Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-10-07
CHAPTER XIII.

fever of impatience.
81 thought you would never turn up
in the world" said Welsh as they tnoli
seats, III seems to me that everything
is at standstill. The city is wild with
excitement and demanding that some
thing be done"
Hendricks shrugged his shoulders as
il he had only half heard the remark
and had been disturbed in some train of
thought. He reached for a cigar in Il
box on the captains desk, bit the end
of it, and then seemed to sink into a
rcveric again.
Welsh stared at him moment in
,cNation, then he said:
81 was on the watch myself at the
mayors last night. About ten O'Clock
saw Mrs. Walters slipout on the lawn.
She came very cautiously from the
rear of the house. saw her stoop to
pick up something near where your UNI
brella was left, and then she returned
by the front door"
Hendricks nodded slowly, but did not
look up from the spot on the carpet
at which he had been staring for sew
eral minutes. Welsh flushed slightly
and went on awkwardly:
|
~ had expected to find out a lot about
her early life from lady friend of
mine, but, as bad luck will have ii,
the lady has left the city for the sum
mer, and don't exactly know where
she has gone. was thinking of hunt
ing her up and going to see her, II you
| think"
Hendricks rose abruptly.
u must write letter." he said. "Give
me some paper please"
Welsh's face fell as he rose and drew
some writing materials from drawer
and put them before the detective.
"Do you want me to cease my investi-
CATIONS" he asked, impatlently.
Hendricks dipped pen in the ink
well, and as he did so he looked up and
caught sight of the captains face.
"Oh, hang it all, captain" he said
pardon me; | have not heard half of
what you were saying ! only caught
enough at the start to know that you
were not on the right track, Let the
woman alone for awhile. DO you re-
member | said that il discovered GER
tain things about mysterious
stranger in the city should have to
begin all over again"
"Ycs, certainly. but"
Il have begun all over again" And
Hendricks began to write hurriedly.
Can help you in any way"
II am afraid not now, captain. A
little later perhaps; but time is too val
liable just now for useless cxplana-
tons; every minute must count, This
is the hardest nut ever tried to crack"
Welsh said nothing further. lie sank
into a chair and looked out of win
dow till Hendricks had finished and
sealed his letter.
"Now,' said the detective, as he rose
and grasped his hat, II am going out
for little lunch, and then ! have an
appointment. shall see you later
At two o'clock Hendricks rang the
bell at the Strong homestead. WILDLY
himself opened the door.
us Miss Dclmar herew asked the de.
teclivc
"She has been here several minutes,
answered WILDLY. "She is in the H.
brary."
Good" said Hendricks, "Now fol
business" he went on, checrily, as he
entered the library and bowed to Miss
Delniar. Move up your chairs, botl
OF you, There. that will do. Now
here's what want to get at, Col
Warrenion was good enough TO put me
on to little circumstance which he
says he has not mentioned to you, Mr.
WILDLY, but which we must sift to the
bottom. 1t may lead us to a motive
for the crime, and that is what we
are looking for. Do you happen tc
know If your uncle had an enemy oil
any sort?"
WILDLY shook his head thoughtfully
II cant think who 1t could be, II he
had one" he said, ION the contrary
uncle seemed to make friends will
everyone"
"lou don't know much about Mr.
Strong's early life which he spent in tn,
mines out west. | believer"
mo, don't He did not speak of i
often"
at is possible, you know, for him t,
have an enemy even that far back
Matthews, with whom | have talked
remembers your uncle's having
strange visitor here a year or so ago
while you were at the seashore. i
seems that Mr.. Strong had sort o
quarrel with him, and, for some reasol
of his own, he requested Matthews no
to mention the visitor to you Now