Daily camera., 1897-07-20
copyright. 1896. by J. B. Lippincott Col


'Your father is coming interrupted
Mrs. Roundtree, as the sound of wheels
was heard, and they all went to a win
dow. 1t was the mayor, with Capt.
Welsh and Minard Hendricks, in cab.
81 wonder if that detective hasn't a
high opinion of his ability said Mrs.
Walters. "He looks as if he thought he
would get to the bottom of the whole
mystery in very short time" She sat
down in a rocking chair, spread out her
skirts, and pulled at the big sleeves of
her wrapper. 81 suppose he will begin
to catechise me. l am not presentable
like this, but if-if l ran upstairs, to fix
up little you would think-I suppose
YOU think [ am odd creature any
way"
No one answered her. The mayor
was entering, followed by the others.
He bent down and kissed his daughter,
and then said: "My dear, this is Mr..
Hendricks. There is not second to
lose. He wants to ask you some ques-
tons"
Mrs. Walters bowed and smiled 81
dL Iedt MI you II
find me calmer than any of the rest"
"It is usually the case" Hendricks
replied, with a smile. Then his smile
vanished, and he bent his piercing gray
eyes upon her so steadily that her own
wavered little, and she dropped her
hand to arrange her skirt. 'You were
on the lawn?" he said, glancmg out at "a
window, as if to relieve her embarrass-
ment.
Mrs. Walters instantly recovered her
self-possession and looked him coldly
in the eyes.
"Yes, on the right of the walk, among
the rose bushes. | was gathering roses.
The bullet passed through my sleeve.
See! it was near enough, wasn't it?'
"Quite, I should thiT!, 1t must have
surprised you"
at did, of course" answered Mrs.
Walters, holding her roses to her nose.
81 heard the report and then felt some
thing like little, very little, tug at
my sleeve"
"You are sure about that?" asked
Hendricks, in an Indifferent tone. "You
are sure that you heard the report be
fore you felt the ball touch your
sleeve?"
"Quite sure" said she; "but WHY
"He was not inside the fence?" went
on the detective, looking through the
window again.
'No: outside the fence, at the corner
of the lot
"Ah. yes, I sees.' he replied. in non
comraittal tone. "He must have been
100 yards from YOU. Permit me nlc"se.' y
Ard, TAX 'ng Il silver mounted lens from
his rocket. he carefully examined the
bullat-hole. For moment TO one
spoke; ther lie said: 81 wonder if we
could find that little piece Of lead.
Would you mind coming with us and
showing me exactly where you stood?'
''Not at ALL" Mrs. Walters rose with
gTatified smile.
Don't you think we are losing time,
Mr.. Hendricks?" asked Capt Welsh, in
an undertone. Il am afraid" But
Hendricks pinched the captains arm
= warningly, apd the remark was not fin
ished.
J, They had reached the lawn, when
Hendricks stopped Mrs. Walters and
examined Fer sleeve again.
"Not satisfied yet?" she laughed.
81 can see better here in the sun
light" he answered 81 have made a
study of the effect of bullets, fred at
different distances, on various stuffs. y
81 have often thoughtyour profession
must be a fascinating one" Mrs. Wal
ters remarked, as they started down the
walk
"It is getting to be rather uninterest-
ing employment. 1t is so easy to catch
ND with people unskilled in our craft.
If would-be criminals only knew that
. we understood half we do, they would
not commit crime so often"
81 had not thought of that" said
Mrs Walters, curiously studying his
features But here is the spot. Now.
don't let anyone come here but Mr..
Hendricks" she added to the others:
you ought not to track it up till he sees
my footprints. There they are, Mr..
Hendricks: don't you see where my
sharp heels went in? You can see that
l was facing that way. The man stood
over at the corner of the fence"
y ~ see," said Hendricks. What did
he look like? How was he'dressed"
9x' 81 am afraid / can't describe him ac-
curately. He seemed of medium height,
had on gray clothes, and wore long
dark beard"
1.-The smoke may have given you the
impression that his clothes were
gray" said Hendricks. MAY l take
your place a moment?"
She stepped back, smiling at the
4 others, who stood on the walk, and he
saanged places with her. He stuck his
in one of her tracks and left
it there. "Only to mark the spot he
said, indifferently. "Now let's all go