Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-04
CHAPTER TX.


all the way down town. He seemed so
deeply thoughtful that Welsh was
afraid to disturb him. Presently, how
ever, Hendricks sighed, looked into the
captains expectant face, and said:
my New York case is puzzling me.
can't make head or tail of it. 1t is GER
tainly most complicated matter. You
may have read of the Sixth avenue Jew
eler who was found dead"
"A[y God, Mr.. Hendricks! pardon
me-" broke in Welsh, with flash of
the eyes, "but this is really going too
far. Surely you don't realize my po-
sition. I have taken it on myself to
employ you with the city's money, and
-and-surely this is no time to be talk
ing of other cases."
Hendricks stared in surprise, blushed,
and threw away his cigar. The cab was
slowing up at Welsh's office. Hen
bricks said nothing until they were in
side and he had closed the door; then
he coolly lighted another cigar and
went on:
"You must pardon me, really, cap
tain, but I have always worked with
men who understood my awkward
ways. They usually let me alone; and
I forgot that you don't know my meth
DDS. l am great economist of time
when l am in thinking trim, and, as
had already arrived at the only conclu-
sion possible in your case, at least at this
stage, l was working on the other mat
ter mentioned"
Conclusion? What conclusion ?'
cried Welsh.
"Why, thought you were following
me step by step, up at the mayors;
though now do recall that you made
one or two proposals that rather seemed
to indicate lack of proper caution"
"Why, saw absolutely nothing" re-
piled Welsh. ITO be frank, thought
you were helplessly stumped, and were
simply trying to kill time and make a
favorable impression on the ladies'"
II was trying to be agreeable, Welsh,
confess it. That's my style. 1t makes
AN unpleasant job pleasanter to all
concerned. If you ever have to hand
cuff woman, tell her she has pretty
| wrists, and she won't mind it half so
much"
II am at sea-" said Welsh, land COM
pietely overheard"
Hendricks leaned back, threw his feet
on desk and chewed the end of his
cigar. II did not expect to find what
discovered up there" he said, musingly,
"but when l once got started the whole
chain of circumstances began to unroll,
and was SO easy to follow that | felt
as if were playing with toy. l could
have kicked myself for having to APP
pear to take it all so seriously. was
tempted to make a joke of it. When
was half through, wanted to throw
down my hand and say: Look here.
hold SO and so, ard I'll bet my reputa-
ton you haven't IL thing!'"
'Im still in deep water" said Welsh
II saw the bullet hole, her tracks, the
fellows tracks, and that was all. The
nervousness of the ladies and the may.
or's anxiety absorbed me-"
II did not go there to sympathize
with anyone" answered the detective.
81 was looking for facts. But follow me
now, and draw your own conclusions
as we go. Well, what was the first in.
congruous thing that happened after
we arrived? Why. if you remember
Mrs. Walters said she was sure she
beard the report before she felt the ball
PASS through her sleeve. The distance
was about 100 yards, and if the differ.
ence were noticeable at all it would
have been, scientifically, you know, ex.
nctay the reverse"
"But surely" protested Welsh, you'd
hardly expect an excited woman to be
correct about such a minor detail q
that"
"Mrs. Walters was not excited,
Hendricks answered. you must hay,
noticed that. If she had been, l should
not have made point there. However
that was only little thing to star
from, but it was sufficient, as ! fount
} out later. The next thing did was II
examine the hole in her sleeve. Wha
did do that for? TO find out if it wer,
made by bullet. 1t was rather to-
dark in the house to see well, but GU
in the sunlight got another look.
saw that it really was bullet hole.
noticed few black specks on the cloth
but, without being openly impertinent,
could not decide whether they had beef
caused by powder or SCOT. for the cow
was gray"