The Strange Case Of Mortimer Fenley - free ebook by Louis Tracy

THE STRANGE CASE OF MORTIMER FENLEY

Made in the United States of America...

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PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

Made in the United States of America Copyright, 1919, by EDWARD J. CLODE...

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The Water Nymphs

Does an evil deed cast a shadow in advance? Does premeditated crime spread a baleful aura which affects certain highly-strung temperaments just as the sensation of a wave of cold air rising from the spine to the head may be a forewarning of epilepsy or hysteria? John Trenholme had cause to think so one bright June morning in 1912, and he has never ceased to believe it, though the events which made him an outstanding figure in the "Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley," as the murder of a prominent ma

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"Who Hath Done This Thing?"

Trenholme's baritone was strong and tuneful—for the Muses, if kind, are often lavish of their gifts—so the final refrain of an impassioned love song traveled far that placid morning. Thus, when he reached the iron gates, he found the Roxton policeman standing there, grinning. "Hello!" said the artist cheerily. Of course he knew the policeman. In a week he would have known every man and dog in the village by name. "Good mornin', sir," said the Law, which was nibbling its chin strap and had both t

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THE HOUNDS

Superintendent James Leander Winter, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard, had just opened the morning's letters, and was virtuously resisting the placid charms of an open box of cigars, when the telephone bell rang. The speaker was the Assistant Commissioner. "Leave everything else, and motor to Roxton," said the calm voice of authority. "Mr. Mortimer Fenley, a private banker in the City, was shot dead about nine thirty at his own front door. His place is The Towers,

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Breaking Cover

Winter drew the local Inspector aside. "This inquiry rests with you in the first instance," he said. "Mr. Furneaux and I are here only to assist. Mr. Fenley telephoned to the Commissioner, mainly because Scotland Yard was called in to investigate a bond robbery which took place in the Fenley Bank some two months ago. Probably you never heard of it. Will you kindly explain our position to your Chief Constable? Of course, we shall work with you and through you, but my colleague has reason to belie

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A Family Gathering

Fenley was frowning when he reappeared. "Another call from the Bank," he said gruffly. "Everything there is at sixes and sevens since the news was howled through the City. That is why I really must go to town later. I'm not altogether sorry. The necessity of bringing my mind to bear on business will leaven the surfeit of horrors I've borne this morning.... "Now, about my brother, Mr. Winter. While listening to Mr. Brown's condolences—you remember Brown, the cashier, Mr. Furneaux—I was thinking o

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Wherein Furneaux Seeks Inspiration From Literature and Art

The head of the Criminal Investigation Department was not the sort of man to accept meekly whatsoever coarse commands Robert Fenley chose to fling at him. He met the newcomer's angry stare with a cold and steady eye. "You should moderate your language in the presence of death, Mr. Fenley," he said. "We are here because it is our duty. You, on your part, would have acted more discreetly had you gone to your mother's assistance instead of swearing at those who were acting for the best under trying

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Some Side Issues

Trenholme, rather interested than otherwise, did not blanch at mention of Scotland Yard. "Walk right in, Mr. Furneaux," he said; he had picked up a few tricks of speech from Transatlantic brethren of the brush met at Julien's. "Have you lunched?" "Excellently," was the reply. "Not in Roxton. I defy you to produce a cook in this village that shall compare with our Eliza of the White Horse." "Sir, my thoughts do not dwell on viands. True, I ate with a butler, but I drank wine with a connoisseur. I

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Coincidences

Winter was blessed with an unfailing memory for dates and faces. Before he had emerged from the main exit of Gloucester Mansions he had fixed Drake as committed from the Old Bailey during the Summer assizes four years earlier, released from Portland on ticket of leave at the beginning of the current year, and marked in the "failure to report" list. "Poor devil!" he said to himself. "The very man for my purpose!" Therefore, seeing his way clearly, his glance was not so encouraging nor his voice s

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Wherein an Artist Becomes a Man of Action

Furneaux's visit left Trenholme in no happy frame of mind. The man who that morning had not a care in the world was now a prey to disquieting thought. The knowledge that he had been close to the scene of a dastardly murder at the moment it was committed, that he was in a sense a witness of the crime, was depressing in itself, for his was a kindly nature; and the mere fact that circumstances had rendered him impotent when his presence might have acted as a deterrent was saddening. Then, again, he

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Furneaux States Some Facts and Certain Fancies

This record of a day remarkable beyond any other in the history of secluded Roxton might strike a more cheerful note if it followed the two young people across the park. It is doubtful whether or not Sylvia Manning's unpremeditated action in accompanying Trenholme was inspired by a sudden interest in art or by revolt against the tribulations which had befallen her. Of course there is some probability that a full and true account of the conversation between man and maid as they walked the half mi

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Some Preliminary Skirmishing

