Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-11-06
ooh, beg pardonr' she said, start.

ing to withdraw.
"It's all right" said Hendricks,
,uickly stepping toward her. eve were
inst going out. How is Mr.. Benton?"
"He is better" replied Miss Has
tings. "He is in his sisters room, sit
ting up.
"We were just starting to look around
the house Bit" said Hendricks.
"Would you mind telling us which is
your room and the one formerly occu-
pied by Mr.. Jacob Benton?"
"Mine Is at the head of the front
stairs on the right as you 60 up, re-
piled Miss Hastings. "Mr. Bentons
was next to it, between my room and
his laboratory.
"Thank you. And Miss Benton's
room isl
son this floor, back of the sitting
room, after you Cross the narrow pas
sage. :"
"Mr. Montcastle's is opposite hers,
I believe" went on Hendricks.
eyes"
"Mr. Ralph Benton rooms up stairs,
presume.
eyes, across the hall from his ia
theirs apartment"
''Thank you." said Hendricks, with
a pleasant smile and bow. "We want
to look the premises over and shall be-
gin at the bottom "Come on, doctor. I"
The detective led Lampkin from the
library and down long hall into which
kseveral doors opened. AS they were
passing Miss Benton's room they heard
voices within.
.sMontcastle fs there whispered
Hendricks over his shoulder, "and
while they are OBTAINING him want to
peep into his chamber"
The next minute he laid his hand ON
the knob of Montcastle's door. 1t was
| locked. The detective smiled broadly as
he took heavy bunch of keys from his
pocket and began to try them i'll the
| lock.
tSwiped em from Jane during the
inquest he laughed. "She had 'em
| tied to her waist with a string.
shipped it with my penknife. Saw her
just now searching for them OIL the
front lawn. All, here we areP' Hen
bricks pushed the door open, and when
they had entered he closed and bolted it.
Don't want anybody plunging in on
u.s., he explained as his eyes began to
rove about the apartment. ''AhP' he
Cried pointing to good sized travelling
bag in corner. Remember what
told you about the 1870 train and the
cab tracks in the rear and in the front?'
II remember" replied the doctor.
Hendricks raised the bag from the
floor to u lounge.
Completely packed" he said. "Now,
I wonder if I can get into it. Ali!
| The catch slid back, and the bag opened.
It was closely filled with wearing ap-
4 parel. "By Jove! If every trail was as
4 easy to follow as this one, blind mer
4 would become detectives.
4 "What is it," questioned Lampkin.
''See that little clock in the corner
under the handkerchiefs?'
eyes"
Hendricks took it out and stood it III
OH his hand. "See, it is one Of the lit
tie pendulum affairs that won't run un
less it is standing up.
| 1rS6o, IopIlSu hduuphih uCoAuAAo
ally
"You see only what baby could see,
or else you'd show more enthusiasm
over it" said Hendricks. "Montcastle
took it from his dressing table or man
tel and packed it at exactly az min
utes after this morning. Looks like
short leave taking, doesn't it?'
''It does, indeed" said the doctor
I"By Jove, ~
He didn't occupy the bed either las
night, for it has not been touched, ant
/ there is his nightshirt under his TENN
shoes, one of the first things stowet
away" 81
i cit looks as if Montcastle knew some
thing about the murder or had some
thing to do with it. Don't you thinl
i so?'' asked Lampkin.
Hendricks made no reply. He wa
running through the articles in the bal
as deity as custom house official afte
struggled goods.
"Good!" he cried, suddenly DRAWN,
himself up and rubbing his bands to
gether. "You remember the woman
footprints at the side gate along will
the mans? She was ready to go too. +"
i ''How do you know that" ssked DR.
Lampkin, with bated breath.
"Here is pair of her boots" salt
Hendricks, with low laugh eff the,
were pair of dainty evening slipper
tied with blue strings and two sizes to-
small for the wearer, they would meal