The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-04

death rom q ahoe nrod ~ an UNKNOWN
person. !"
Az the jury were retiring Hendricks
turned to Mr.. Meynell.
"What were the contents Of the dead
mans pookets!" he asked.
The coroner opened brown paper
parcel on the table. II contained note
book. a purse Of as, penknife, lead
pencil and watch and chain.
"Looks as if nothing were TAKEN"
said tho detective tentatively.
"No; robbery was not the motive
evidently, Mr.. Hendricks. You can
safely bank on that"
Hendricks nodded thoughtfully.
II should like to keep these things
along with the revolver if you have no
objection, said he. "They may sug-
gest an idea for operation. For the
present am at sea in very poor craft"
Mystery to me-" said the coroner.
"By the way, presume I did right in
letting the undertaken look after the
body. see they are bringing 1t round
to the drawing room"
Perfectly right" replied the detect
i've. "Oh, say, MeynellI' as the
coroner was turning away. "Ipresume
we have seen all the people who usual
ly live In the house, haven't WEI"
"Well, no, not exactly" replied the
coroner. "There is Mr. Brooks Allen,
an elderly man, who has been for years
associated with Mr.. Jacob Benton in
his scientific work. was told by the
chief Of police that he lives here about
half his time, though he has not been
in East Orange for week or So"
Hendricks pulled his beard reflective
ly.
"There il one other thing" he said.
"I'd like to have the clothes in which
old Benton was found. Please have
them done up carefully for me. may
have use for Them"
Easy enough" answered the coro-
ner "I'll speak to the undertaken about
them at once. wish you luck, Mr.
Hendricks I'm sure you are the right
man to throw light on the mystery. "
"As you 20 out" said Hendricks,
frowning down the compliment, "please
send that coachman to me. I'll wait
here
In minute Jarnagin entered. Hem
bricks smiled at him reassuringly.
Thought you might help me little,
Jarnagin, be began. "Hold your
tongue, and III see that you don't lose
anything by it"
II am the sort that can do it. SIR"
said the coachman, already at his ease.
II know that, Jarnagin, said the
detective, throwing himself into an
easy chair and biting the end of cigar.
"You see, want to know something
about the people who live in place
where crime has been committed.
Every one eau help little by suages-
ton here and there. Now. | have seen
every one but this Mr.. Allen, who, I
understand, has been associated with
your late master in his scientific work. "
"He has not been here for more than
o weak. sir" replied Jarnnnin. Him
an master had rumpus about scaO
contract OF other beard EN- quarral-
in one night in this very room, sir. "
"a quarrel?" said Hendricks indifser-
ontly as he TOOK match from his
pocket
"Yas, sir, "said Jarnaa,n. ''Mr. Allen
was a-ssyin that master was not doln
any Of the hard work an was continn.
ally gittin his name in the papers,
while nobody recognized his help at
all. He said he was tired Of it, an if
master didn t aiEn come papar or other
he'd publish somethin about master.
They almost had fight, sir. I heard
EN- a-givin each other the lie All a
good deal Of loud talEin, m then / sup.
pose master must attacked Mr. Allen
out of the room, for he come ont cryin
and a-limpin an maxim threats. see
i'm tryin to look in at the library win
dows, bnt master had locked the door
an gone up to his laboratory. Since
then haven't laid eyes OH Mr.. Allen
but ouce. He came one day when mas
ter was out all went up to his room an
looked over some Of his papers al went
away"
(Which was his room?" asked Hen
bricks. scratching match on the sole
of his boot and lighting his cigar.
"It's the small one. sir, right over
this one.
Hendricks said nothing for two or
three minutes Then he took tho re-
volver from his pocket, went to the
window and called the man to him.
did you ever see this gun before,
Jarnusin?' he asked.
The gervant took it and examined it
closely
II could swear it used to stay in this
room behind that big vase Oh the man
telpiece" answered the man. II know
it by the nick in the handle. l didn't
get good look at it durin the inquest. "
Whose was it,"
Il don't know, sir. 1t seemed to be-
long to the house Master always kept
it loaded for use in case Of need. Seem
ed to me he was afraid some one would
try to steal some Of his plans an
drawin's."
"Where did he keep them?"
'In big safe il his laboratory.
"Your master has been troubled with
excessive nervousness lately. it seems"
said Hendricks, restoring the weapon
to his pocket
Never saw its equal, sir. Half the
time he couldn't seem to sleep wink
at night, an then here of late be seemed
to be awful hard to please. He's been
.!5aI| | / a.