New Britain Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1924, Page 24

The Chronicles of Jeremy Screed lure Newspaper Syndicate. OT everything does pu recording. “Personally N thusiastic think differently persuaded Jeremy S prociaim and it does methods ha Thearies Screed | toward the table. reed's think you wit when [ begin to his - How it is facts tor, not theories. be glad to our theors ned zone we int Aancer hea siderable ®ith severa ; get one.” Screed retu th rect he docto to me wo the Mar The telephone bed eariy when | had “hello” | was viewed the cavetaker and his wife. | Mre. Dawson was much the less agi- ke e tated of the two. which might be ace ounted for fact she had answ 3 8 ¢ t T It mar appeared and the | 80 wson locked the door fo not known person had Sebnt Street ken the key when he went rgu police so that his wife she wanted (0 a n and see the herrible sight You first this morning sume.” said Screed. 1 was immediatel bad been a very heav ier storm or down the previous continued r o 1 hours, but the morning was fin haps it was as he walk evening. indee had as a rule misses don't e red this morning.” well T co t Re t last night™ “Perhaps T oughtn’t to have done it.” | becoming less it's taxi dia me g proved my A policeman opened the saw Secreeq at the T kmew it come] me; passed him without recognition timea T saw him he was a differ: temper | said Dawson, gradually and 1 ha seeing what's happened but last night me and the missus went to the theatre,” “Did the back door? | and came in that | straight to bhed t as we had left it leading questions and Dawson He was door porter at Regent Street, and was well to 8ir John Cornish He had been his personal servant in Sir and his wife had been housemaid in the family. Tt was {not the first time he had staved in the house as caretaker when the family | was awa He had traveled abroad | with Sir John, in India, in China, and | |In America. “He'll be mighty upset over this af- fair,” Dawson “I shouldn't | wonder if it put him against the house, | Ife's a bit superstitious, got | Welsh blood 1n him.” | | “He is more ltkely to have got his | ng in India agitated end of the certain I oughtn't to hecalse he wel- should have Each nt man otherwise T vou leave the house by “No, by front We o house was ju the 1 4o not mean that ha was merely dis- | way went up guised — his necessitated | Th that at times—1I mean that his actual personality seemed changed. But for his jerked-outr remarks | shouid oftef have doubted whether it was Screed beside ma, and T am not sure now that 1 have ever seen the real man. Today he looked like the trnsted butier of an ancient family which had a skeleton in #a cupboard. “Morning, profession A few | talkeq freely. Osgoods in known John's younger days. Mr, Yates. You're before the doetor. First impressions always valuable. Come and see.” His unemotional manner did not pr pare me in any WAy as 1 followed him 16 the dining-room, and it saye some- thing for my steadiness of nerve that 1 went on some did not cry out at what I saw. A man was stretched upon the table ng on his stomach, his arms tucked inder him in h a manner that the ¢hin rested on hia hands, propping the were ralsed | wuperstition from travel (and China,” said Screed “Why should he? I and didn't get superstitious. 1 that “Now I'll use the telephone.” In balt hour T learned more of the power of the detective force than traveled there eves might atare at bevond the one head up a little it iene had forgotte said Screed thing table rible fust {vely AP anything ega were pulled out.all my experience had made me even | the Instine he nex ¢ re was he behind He t thay any Be. | had | him, the feet turned t. It was A marve had appar thin cord which straight SURpeC outward strangied by heen twisted so tightly round his neck that it had the skir "It must do0,” 1 maid after position must ha ‘“House in charge of his wife, named Daweon~ & plained, “Family in country—8& Cornish, wife, son and daughter taker made discovers on coming down this moming. Ran police like a frightened rabbit, and like a T rabbit hag now gone for a doctor.” “Perhaps he won't come hack.” 1 ntly heen | eriminal could ever escape justice Screed « capacity y | a had fore he lef; the telephone arranged that Daweon, in ot door ter at Osgoods, should be and cut have taken a long time to ' watched, that the recent move- a pause, “and tie 'ments of every member of the Cornish L} Fxtra was some meaning family should be inquireq into r China- had ases of in aretaker and vigilance arranged for in reed ex- 'town, and certain men who had - John |some prominence in the other Care- {a similar nature were put under strict | [ surveillance tor “Now to see what the vietim has to ightene said Screed. “Ther will have taken tot by this time We nim » mortuar e papers found on him His oarding | an- ook at t woa easy He lived Hampstead ldentification name awersd “Sae vour fetched the po the bell! That's 1 caught A glimpse of Dawson hall as the The sight dently a sbhock to pu maka an b needn't have & Forhes ina Ah dea, he ce in such a hurry house at and wae a re the ¢ sponsible clerk a ea mer n the | chants ® of Screed, after giving doctor came into the room. me spe natruciions on wh ne of the dead man was evi 18ted me with ga e doct who had hous himself t exam carefulls methodica grave and fidence whom lie “Quick strangulatior “He whows He waea fairt made Was The Astonishad me of =a arr hae been dead som ne 0 #rugge Ack of A ng %0t ¢ “Nothing go ‘Were working on |ten when FIRST AMERICAN By PERCY JAMES BREBNER PUBLICATION [V.