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

means n yoOd zeal. III Is qulte 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 1t 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
accumulates. 1t must have been
thrown away several weeks ago"
"Where does he throw such things"'
81 don't know"
Call him"
WILDLY rang, and in minute Mat
thews came up from the basement.
"We want to find certain blue en-
velope, Matthews" the detective began.
ut was thrown into this basket by Mr..
Strong about a month ago. Can you
help u.s."
II don't know. sir. have been emp
tyin' eyerythin' of that kind in the eel
lar | keep all the papers in one barrel
and all the rags in another, and junk
shop man comes every now and then"
"And gives you little something for
keeping the stuff for him." interrupted
Hendricks.
"ies, sir" the servant nodded.
HAS he been here lately?"
Just IA day or so before the murder,
sir. ! remember"
Gould you take Mr.. WILDLY and my
self to his place." said the detective.
I'VE might be in time to keep our bit of
evidence from being made up into new
paper"
YES, sir, without any trouble. His
shop is on First street, under the bridge.
1t Is pretty tough place, sir, but we
can take the cars and get down quick
enough"
u see am to be of 10 further assis.
lance" tested Miss Delmar.
Il didn't quite think you would care
to soil your skirts in ragman's shop"
replied the detective. But as soon as
we get 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 Demar
"lf you have the time, you might stay
here until we return" said WILDLY.
II am sure we shan't be long"
"rllwaitan hour, anyway, the young
lady promised. 81 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.
I'VE must tell him exactly what we
wan" Hendrickswhispered to WILDLY
at the door. "He hasn't a very honest
face, and il he thinks we havelost some
thing of intrinsic value he may tell us a
lot of lies. Usually they do all they can
to aid a detective"
"Ah, | see." answered WILDLY. ~
should have Numbered there If | had
been alone"
The dealer, a little Jew, with q 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 u few words Hendricks explained
what they were searching for.
"Ah! and you want to catch him, eh ?
We'll, | hope you can" said the Jew.
II think ! know the bags | got from
dcre. They are up in the loft. will
throw them down, and you can look
through them here"
"You are very good" said Hendricks;
that's exactly what we want"
The Jew ran up IA ladder through a
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 floor, and said to Matthew's: Shake
them out"
Matthews empted one Of the bags in
heap, and WILDLY bent over it.
mo doubt about the stuff being from
our house." he said, Here is note adj
dressed to ME, and there are some old
bills of uncle's." But after five min
utes' search he declared he saw no en-.
velope which looked like the one he had
in mind. The second bag was searched
without success. but the third had hard
ly been opened before WILDLY picked
up large, square envelope.
Il think this must be it." he said.
"You are right; II matches the color
Of the paper. They must have gone
together" rcnlied the detective; and he
opened the case OF his watch and held
the corner Of the envelope down to the
front of the tiny bit. I'VE are all right
so far" Hendricks walked TO the front
Of the shop alone. studying, with a
wrinkled brow. the envelope, WILDLY
paid the Jew for bis trouble, and then