Daily camera., 1897-07-24

WILDLY rang, and in a minute Mat
thews came up from the basement.
Eve want to find a certain blue en-
velope, Matthew's" the detective began
'It was thrown into this basket by Mr.
Strong about a month ago. Can yol
help us?'
81 don't know, sir. | have been emp
tyin' everythin' 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 a little something for
keeping the stuff for him." interrupted
Hendricks. I|.aH
"Yes, sir" the servant nodded.
HAS he been here lately?"
"Just a day or so before the murder
sir. / remember"
Gould you take Mr. WILDLY and my
self to his place." said the detective.
eve 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
81 see l am to be of no further assis-
tance,' jested Miss Delmar.
~ didn't quite think you would care
TO soil your skirts in a 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 Delmar.
''f you have the time, you might stay
here until we RETURN" said WILDLY.
II am sure we shan't be long"
'T'llwait AN 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.
w ttll ulll CNtLSpl,N Nldb VIC
want" Hendrickswhispered to WILDLY
at the door. "He hasn't a very honest
face, and if he thinks we have lost some
thing of intrinsic value he may tell lis a
lot of lies. Usually they do all they can
to aid detective"
"Ah. l see,' answered WILDLY. 81
should have blundered there if l had
been alone -.
The dealer a little Jew. with very
crafty face, came from behind coun-
ter piled up high with sacks of rags aAd
paper.
What can I do for you. gentlemen ?"
he asked.
In few words Hendricks explained
what they were searching for.
"Ah! apd you want to catch him, ch
Well, l hope you can said the jew.
81 think l know the bags l got from
dere. 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 a ladder through a
hole in the ceiling, and in a moment
three sacks filed 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 emptied one Of the bags in
heap, and WILDLY bent over it.
=
our house." he said. Here is a note ad-
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.
81 think this must be it," he said.
"You are right; it matches the color
of the paper. They must have gone
together" replied 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. ''We 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 his trouble, and then
joined him. Eaf 3 +kL 6
"Can you make anything out of it?
he asked.
Not blasted thing" replied Hen
bricks. "It was mailed in New York.
I did not expect that. At present l
have the murderer's handwriting, and
that is all; but" His face darkened,
and he clinched his fist, and swore
under his breath.
"What is it" WILDLY questioned.
81 don't know myself" said the de-
tective. II have seen something like
this before, but can't tell where. BY
Jove it will drive ME crazy if don't
make it out. There is something about
this envelope that is familiar, but it