Now, perhaps, taking advantage of an interval while the representatives of Scotland Yard sought the aid of soap and water as a preliminary to a meal, it is permissible to wander in the gloaming with Sylvia Manning and her escort. To speak of the gloaming is a poetic license, it is true. Seven o'clock on a fine summer evening in England is still broad daylight, but daylight of a quality that lends itself admirably to the exigencies of romance. There is a species of dreaminess in the air. The land

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Wherein Scotland Yard is Dined and Wined

Three dinners for two were in progress in The Towers at one and the same hour. One feast had been shortened by the ill-concealed hatred of each brother for the other. At the second, brooding care found unwonted lodging in the charming personality of Sylvia Manning—care, almost foreboding, heightened by the demented mutterings of her "aunt." At the third, with the detectives, sat responsibility; but light-heartedly withal, since these seasoned man-hunters could cast off their day's work like a ga

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Close Quarters

Human affairs are peculiarly dependent on the weather. It is not easy to lay down a law governing this postulate, which, indeed, may be scoffed at by the superficial reasoner, and the progression from cause to effect is often obscured by contradictory facts. For instance, a fine summer means a good harvest, much traveling, the prolongation of holiday periods, a free circulation of money, and the consequent enhanced prosperity and happiness of millions of men and women. But there are more suicide

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The Spreading of the Net

That John Trenholme should be in the right place at the right moment, and that the place should happen to be one where his presence was urgently required in Sylvia Manning's behalf, was not such a far-fetched coincidence as it might be deemed, for instance, by a jury. Juries are composed mainly of bald-headed men, men whose shining pates have been denuded of hair by years and experience, and these factors dry the heart as surely as they impoverish the scalp. Consequently, juries (in bulk, be it

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Some Stage Effects

Fenley himself dropped almost simultaneously with the rifle, landing with both feet on Furneaux's back, and thus completing the little man's discomfiture. By that time the two policemen were nearly upon him, but he was lithe and fierce as a cobra, and had seized the rifle again before they could close with him. Jabbing the nearer adversary with the muzzle, he smashed a lamp and sent its owner sprawling backward. Then, swinging the weapon, he aimed a murderous blow at the second constable. The ma

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The Close of a Tragedy

Winter was in the Quarry Wood and feeling his way but trusting to hands and feet when he heard, and soon saw, Furneaux and the two constables coming toward him. The little detective held the electric torch above his head, and was striding on without looking to right or left. The bitterness of defeat was in his face. Life had turned to gall and wormwood. As the expressive American phrase has it, he was chewing mud. The Superintendent smiled. He knew what torment his friend was suffering. "Hello,

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The Settlement

Winter tried to persuade his mercurial-spirited friend to snatch a few hours' rest. The Police Inspector obligingly offered a bed; but short of a positive order, which the Superintendent did not care to give, nothing would induce Furneaux to let go his grip on the Fenley case. "Wait till the doctor's car comes back," he urged. "The chauffeur will carry the story a few pages farther. At any rate, we shall know where he dropped Fenley, and that is something." Winter produced a big cigar, and Trenh

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There Are Two Sides to Everything—

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset &amp; Dunlap's list. Ask for Complete free list of G. &amp; D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK...

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DETECTIVE STORIES BY J. S. FLETCHER

Ask for Complete free list of G. &amp; D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list. Jesi, a diminutive city of the Italian Marches, was the birthplace of Rafael Sabatini, and here he spent his early youth. The city is glamorous with those centuries the author makes live again in his novels with all their violence and beauty. Mr. Sabatini first went to school in Switzerland and from there

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RAFAEL SABATINI'S NOVELS

Today Rafael Sabatini is regarded as "The Alexandre Dumas of Modern Fiction." MISTRESS WILDING A romance of the days of Monmouth's rebellion. The action is rapid, its style is spirited, and its plot is convincing. FORTUNE'S FOOL All who enjoyed the lurid lights of the French Revolution with Scaramouche, or the brilliant buccaneering days of Peter Blood, or the adventures of the Sea-Hawk, the corsair, will now welcome with delight a turn in Restoration London with the always masterful Col. Randal

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EDGAR RICE BURROUGH'S NOVELS

GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset &amp; Dunlap's list. GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK...

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STORIES OF ADVENTURE

GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset &amp; Dunlap's list. LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody Wetmore, with Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey. GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK...

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ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS

GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset &amp; Dunlap's list. THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAIN A thrilling story, centering about a lovely and original girl who flees to the mountains to avoid an obnoxious suitor—and finds herself suspected of murder. DAUGHTER OF THE SUN A tale of Aztec treasure—of American adventurers who seek it—of Zoraida, who hides it. TIMBER-WOLF This is a story of action and of the wide open, dominated always by the he

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JACKSON GREGORY'S NOVELS

GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list. GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, Publishers , NEW YORK Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; otherwise, every effort has been made to remain faithful to the author's words and intent....

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