, that impressed me considerably, regar

the nature of

entally met and recognized this caller; that the latter was evidently well and unfavorably known by both Mr. Mainwaring and his guests, and,

espect, Mr

the man was in this country and had been seen at this house, and he seemed

ate the name

chard Hobson, formerly