The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-09
The North Walk Mystery,
By WILL n. HARBHg,
tCopyright. 1907. by will N. Harben.]
CHAPTER XII.

crack beneath the door. Lampkin turned
the knob and pushed. The door opened
about six inches, struck something
and stopped. 1t was the head Of the de.
tective, for when Lampkin had looked
through the narrow ope2ing he found
Hendricks on his hands and knees on
| the floor
"Oh, I beg pardonp' he laughed,
rising clumsily. II forgot that was
blocking the way. Look out! Don't ster
on that thing"
"What in thunder are you doing?'
asked the doctor, stepping cautiously
over black suit Of clothes which the
detective had carefully stretched OIL the
floor.
"Sh!" Hendricks closed the door.
"Old man Benton's," he went on with
grin. II presume you think I am
mad, eh?'
Method in it; I'd bet on that" re-
turned the doctor
Don't quote. Be original"
Hendricks sat down on the side of a
bed for a moment, his chin resting
thoughtfully in his hand. Presently he
rose and drew one Of the sleeves of the
coat downward All inch or so.
"How's that?" he asked.
"How's WHAT" asked Lampkin.
"What are you doing?"
"Want to get him fixed as much like
we found him as possible. Hard to do
without stuffing. For little I'd rip up
that mattress and utilize the contents.
The more like old Benton it looks the
slicker my brain wheels revolve. Ideas,
ideas, my friendP
"What do you expect to get out Of
that suit?"
1.-TWO fifty at secondhand store"
replied the detective. He burst into
little laugh and abruptly relapsed into
intense thoughtfulness.
81 can see that you are deeply inter-
ested," observed Lampkin.
"Why, old sawbones?''
"If you were not, your joke would
not have been SO lame.'
mot too much interested to enjoy
yours" laughed Hendricks mechanical
ly. "Ha, ha, ha! One on me-" He sunk
on his knees, took hold Of the left lapel
Of Benton's coat and examined it
closely.
"What are you studying that lapel
80 attentively for?" asked the doctor.
Hendricks turned the lapel back and
exposed the underside.
"see that pin?" he asked.
eyes. I suppose you viii. take it as
proof Of stinginess and'-
"Nothing of the kind" broke in the
detective. He rose, opened tho back
part Of his watch case and exposed
tiny shred of white paper. II found
that under the pin just now"
"Wellf" said Lampkin.
ut was there" replied Hendricks.
"There was a reason for its being there,
but 1 can't make it out yet. 1t is one of
the half dozen inexplicable things con-
nected with the case. When we know
who shot tho owner of this snit of
clothes, we'll know what this bit of pa
per means. "
Lampkin sat down at table. "Has
anything turned up since saw you?'
Hendricks closed his watch with a
snap and sank on the bed.
lyon know I was hungry when you
left me-" he began. "Well, went to
the kitchen. Tho cook, colored man,
rather laxative by nature, offered to
give me bite in the dining room, but
I preferred the kitchen. 1t is the sink
Of household gossip. l got him started
by giving him plated ring with red
glass setting. now know the house
from a to lizard. Old man Benton was
dead against the house party. He hated
Montcastle for some reason or other and
had had scrap with Ralph nearly ev-
cry night for the last month. Jason con-
firms Jarnagin's story about the quarrel
between Mr.. Benton and Allen and says
Allen is u snake in the grass and that
he would not forgive an injury; that
it would rankle, you know, aud then
rise and burst. SO to speak,"
but you haven't particle of evil
ueuCo uSulHhb Allcup Sulu LuluphlH.
1.-THE fact that he has quarreled with
Mr.. Benton, when the old man was III
the habit of quarreling with all around
him. would not count for much"
"You are right" agreed the detect
i've, frowning, "but something in the
air seems to promise to give me clew
before long. The whole case and all
the people in it are buzzing round me
at terrific rate. like swarm of bees.
Do you know how we used to make
swarm of bees settle, doctor? We raised
a frightful racket. If these folks don't
look out, I'll do that"
"What do you mean?"
"1ll make al arrest, right or wrong.
Somebody in the lay out is keeping back
and ! want to know what
1t is. My progress is blocked. There is
nothing like the pressure Of handouts
on the wrists to euro l:ckjaw. But I
shall give them little more time. ia
sou tells me that Mr.. Farnhall, Ben
tons lawyer, is greatly disturbed about
some important papers which are miss
ing from the old mans desk. am 60
ing to try to help him find them"