Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-01

We'll, let's go in there a moment.
ALI" he exclaimed, in a tone of salts
faction, as they entered the room, You
have typewriter. 1t is just what
want; l must write letter at once
to my assistant in New York, to tell
him that l am detained here. But
can't use this make of machine. Who
uses it, Mr.. Roundtree? All, see Mrs,
Walters does"
They all looked at Hendricks in won
der.
pray, how did you guess that??"
asked Mrs. Walters, cold smile on her
face.
zone of the tricks of my calling" was
the reply. Its easy. l noticed that
the nails of your two index fingers are
worn down roughly, so know that you
not only write ON the machine, but YOU
90 it slowly, for you employ only those
two fingers. Experienced writers use
all the fingers of the hand"
1T is simple enough since you have
explained it," replied Mrs. Walters,
And you are exactly right"
Twill you oblige me by writing a
short note at my dictation?' Hendricks
asked, pushing chair towards the ma
chine. IL would scratch it down with
a pencil, but all the letters send to my
Office are carefully filed, and they look
better typewritten."
II have a machine and stenographer
at the office" interposed Capt. Welsh;
my man will do it for you in hurry.
10
mayor and the ladies will feel insecure
if we do not make move pretty soon"
Il think myself, Mr.. Hendricks
the mayor began, but the detective in
terrupted him:
"Oh, it will only take a moment. 1
have an addressed envelope ready in my
pocket, and can drop it in letter.
box as I go down. Take seat, Mrs.
Walters"
Lillian obeyed, with curious upward
look into his face and touch of hesita-
ton as she put sheet of paper be-
tween the rollers.
Dear Hasbrooke," Hendricks began
-"Your letter received. Am engaged
ON important case here. Can't come
this week. Will wire you later. Lads
ley affair must wait. Hendricks"
When Mrs. Walters had drawn the
sheet from the machine and given it to
the detective he turned to the mayor.
'What did you do with your old type
writer?" he asked, as he folded the
letter and put it into an envelope and
took stamp from his watchcase.
"Why, I-I-thinll it is in the lumber
room," the mayor stammered. But
how did you know l had one?"
Hendricks smiled as he touched the
stamp with his tongue and placed it
carefully on the corner of the envelope.
"Another easy thing. Judging from it's
appearance this machine cannot have
been in use more than month; and
Mrs. Walters writes too we'll to have
learned within that time. / did not
think it likely that she had practiced
out OF the house. She looks like stay
at-home little body"
GLOW very simple!" the mayor eS-
claimed. IF only your keen sight will
help us solve this mystery, we shall be
all grateful
| !. Mrs. Roundtree seemed displeased
with the delay.
aren't you going to do something
towards protecting our house, cap
tain?" she asked, turning to Welsh.
Some one has attempted the life of my
child. shall go mad if something is
not done at once
Capt. Welsh looked embarrassed.
"The case is really in Mr.. Hendricks
hands," he said awlkwardly. ut is so
hard to get his services, owing to his
wide reputation and the demands on his
time, that he is usually granted unlim-
tied authority and" He stopped for
| lack of words.
"There is no reason why you may not
| place n guard round the house night and
day, captain said Hendricks, frown-
ing slightly at Welsh's compliment. eff
it allays the fears of the ladies it will
serve good purpose
"Thanl1 you," said Mrs. Roundtree,
coldly.
Where is your telephone, mayor?"
asked Welsh.
"In the library across the hall. Show
it to him, Lillian" said the mayor.
| When Mrs. Roundtree heard the tele-
phone bell ring she went into the Ii
brary to hear Welsh give his orders, and
Fred Walters followed her, leaving the
mayor and Hendricks together.
while they are in there, should be
glad to get a look at the grounds from
back window upstairs, if you will
show me up" said the detective.
| Certainly, with pleasure" the mayo
replied. "This way" And he led Hen
bricks up the rear steps to the floor
above. "There is a window in this
servants room," he went on, pushing a
door open, "but it looks out on the side
rather than the back. The old lumber
room is in the rear; but you'll get all
over dust if you go there"
mo matter; it won't hurt me-"
When they had opened the door OF
the lumber-room and were making
their way through dusty piles of old
furniture, carpets, rugs, pictures and
broken statuary, Hendricks smiled and
pointed to a typewriter on table near
the window. See how well guessed
he said, crossing the room and bending
over the machine. 81 am interested in
typewriters. 1 had chance to buy
stock in one before they became the
rage, and if l had done so would now
be too rich to have to be nosing round
in other peoples affairs like this. This
machine was made about IS; purple
and copying" he added, rubbing his
finger on the ribbon and transferring
the stain to his cuff. 81 like the blacl;