Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-01
warn,ngly. ana the remark was not fin.

examined her sleeve again.
Not satisfied veto" she laughed
II can sec better here in the sun
light he answered. 81 have made a
study of the effect of bullets, fired at
different distances, on various stuffs.''
81 have often thoughtyour profession
must be fascinating one" Mrs. Wal
ters remarked, as they started down the
walk.
1T is getting TO be rather unnterest-
ing employment. 1t is so easy to catch
up with people unsllilled in our craft.
II would-be criminals only knew that
we understood half we do, they would
not commit crime so often"
IL 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 it 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"
| II see," said Hendricks. sWhat did
he look like? How was he dressed?"
II am afraid 1 can't describe him ac-
curately. He seemed of medium height,
had on gray clothes, and wore a long
dark beard"
The smoke may have given you the
impression that his clothes were
gray" said Hendricks. MAY 1 take
your place a lnoment?"
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
it there. "Only to mark the spot" he
said, indifrerently. "Now let's all go
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. 81 started to
say that it looks as if there were foot
prints over there" she said, pointing to
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 moment, then he looked at
her sharply. your eyes are better
than mine, Mrs. Walters. can't make
out anything"
You have the keenest eyesight in
America" said Capt. Welsh, with a
smile. Eve have all heard about your
experience with the Brooklyn blood
specls-"
snow 1 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 palings. 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 number ten.' he said. "Had
any rain out here in the last two days ~
He was looking up at Fred Walters.
VI think not-none for week." re-
Piled Walters, looking inquiringly
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 I can see anything of the
bullet" Again he vaulted 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 turr
his head or make any remark as the
others approached.
did you expect to find it there?'
asked Mrs. Walters, with smile.
Hardly" he replied. 81 only wanted
| 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 on,
of the SUM-" said the mayor, trace Of
impatience in his tone. "You may use
my telephone if you want to communi
cate with your men,"
II want to nose around little ou
here" said Hendricks, lightly. ''Wher.
does your gardener keep his tools?"
Mr.. Roundtree called Robert, tn,
gardener, who stood On the verand;
with the other servants, and he came tx
him.
Where do You keep your tools :?
asked Hendricl1s-'your hoes, rakes
knives and such things?"
''In the little room in the conserva
tory, SIR" Robert replied.
"Oh, in here" Hendricks entered tn
conservatory and tried the door of tn
little room near the entrance.
'It is locked, SIR" said Robert, pro
ducing bunch of keys.
"It was not last night" said Hen
bricks, as he thrust the key into tn
lock-.
mo, sir, I forgot it last night" An
Robert looked at the detective super
: stitiously.
mo harm DONE" replied Hendrick.
He opened the door and glanced a
a heap of gardening implements on tn
floor
you ought to hang up your water
ing pot" he remarked to the servant
; ut will rust the bottom to set it dow
damp"
, 81 usually do, sir" the man stan
, mered. Il thought did the last time.
The detective picked up the waite,