The Irish standard., 1897-06-12

are on q wild-goose chase. The house.
looks like the respectable home Of mid,
dle-class people. If it had been lodg-!
ing house, or cheap boarding place, the
outlook would have been more encour-;
aging"
elbow do you know it isn't one or the
other?" asked the doctor.
''Door plate, for one thing; and then
it is too clean," was the reply, just as,
they reached the steps. "Now We'll see.
what name is on the plate. BY Jove!
hang me if it isn't Champney! don't
like things that look so easy"
A servant girl answered the ring.
."Does Frederick Champney live.
here?" asked the detective.
The girl stared for an instant in sur.
prise, then she recovered herself with!
a start, as if she had suddenly recol-
lected something.
''Oh, I suppose you're the teacher"
she said. Gle is upstairs, acstudyin'
bis lessons. I'll call him.
Hendricks bowed.
"We'll wait for him in the parlor," he
said, glancing into room on the right
of the hall.
every well, sir. He'll be right down."
The girl closed the outside door, and
went up the stairs. DR.. Lampkin sat
down, watching his companions face
curiously. Hendricks remained stand
ing where he could observe the stairs
through the half-open door. He bent
towards the doctor.
It'll do the talking. tits we'll that she.
takes us for some one he is waiting
for. It may throw him off his guard,
unless he suspects-Hang it! feel as
if ought to have gone up to his room.";
He put his hand into his sack coat
pocket, and, with a cautious look into
the hall, drew out revolver and handed
it to Lampkin. "Hide it, but have IT
ready to draw. Remember, we don't
know what sort of man we are goingto
meet, nor his humor. Let me manage
him, but if he should happen to get the
drop on me, come to my assistance"
GAIL right" replied the doctor. "You
can depend on me-" !
Hendricks took another look into the
hall.
II hadn't the slightest idea we should
run up on this,' he said. II told you 1
wanted treatment for stupidity. Some
thing is radically wrong with me.
'Sh!"
There was sound of footsteps on the
floor overhead, clatter on the stairs,
and boy II or ~ years of age, very
neatly dressed, came into the room hur-
riedly. He stopped short, and his eyes
widened in establishment. :
"I-I beg your PARDON" he STAN
mered, flushing. "Sarah told me my
teacher had come-and-and wanted
to see me-" !:
A look of perplexity darted across the
face of the detective, and for moment
there was an awkward pause. Then
Hendricks said:
1--WE wanted to see Frederick Champ
ney on matter of business. Does he
live here?"
'That's my name, SIR" said the boy,
timidly.
"Perhaps it is your fathers also, sug-
gested Hendricks, in q reassuring tone.
"My father is Dead" replied the boy.
ellis name was Stephen H. Champney."
'"rhen you are the only Frederick
Champney in the family?"
eyes, sir" The boy spoke slowly,
and then ended with start. His glance
wavered under the sharp gaze Of the de-
tective, whose face had undergone q
remarkable change. When Hendricks
spoke, his voice sounded to DR.. Lamp
kin strangely harsh and firm: !
II received a letter from this street
and number. It was signed Frederick
Champney. Did you write it9"
The boy suddenly fell to trembling,
and his face worked in an effort to con-
troll himself, but he hung his head In
silence. Hendricks repeated his ques-
ton, but still the boy would not reply.
He looked towards the hall, az II he
wished to escape. :
Seeing this, Hendricks stepped be-
tween him and the door.
II may as we'll be plain with you, my
boy" he said. 81 am detective, legal
ily authorized to arrest anyone sus-!
pected of law-breaking. A letter Of
very grave importance has been written
over your name. If you know anything
about it, and won't tell me, shall bel
compelled to arrest you on suspicion"
The boy stared into Hendricks face
for an instant in AFFECT terror; then he
burst into tears. He darted towards
the door, but the detective caught his;
arm, and drew him, struggling, back
into the room.
Mammal mammal" shrieked the
boy with all his strength, and he rolled
on the floor in Hendricks clutch and
beat the legs Of his captor with his
fsts, Just then white-faced, middle
aged woman ran into the room from
tho rear stairs, followed by the maid
who had admitted them. On seeing,
her, and being released by the detective,
the boy ceased his cries, ran to his
mother and hid his face in herlap. She
could only stare at the two visitors in.
speechless amazement.
Hendricks bowed very low and STAN
mered out an explanation.
II am detective" he said. "a very
important letter has been written under
the address Of this house and over the
name Of Frederick Champney. I can't
think this little fellow could be guilty,
q any misdemeanor. you know. madam