—The Marchmont Street Affair ceiving telegraphic notice of the trag- |<ame. One ran edy. Wanted to know what the police | <ide of the road, the other ran u doing 1 s house to belthe t Squa h shambles, were allow tarned direction of Marchmon 1= prepaved Was into a jid not think he would he ahle to swear to Dawson’s honesty tify either of them; there was n staggered when he heard this was not | pear, but he helieved the man w the first crime of the kind. Neems 10 across the sireet was afraid, have gathered precious little out of his he cilled out when a tremendoy ravels. | suspect such appalling igno- (o thunder came jus. as he reacl of natural,” had fothing rance; it isn't The three them ex I nodded. 1 1seful 101, fow words sa) storm, and then one man, wi “Putting &ir John, Dawso leaning ound aside a moment = tehed did in, 1 fa m The he unls ifraid went ntan thong went on. I am convinced the mu not hesitate a mome derer came in by the front door, There e other man followe were foot marks in the hall, and on advising Dinter to and in Therefore either the room carpet, nowhere else ere he was and I emained the house. the door | g, S had been left open or the murderer a key. e mi 1lling had | that worst of the rain wa Now it was Letween nine and | ;o dig not wai the He saht the 1 trance must have been made afier that | ;. hall, certainiy it to see them ror rain commenced, so en- tho stood, just he aifl time or there would he no mud door Ay At prints, and the escape was prol made before Dawson returned me Winter was eca he appears to have boited and chained | pich he had shelt nake sur w vuzzle men were kK up anot B nigines the police of new ould be said dinar whica 1 was mere He 100ks like 8 ma fdeas. 1 Ver 14« everyone case chnical he himse 1o know Dr. Smith might 1Mol i nimy d the has she online va fier. T told we mt ome It nd see We 1 e Nireet m L Cast A% oroughfare from Mar mont Street, bu SUDDENLY AT A CORNER AMOTOR LORR CAME INTO COLLISION WITH AN OMNIBUS. papers mitted &h ggesied 'ross from the other |+ ) from e to iden- o lamy ho ran s erack red the hanged of the | it was was . hut him h n d W o them ne ont nside mmer ting have he Don't are iinding ant stance small < R “Some ritual” said Smith. “The “Wa are not obliged to gospel” Sereed returned He seemed honest to me Yes the fact is, docior, heen 1g why he came You cannot he the nearest medi to Marchmont Street,” There nothing asainsg that Smith answered, not come to me, T was ret a case | had heen to during the and was crossing Marchmon when he asked me if | could di to Lthe nearest doctor. 1 Dr, Mit i Marchmon hut w 1 mentioned ths doctor, zgested that | ome, was agitated, conld nothing out of him heyont the f that a man had heen found dead. 1 was qiite unprepared for what I saw. ‘You “Have doing . “The absence of any apparent md An iso’ated case might not hring in ide hut severa) cases—" you e got the right man i with in my friend Yates,' Screed. "l can see ypu are men of the same type. [t is heyvond me, 'm practical fetlow, and haven't the advaniages of an expensive aducation. argue it out. 1 =hall interested listener. 1 laughed. reed’'s modesty amused e his story for I have to vou. 11 man hut- wone himi en “He did from is ing izt rave should very and 1 e said o some ritual particular 1 reason suzgest sueh “Ah arg laughed Go on an friend exaggerates the snid the doctor have to rank reseiul, Often luerative | our keness, Mr, Yate ith a smila, "hecause | self among the unsy: I find my small and v wactice almost too much for me. | am not as strong as | look: indeed, I tivink t ik only my wil which kpeus me from hecom a chronie inva 1 have to be careful of over fatigue and shock Had 1 kpown what 1 was going to see hope the other morning | should have let the | arctaker go for Dr, Mitchell” “You must find ill-health very ing in yvour profession,” | sa'd jere are compensations a sludious turn of mind. and ample time for reading. My reading heen somewha: promiscuous, | vou know, Mr. Yates, how hits put away in brai try- I am of has dare knowledge o happens to ms That «m lese isoiate a abo.t whose customs " acrifice \ treated V the man cated acting. oW man m s a book 2tk 1ape wives rlizious rom 4 harrow B rning 1 of ages 1 & of the world ook direetly 1 Ma-chmant said Serend o very glad wi ur went on me. aga 1 am a weople in ent 1 will come few s the gen- Je Street—in mean—and my has gradually debarred me Jating in societr meetings. reeast Adoctor does not the unsucesssful not of - . ia longer L to come, mustn’ reed 2 handing Author of "Valentine Wes! 1 et the | “The Master Detectiv ! hook, theo; and Mr, progress.” 