Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-18

uncle seemed to make friends with
everyone"
"You don't know much about Mr..
Strong's early life which he spent in the
mines out west, l believer"
"No, don't. He did not speak Of it
cften."
at is possible, you know, for him to
have an enemy even that far back.
Matthews, with whom / have talked,
remembers your uncle's having a
strange visitor here year or so ago,
while you were at the seashore. 1t
seems that Mr.. Strong had sort of
quarrel with him, and, for some reason
of his own, he requested Matthews not
to mention the visitor to you. Now,
we must find that fellow if we can"
"But how are you going to do it?"
asked Miss Delmar.
"That's what I'm here for" replied
Hendricks. "And you are both going to
help me. Now, that visitor came here
and threatened Mr.. Strong about some
thing, so Matthews says, and one who
will threaten man to his face is apt
to do so in other ways. Mr.. WILDLY,
do You remember ever having seen your
uncle receive any letter which seemed
to disturb him at all?"
WILDLY reflected moment, then he
looked up with start.
"Yes; l had not thought of it before,
but my uncle has once or twice acted
peculiarly after receiving letters. About
month ago he opened letter at the
breakfast table and seemed almost to
turn sick. over it. He was white and
trembled all over. asked him what
was the matter, but he said he felt
suddenly faint, and that was all he
would tell me. I was concerned about
him, and wanted to send for doctor,
but he refused to let me, and declared
he was oil right. He seemed so I'M
strung that felt uneasy. really
feared his mind was affected, SO I
watched him through the curtains for
awhile after he went into the room
where he keeps his papers,"
what did he do there? Try-try to
think of everything" urged the detec-
tive, his eyes glittering as he fixed them
on the young mans face.
"He stood at the window" went on
WILDLY, "and read the letter again.
From where was in the hall could see
the paper quivering in his hands. He
remained there for long time, as If
in deep thought, and then threw the
envelope into q waste-paper basket,
took down file, and put the letter care
fully away"
"Ah, I see. Good, so far!" exclaimed
Hendricks. "Do you think you would
know that letter again?"
Il don't know; perhaps SO. It was in
large, square, blush envelope, and
the sheet was of the same color, and of
letter-paper SIZE"
II am glad you remember those de-
tails" said Hendricks. Now let's in
spect that file. May we not go in the
room where Mr.. Strong kept his pa
pers?"
Certainly" said WILDLY. "The coast
is clear. Matthews is staying down
stairs. am answering the doorbell."
"At this young lady's suggestion"
said the detective, with laugh, as they
We're crossing the hall.
Pray how did you guess that, I'd like
to know?" Miss Delmar asked.
"You were afraid your father would
call here, and if Mr.. WILDLY answered
the bell you would have time to hide.
Is not that true?"
Perfectly" replied the girl, with a
laugh. I'm glad he isn't famous de-
tective. He would have found me out
long ago."
When they entered the little room and
approached the desk, which was near a
great iron safe by window, WILDLY
started to draw the letter-file from a
pile of books and papers on shelf over
head. but the detective called out:
Hold on! Don't touch it'll" and he
brought chair and placed it under the
shelf. Then he went to the window,
raised the shade as high as it would go,
and let in the sunlight; after which he
stepped upon the chair, and, with a
hand on each end of the shelf, looked
carefully at the books and papers on
which the file rested.
"Ah, blast his ugly pictured" he ejacu-
lated. Hes nobody's fooll"
whats the matter?" asked WILDLY.
1--WE shan't find the letter, after ALL"
Hendricks lifted the file and stepped
down to the floor.
"Why, you haven't looked" protested
Miss Delmar.
"Yes, have" said the detective, in a
disappointed tone. "Those books and
papers up there are thickly covered
with dust, but the file is comparatively
free from it,
"Ah!" said Miss Delmar. "Some one
has been handling it,"
Exactly; and quite recently" Hen
bricks opened the box-like file and be-
gan to turn over the papers fastened in
by sharp-pointed steel prongs. "Ahl
see they are arranged according to
date of arrival. You think, Mr.. WILDLY,
that the letter you remember noticing
came about month ago. Well, we must
turn to about the Goth of June. All!
here is the spot; and, by Jove! our
friend was in hurry-not so very eau
tious, after all."
What is it?" asked WILDLY.
| HE has torn letter out at this place,
And it was blue one, too, for he has
left tiny fragment of it on the prongs."
Hendricks held minute piece of paper
towards WILDLY. "Does that look like
the paper on which that particular let
ter was written?"
81 think So"
Hendricks nodded, and put the torn
piece into the back part of his watch
case. Then, taking the letter-file to the
window, he laid 1t on the end Of the