The Irish standard., 1897-06-12
desk, and, keeping it open at the place
where the letter had been distracted. he

examined IL closely.
Miss Delmar drew nearer her lover.
81 do hope he will find the criminal.
It would make me happier than any
thing in the world" she whispered.
81 don't think there is much hope"
replied WILDLY. in low tone, as he
stealthily pressed her hand, his eyes on
the broad back of the detective.
II think there is great deal" said
the girl. "Oh, should simply be de-
lighted to be able to show papa thatyou
are innocent, after all! lie would never
object then, you know, for you would
be your uncle's legal heir, and worth
more money than could ever expect
from papa. If only"
"By Jove!" Hendricks startled ex-
c]amation drew their eyes to him. He
was holding the file close to his face.
and examining Il letter with his lens.
'What is it?' asked WILDLY.
"B-l-o-o-d!" said Hendricks, playfully,
in deep. gurging tone. "The fellow
extracted that letter within two min
utcs after he cut Strong's throat"
GLOW 10 you know" asked Miss Del
mar.
II find traces of blood on each of the
two letters between which the missing
one lay. So far, so good! Now, there is
but one course of action, and If that
fails l shall be at sea; so, Mr.. WILDLY,
keep your wits about you. The letter
taken from this file must have been OF
such a nature that it would associate
the writer of it with the crime. That
means good deal. It Is quite likely
that the murderer witnessed your I'M
cle's reception of the letter and saw him
file it away; otherwise he could not
have gone to it so readily. Now, what
we have to do is to find the envelope you
say your uncle threw into the waste.
paper basket"
Impossible" said WILDLY.
"Why?"
Matthews has been looking after the
rooms since the maid went off, and he
takes out the waste paper as soon as it
acc,lmulates. 1t must have been
thrown away several weeks ago."
"Wherc does he throw such things?"
81 don't know"
call HIM"
WILDLY rang, and in a minute Mat
thcws came up from the basement.
eve want to find q certain blue en-
velope, Matthew'S" the detective began.
ut was thrown into this basket by Mr..
Strong about month ago. Can you
help us?"
IL don't know, sir. have been emp
tyin' everythin' of that kind in the cell
lar. keep all the papers in one barrel
and all the rags in another, and junk
shop man comes every now and then"
Sand gives you little something for
keeping the stuff for him." interrupted
Hendricks.
eyes, SIR" the servant nodded.
"Has he been here lately?"
"Just day or so before the murder,
sir. remember"
"Could you take Mr.. WILDLY and my
self to his place." said the detective.
ave might be in time to keep our bit Of
evidence from being made up into new
paper"
Eyes, sir, without any trouble. His
shop is on First street, under the bridge.
Ut is pretty tough place, sir, but we
can take the cars and get down quick
enough"
II see 1 am to be of no further assis-
tance," jested Miss Delmar.
II didn't quite think you would care
to soil your skirts in ragman's shop"
replied the detective. "But as soon as
I'VE get a clew. Mr.. WILDLY may bring
the news to you. We'd better be going,
too"
Hendricks and Matthews started out
at once. WILDLY fingered in the draw
ing-room with Miss Delmar.
eff you have the time, you might stay
here until we RETURN" said WILDLY.
81 am sure we shan't be long,"
"I'llwaitan hour. anyway" the young
lady promised. Il am dying to know.
If you accomplish anything. But run
on; they are waiting for you, and here
comes the car"
In ten minutes the three men had
reached the bridge spanning the murky
river and were entering the shop indi-
Gated by Matthews.
eve must tell him exactly what we
want, Hendrickswhispered to WILDLY
at the door. "He hasn't very honest
face, and if he thinks we have lost some
thing of intrinsic value he may tell us
lot of lies. Usually they do all they can
to aid detective"
"Ah, I see." answered WILDLY. II
should have blundered there if had
been alone"
The dealer. little Jew, with very
crafty face, came from behind coun-
Ter piled up high with sacks Of rags and
paper.
''What can do for you, gentlemen"
he asked.
In few words Hendricks explained
what they were searching for.
"Ah! and you want to catch him, eh?
We'll, I hope you can," said the Jew.
II think know the bags got from
deere. They are up in the loft. will
throw them down, and you Gun look
through them here"
"You are very good" said Hendricks;
"that's exactly what we want"
The Jew ran up ladder through .
hole in the ceiling, and in = moment
three sacks filled with old paper tum-
!bled down at their feet.
Hendricks pointed to clean place on
The door, and said to Matthew's: shake
khem out"
Matthews emptied one Of the bags in
q heap. and WILDLY bent over it.
mo doubt about the stuff being from
our house" he said. Here is a note adj
dressed to me-, and there are some old