1 shall b “I expect T shall be oo busy, [ may find 2 message when I get back tonight which will send me to the other end of Kurope, I'd just love to ='t, smoke and discuss with you if Nature had made me that kind of man, and ir ! Pad the requived hrains, but beinz built on other 1 to go racing about after thieves and vazabonds.” When we were in the street T asked Sereed whether our v'sit had given him any new ideas, ' ‘T .don’t’ know about new wainz to investizate all the | Uy Indian students, Smith sugz celizious mania; is another name ‘or My murder society. Me suggesis ‘ndia. | thought China, but he may be ight, | “Was that hook helprul Oh, ves. 1 would cuyitivate Smith [r. Vates, if [ were you. [ do not think o1 can help me much among the ‘ndian students, hut you may dick up omething from Smith which will he it service, 1 should say he has a lot i that head of his, Not a great talker. ante drawing out. [le appeals to me. Juite a good ehap.” “I like him, [ shali him up.” ‘Do, “1 shall start lo work on yqur doctor, Tt is most interesting. Yates shall tell vou how e pleased to see you. Lo0.” ires have bug 1 am ‘aces used s certainly look of ariner- is. My sentimentalist don't think | hefore, and the e wants draggin ith & head like course hear aur ship in mind, but The fac Yates, 1 am a hit of o deep down, a'though 1 have confessed it top apneals (o me, out of himseif. Why, ne's got, his patients ought to he form- ing queue from one end of Casile Rtreet to the other. lie wants a bit of enconragement to come out of himself that's all, and you ¢an help him. He's morbid, that's what stops ham. 17 you could take h'm out a bit, or get him 1o g0 and have a good laugh at some musie hall, he'q be a different man “1 he'ieve if you live long enough, {Screed, you will become quite human, 1 said, “Shouldn’y wonder,” 1 went to see Dr, Smith again before the end of the week and our acquaint- |ance ripened into friendship, We had a walk or two together, spent an after- noon at South Kensington Museum and took & hug eut to Richmond to tea, {and to enjoy the heanty of the Hill [omly in the most casual way did we ention the Marchmont Street tragedy and T hardiy thought of Screed. | did pot know what waz doing, and h was evidently anxions heat whether | had anything interesting t (tell him, T hadn't, except the tact that | my society seemed to be good for the doctor, [e had bhegun douliting his {ability to walk very far, and was aston. isheg himsell gniie after tramy miles, Ve dig not think 'he could stand the heat of a thea hut after the first attempt was anxious 10 go azain You after strength and You are chiefty n agingrion,” T returned A hypercondria No, [ am not ex. ad. 1 ma plagued with too d an imagination, but that doe ouble me “Does anything | “Yes, 1 am wondering |are as /it as when we |ie no dount 1 he noy to to feel fresh five a You " he night 0 me from im- gond theat nerve sufferer do me Y b the second he not met. There people act and react lon one another. mentally and physic |ally. What the one gains the | joses. ©1d people’s vitality is increased i lose contacy with u poor health strengthened association vith a vigorous person. | am seriously d that | am robbing you of vital- The vampire theory, ch™ “That is an extreme exposition of a aet, but 1 should not wonder if | had 110 play the doctor to you preeent! 1t was soon aftgr this conversation aat | heard from Screed, not direet] bur through Beity, who rang me | from the teashop. She had | or him. “Lis full, He wrote this down end it: ‘Be cure ind'an sa Ui + message the =aid 1 will Students ’ n shock. lemem Got it clear! peat it. 1 should have the teashop had time vas mecting Smith for c-hall afterwards 1 m » should Indian students be wat me? 1 son e Ma n 1 ourse | did told 1o 90 =0 vivia m the tacerated leg= W the feet |1 was hardl en care messs " hed gone round to parmitted, but 1 linner and The message « mu vay, b aning Why ing engaged And as in “hme remember mere no wa ent detaila? tact whole scene raised head . ind turned outwarde woaderful that | My eyes tor Indian < udente at ne Trocadero where we dned. and at Althambra aftersards. | =an two Japanese. | think 1 cauz A Chinaman not an 1 we seen ot Screed's hothered me. and Dr. Smi that 1 was not my ysual =eif he concluded that when he e . the doctor. It wasa fine e ked home, both silent. Suddeniy, at lofry came v is‘'on with an omnibus. Several ple on the pave- ment eried out in alarm; 1 think 1 gave la quick exclamation, and | am nearly sure Smith 4 The next moment he had seized my arm “Come,” he said this sory of thing.” My dear fellow, don’t be an ass, sides someone ma hurt and |may be uweful” he answered. was 1o e of Leing hroughe mind, to he stretc out auen the one sigin ian was messaze noticed 1 fane the time v as at hand called y o h won to pla noonless and of us rather a Forner, a motor night. but - to oo You cannot stand . " “1 know “The Turbulent Duchess,” other | 'Chi what ig #e® ®ryou, for us both. | _He had a firm grip on my arm, and refore 1 quite realized what he wa# idoing he was hurrying me along a side |street. T saw the position at once. He had lost his nerve,.and in his agitation -ongidereq that T must have done the same, 1 was the more ready to humor him a¢ I was fairly certain that no one had been hurt in the accident, For a faw moments | hurried along with him, (but when he turned into another small strect I stopped, 1 as LMo released my Pvound. 