Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-11-06

going to the hot and cold water basin
in little alcove adjoining the room
and looking into it. SCOT match, doc
tor? It's dark here"
Lampkin struck one and gave it 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 a 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"
81 don't quite like his looks" re-
marked the doctor. "It 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 on the spot where it had
blown from Ralph's hand.
"What's that for?" asked Lampkiu.
"It can't aid me to keep it, and when
he comes back here and finds it still
there he will be thrown off the track.
Now we must take peep at the
young fellows belongings I don't
think he was undressed last night
that is, am pretty sure he did not
take off his shirt and necktie."
"Why?"
because young man Of his taste
would never wear black dress bow,
cnoh ac 10 hos xusf h,,c;
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.
Lampkin nodded.
''That shows the young man is order
~ by habit" went on the detective.
"Well, here hangs his evening suit. 1t
has simply been jerked on to the hook.
You know a man is more particular
about his evening suit than any other.
There is little doubt that Ralph Benton
took off these garments in a 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, APP
preaching him. J
81 can't account for the presence of
these fragments Of tow" answered
Hendricks. Il find them on the lapels
of the coat, on the front part of the vest
and absolutely rubbed into the cloth on
the inside of the trousers legs. Seel" he
exclaimed. "The silk has been worn
| off one of the vest buttons"
"That's strange" said Lampkin.
81 should think so," answered Hen
bricks ''How in thunder could man
get suit of clothes in exactly that
coudition?''
"Might have been drunk suggested
the doctor.
"That would not account for direct
line Of tow fragments from his ankles
to his neck" said Hendricks. eff it
were covered all over, it would be diff
ferent, butt Hendricks turned and
hung up the garments as he had founi
them. Its chaos, my friend, he
said. "Never was a matter in more
| nebulous condition. First it's Miss
Benton, then Montcastle, then Ralph,
| them
"Me?" TESTED Lampkin, seeing that
Hendricks bad stopped for lack ct
| words.
"Yes, you, blast your ugly pictured
retorted the detective, with merry
laugh. "You did it in your sleep after
swimming the river in your nightshirt,
holding your revolver over your head to
keep it dry. Then you swan back, got
into bed, and walked you.
"You never play the clown except
when you are thwarted, and you rarely