The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-03

Whh uluuo.
"But don IT," confessed Lampkin.
at will dawn on you," Hendricks
returned, nervously chewing his mus
tache and pulling his beard.
CHAPTER w.
The gardener was coming with Ben
ton. The old man was pale and trem-
bling with excitement.
Don't be frightened, said the de-
tective kindly. ut is not you I'm after,
but want youto help me run the vii
lain down. What's your name?''
Wilson, sir; John Wilson. I've been
gardener here, sir, for"-
Ibid you put this sand here yester-
day." interrupted Hendricks.
"Yes, sir. The master told me as
long as it was going on the drive in
front that might as well put it in the
walks to kill tho crab grass The sand
gets very hard, sir, when it has rained
on it, and it becomes almost the same
as cement"
"What time did you do it?"
"About O'Clock, sir haven't yet
finished the whole walk. The other
end'-
"You used wheelbarrow to bring
the sand from that pile up there and
you scattered it on with hoe?'
eyes. SIR" replied the old man won
deringly. my shovel was carried of
in one of the carts. Master would not
allow the heavy cart wheels to cut tho
turf here, and had to use my barrow.
"You stood on the sides and smoothed
the sand with rake?"
"Yes, sir. but didn't know You was
here. r.
Hendricks glanced at Lampkin and
smiled. "There's hang up compliment
for you," he said. Then he pointed to
whsrO the tracks ended SO abruptly and
said to Wilson:
"Have you been sweeping or raking
in this sand here since tho body was
found?"
"Why, no, sir. haven't been down
here at all. They told us in the kitchen
that the policemen would not allow any
| Of US to see tho master"
"That certainly is very remarkable, !"
broke in Ralph Benton, looking at the
tracks. "Mr Hendricks, where do you
think the murderer stood when he fired
at my father?''
Hendricks seemed not to have heard
tho question. He was looking toward
the house.
II see some men coming" he said.
"Ah, it is the chief and the coroner!"
He went forward to meet them, and
Lampkin saw him shaking hands with
tho men and bowling.
1.-THE jury for the inquest are gather
ing" said Ralph to Lampkin. "I'll go
to the house and see about where it will
be held. Will you go up, doctor?'
"No, thanks" replied Lampkin.
on wait for Hendricks. l see he is
coming"
The chief and the coroner stopped to
speak to Ralph, and Hendricks came
back to DR.. Lampkin.
Il have just thought Of something, !"
be said. pointing to tho tracks near the
dead man. lyon see, they look as il
they came from the side gate. !"
I eyes. Then you don't think the
crime was committed by any member
of the household" replied the doctor.
II cant see what that's got to do
with it," said Hendricks, strokins his
chin thoughtfully. "Ah. Pm glad the
sun is shiningr' he said, STOPPING to-
ward the grass and sighting across the
level ground at the gate which opened
from side street. Mature often lends
me helping hand. There is no artifl-
ciality about her, and she won't be
tempered with"
"I'don't follow you," said Lampkin,
mystifed.
"It is the dew again." explained
Hendricks. ION the front lawn awhile
ago, before tho sun rose, we had only
the frosty appearance to guide us. but
now in the sunlight the whole surface
of the grass is carpet of green be-
spangled with blue, red and yellow dia-
monds-that is. except path leading
direct from this point to that gate over
there"
Lampkin came to the side Of the de-
tectiye and sighted over the sward at
the gate.
"Too fine for my eyes," he said.
."Ah. now I see what you meant By
Jove, it is wonderfully clearr'
1.-THE trouble is that it knocks the
smoothness out Of another theory" re-
marked the detective with a frown.
"What is that"
Never mind now. There are toe
many real things that demand imme-
diute attention, replied Hendricks
what shall you do next?" asked the
doctor.
ITO kill time while the jury is get
ting together III show you that my
dewdrop theory is correct, was the re-,
ply. ''If you will come with me to
that walk over there, I'll show you
tracks crossing the sand in direct line
from here to the gate. p"
Hendricks led the way across Tie
grass to tho walk.
"There you are," he said, pointing
to tracks In the sand.
"And coming this way, too" added
Lampkin.
"They do not go out again, but are
lost up there in the middle Of the other
walk" said the detective. Doctor,
there is a nut to crack It is the blamed
est puzzle l ever tackled. Tho whole
| tb;,o 10 in "a friohtful middle. was