1 could feel rather than sce that h's manner was distraught, Ie A'd not answer, The accident had evi- dently heen a shock to him. Shock! Into my head flashed a phrase in S d's mes The memory came 7 instant too soon, for with strength which, heq it taken me quite {unawares would have'overpowered me Smith had thrown one arm around me. jerking back my head, and T was fight- ng to prevent h's drawing a thin strip of leather avound my throat. cery detail of the victim in Marchmont ftreer wasz hefore me, etched in my ain, and [ knew that 1 had to exert {every ounce of streng:h in me to pre- this madman giving the fatal twist to his weapon. With all my ef- fort 1 might not have succeeded in mysell. 1lelp came from two o rushed through the darkness i 10 overpowered the 0 vou know where we are geing 1. arm and looked not vent saving men w 1o my T Two or three hours later in a cell at he police station Dr, Smith was ask- ng how he came to be there, and what hig happened to his friend. M. Vi with whom he was spending the even- ing, tes, rtly from Dr, Smith himself and from men who had known him we zot the story as fully as it will ever known, When raveling with a small expedition in Northern India he and a companion had become separated from the others and had fallen into tht Ihands of a tribe offered human =acrifice: 1o a forest god, and less, siv who secretly They were taken temple ed to some snake the doctor, bound and help- his companion die. Partially he was trussed and laid at the idol's feet, his head propped up to A venemous snake let loose to the vietim. Rescue face its will on to save thiz man, stranzed work had come too late ang for weeks after the doctor was fn a condition, A was dble to travel Dr. Smith returned 10 BEngland, 1e took up his profession =it was his only means of livelihood-- but he roog) that he wasj cubje lupses of memory, short lanses, came an geeasion when remained hlan) He re. membered being in Hyde Park just it was getting dark, and nothing more ingil hie found himself in a small South London street in the early houre of 1l morning. 1t nevep occurred to him that had done any harm in this period of mental darkness, and he said noth- ing about Fven his small practice wenld leave him if he did. He had siudied himself, and coneluded that some kind of shock always came efore these lapses, Ap accident in the mizht he the cause, or a thunder Tle had always been afraid of storing, rellow, prostrate #0on as he s aware to Then several hour he hie Japsos, “tresy i, thunde P un " he wae emoved to a asylum, and he is never like tier, For a long period often he ix a4 sane and intellectual man, and then for a he becomes a subtle and dangerous madman, I retract the statement |shows signe of growing sentiment congerning Dr. Smith was entirely assamed, hig one idea being 1o prosecute his investigations and test his theor “It began with that book ha handed to me, Mr, Yates,” he told me in Betty's teagshop. Tt mentioned that sacrifices wers sometimes practiced, but it didn word suggesting t kind we were taiking about speculating. How I know anything about it? vour friendship with him ehiefly 1 might ha when waile that human Screed i ay ritual w ¢ set smith i suzgested that of calling house- « the opportunity out, 1 his eeper that | would wait until you re turned. In a drawer 1 found a piec leather thong n his diary, for night which the murder hap- 1 found he had 5 case, The ad- Was 1 and | calleq there, woman expected he doctor night had har o be mont & he was to of and the on pened en had but ¥ for quAre from a &0 there e 1 nodded itis that . not come, called in presence in Mare ing he was return- No doubt he started wit never went. One of ame on ceo his ea ing case, was “Om one peefnl” Scresd cone the other occasions had taken him inte the neigh- nrhond the erime. Naturally 1 yizzleg over what circumstances eould turn g sane gentieman into a flend. and ted his statement that he had 1 do nbt hope to that e committed all 1 think we ma: con- dia a of 1 recolle oid shock to a ale prove mes, bt cluds he did You are ‘Quite.” You did not troubie much about shied 7 1 asked m an ing va “You could not tel] when the shoek would come, and did not warn me at first " trouile’ where w ted, ® Why vou have never th him without be. heen “True. 1 did not think about it at firet. When your danger did occur 1o 1 sent ;0u & message.” 1 might have liecome another vietim 1 got i “There was alwa, me hefore + the possibility, bt he ealg ealm), “One has to take some risks., You canmot expect | victory without risk.”