Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-09-02

an undertone. u am afraid" Bu'
Hendricks pinched the captains arm
warningly, and the remark was not fin
ished.
They had reached the lawn. wher
Hendricks stopped Mrs. Walters ant
examined her sleeve again.
"Not satisfied yet?" she laughed.
~ can see better here in the sun
light" he answered. 81 have made O
study of the effect of bullets, fred al
different distances. on various stuffs.'
81 have often thoughtyour profession
must be fascinating one" Mrs. Wal.
ters remarked, as they started down the
walk.
st is getting to be rather uninterest-
ing employment. 1t is so easy to catch
up 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 II 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
was facing that way. The man stood
over at the corner of the fence
81 see." said Hendricks. "What did
he look like? How was he dressed?"
II am afraid I cant describe him ac-
curately. He seemed Of medium height,
had on gray clothes. and wore long
lark beard"
1.-THE smoke may have given you the
impression that his clothes were
gray" said Hendricks. MAY take
your place moment?"
She stepped back. smiling at the
others. who stood on the walk, and he
changed places with her. He stuck his
umbrella in one of her tracks and left
t there. "Only to mark the spot" he
said. indifferently. Now let's all 60
over to the fence. and see If the rascal
left any footprints there"
They all walked to the corner of the
fence, and looked over towards the
trees near by. II think" Mrs. Wal
tiers caught the sudden, sharp glance OF
Hendricks. and paused. II started to
say that it looks as If there were foot
prints over there" she said, pointing to
u spot where the yellow clay showed in
the short grass; but ! may be mis-
taken"
Hendricks moved into her place. low
cred his height to hers, and gazed at the
spot for a moment, then he looked at
her sharply. "Your eyes are better
than mine. Mrs. Walters. cant make
out anything"
you have the keenest eyesight in
America" said Capt. Welsh, with a
smile. We have all heard about your
experience with the Brooklyn blood
specks-"
"Now ! think | see what Mrs. Walters
MEANS" Hendricks broke in, with a
slight frown. ut is easy to see what
we know exists" He put his hands on
the rail of the fence. and, with the grace
and ease of an acrobat, sprang over the
sharp-pointed palngs. The others
passed through gate near by, and
came round to him as he was on his
hands and knees, examining two deep
ly marked tracks in the yellow clay,
Wore a number ten" he said. Had
any rain out here in the last two days?"
lie was looking up at Fred Walters.
81 think not-none for a week." re-
piled Walters, looking inquiringly
round the group.
Hendricks said nothing, but, mo-
tioning them to stand out of the way,
he stood behind the footmarks and,
with half-closed eyes, steadily sighted
at the umbrella he had stuck in the
earth, slowly moving from side to side
and up and down.
"That's all we can do here" he said,
finally. 81 shall run over in the yard
and see If | can see anything of the
bullet" Again he vauted over the
fence, walked hurriedly across the
grass, passed his umbrella, and began
to examine the plastered wall of the
conservatory beyond He did not turn
his head or make any remark as the
Others approached.
ibid you expect to find it there?
asked Mrs. Walters, with a smile.
Hardly, ne repl'eu. i only Wanteu
to confirm my belief that it was not
there"
"Ah!" she said, and her eyes fell be-
fore his sharp glance.
"If you are through, we will go in out
of the SUM-" said the mayor, trace of
Impotence in his tone. "You may use
my telephone if you want to communi-
cate with your men."
81 want to nose around little out
here said Hendricks, lightly. Where
does your gardener keep his tools%
Mr.. Roundtree called Robert, the
gardener, who stood On the veranda
with the other servants. and he came to
him.
= Il, 81