The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-07
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we came up stairs. l could smell it
through the crack Of the door. That's
why broke in so suddenly"
Hendricks took sheet Of writing
paper from the desk and slid 1t careful.
~ under the frail. crisp fragment.
"Don't dare to breathe on it., he
cautioned as be carried it toward win
dow. 1T will go to pieces like soap
bubble. was awfully afraid he'd get
his foot on it and grind it into atoms.
The detective raised the sheet Of paper
to his eyes and examined the burned en-
velope carefully. Lampkin heard him
calculate something in tone Of disap.
pointment.
Empty and blank at thatl" he NUT
tered.
"What could the fellow mean by de-
stroyipg it?" asked DR.. Lampkin.
The brows Of the detective met. He
looked about the room, shifted the air
and pointed to stream Of smoke issu-
ing from the room through crack be-
meath window sash.
HE has burned more paper than
that" he remarked. "He was all fired
quick about it. We did not burst in on
him soon enough"
As Hendricks spoke he began to thor
oughly search the room.
"Ah, running water" he exclaimed,
going to the hot and cold water basin
in q little alcove adjoining the room
and looking into it. "Got match. doc
tor? It's dark here"
Lampkin struck one and gave 1t to
him. Hendricks held it in the basin and
carefully examined the porcelain sur
face Suddenly he raised himself.
"Never saw his beat, he said "The
young rascal has absolutely washed the
remains Of burned paper into the city
sewer. He is now laughing in his sleeve
at my maneuvering to get possession Of
that blank envelope. That's the second
time he has done me. I'll keep the
count"
II don't quite like his looks, " re-
marked the doctor. ut seems to me he
IL trying to cover up something"
Hendricks said nothing, but taking
the charred envelope from the desk he
laid it exactly OH the spot where 1t had
blown from Ralph's hand.
whats that for?" asked Lampkin.
at can't aid me to keep it, and when
he comes back here and finds it still
there be will be thrown off the track.
Now we must take peep at tho
young fellows belongings. l don't
think he was undressed last night
that is, / am pretty sure he did not
take off his shirt and neoktie. "
why"
because young man Of his taste
would never wear a black dress bow,
such as he has on now, with business
suit of clothes.
"You think, then, that he was in
evening dress last night?" asked DR..
Lampkin.
Hendricks opened closet. "See all
those coats neatly hung on coat stretch.
ers back there?'' he asked. a
Lampkin nodded.
"That shows the young man is order
ly by habit" went on the detective.
"Well, here hangs his evening suit. II
has simply been jerked on to the hook.
You know man is more particular
about his evening suit than any other.
|. There is little doubt that Ralph Benton
took off these garments i'll rush last
night" Hendricks carried the coat,
vest and trousers to one of the windows
and examined them closely in the light.
Lampkin saw him holding up first one
article and then another, with a per.
picked look on his face.
what's up?" asked the doctor, up
preaching him.
II cant account for the presence Of
these fragments Of tow" answered
Hendricks. II find them on the lapels
of the coat, OH the front part Of the vest
and absolutely rubbed into the cloth on
the inside of the trousers legs See?' he
exclaimed. 1.-The silk has been worl
off one of the vest buttons. "
THAT'S strange" said Lampkin.
II should think so," answered Hen
bricks. How in thunder could maj
get suit Of clothes in exactly tina
condition."
might have been drunk" suggested
the doctor.
"That would not account for direc
line Of tow fragments from his ankle
to his neck" said Hendricks. "f 4
were covered all over, it would be diff
ferent, butt Hendricks turned ant
hung up the garments us he had foun'
them. cts chaos. my FRIEND" b
said. "Never was matter in NOR
nebulous condition. First it's Mis-
Benton, then Montcastle, then Ralph
them
| "Me?" TESTED Lampkin, seeing tina
Hendricks had stopped for lack 0
words.
| Eyes. you, blast your ugly pictured
retorted the detective, with a merr,
laugh. "You did it in your sleep afte
swimming the river in your nightshirt
holding your revolver over your head t
keep it dry. Then you swan back, 90
into bad, and walked you"
lyon never play the clown excep
when Won ara thwarted, and you rarel