The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-18
CHAPTER XXI.

The three men took the Sixth avenue
elevated to the Fourteenth street sta
ton and a crosstown car to Tenth ave-
nue.. No. 345 was a dismal, old fashion,
ed lodging house. The bell pull hung
disconsolately in a socket worn too
large for it. A slatternly woman an
swered their ring. Hendricks bowed.
rs DR.. Burton here?" he asked.
A look Of indeoision flashed into the
wo1nan's face.
"There are no doctors living here"
she said evasively. 1T must-perllaps
you have the wrong number"
She was holding the door only partly
open, but the detective pushed by her
and stoc.l inside. The others followed
him. The woman shrank back against
the wall and stood still, her face turn
ing pale. Just then door at the end Of
the hall opened, and q middle aged
man came out.
''That Is he." whispered Kola to
Hendricks.
DR.. Burton came Oh and was about
to pass by, but was stopped by remark
from the detective.
II beg your pardon" said Hendricks
"Dr. Burton, believer
The man addressed shrugged his
shoulders and frowned.
"You have the advantage of me. SIR"
he said. II don't remember having seen
you before"
II have not had the pleasure of see
ing you before either, replied tho de-
teotive. "Minard Hendricks is my
name"
what? You are the we'll known de-
teotivel" exclaimed the physician.
II was told" went on Hendricks,
that you had brought Mr.. Brooks AL
len to this house from East Orange to-
day"
"That ia a matter / cannot talk to
you about, Mr.. Hendricks" answered
Burton, who seemed to have recovered
from his nstonishment
Hendricks grinned and bristled.
Il don't care whether you talk about
1t or not, he answered, "but you may
be unaware that In hiding Allen about
in this way you are aiding criminal
to escape justice
"What? Why, you don 7 mean that,
surelyp exclaimed DR.. Burton.
ALLEN killed Jacob Benton ten days
ago and has ever since been suffering
from the effects Of ball which passed
through his body and lungs"
"Of oou1se I shall offer no opposi-
ton, "said Burton. II had no idea Mr..
Allen was injured till today. He sent
me message to come out to East
Orange to see him. He showed me hisI
wound and stated that he had acciden-'
tally shot himself and that it was to
his interest financially to keep the fact
from the Benton heirs. He was very
weak and assured me he would explain
IL all satisfactorily when he was stron-
ger. He said If the Bentons thought his
life was in danger they would not agree
to sign certain papers. In other words,
they would only be willing to give him
his rights If they were sure he would
live long enough to be of service in i'll
PRODUCING his inventions to the public.
knew nothing about his affairs, and the
explanation seemed plausible enough to
mo- We started to go to private hos
pital up town, but on the way over to
New York he seemed to change his
mind and begged to be brought here. 1t
seems he knows the landlady."
Ibid he bring any papers with him"
asked Hendricks.
"He had small tin box, but do
not know what it contained. 1t was
taken to room up stairs. We were 60
ing higher up but he was too weak to
be carried farther, 80 we took him into
the back room on this floor.
How is he now?" asked the detect.
i've. +
Cant possibly live "a hours" an
swered DR.. Burton. "He has lost near.
ly every ounce of blood in him."
well, I see no reason for making an
arrest" said Hendricks I'm run up
to that room and look round. Which is
IT." he asked, turning to the landlady.
Second floor, back" she answered.
II hope. sir, you won't blame me. I
had no idea that MI. Allen
mot the least In The world" inter.