The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-02

1.-TWO men have been near him, said
Hendricks. 1--WE must first fnd which
tracks wsrs made BY Mr.. stanwood
Send for him, please. +" .
Ralph nodded to the policeman, who
hastened to the house. Hendricks
stepped carefully from the grass to the
body. He stopped, picked mp something
so minute that the others could not tell
what it was and put it into the pocket
" What w % did you f,udass asked Ralph.
Without noticing the question Hen
bricks bent down and began to examine
the bullet hole in the forehead Of the
dead man.
ibid your father smoker" The de-
tective looked straight at the young
man.
"No," replied Ralph, "never to my
knowledge"
At that moment Stanwood came hur.
riedly across the grass.
"Did you want to see me, sir2" he
asked.
Hendricks stood up straight
"I'm sorry to disturb you," he said,
"but wanted to ask from which di-
rection you approached the body when
you discovered the murder"
1--WE were all over in the center
walk" answered Stanwood. II came
in to the right Of him-just there, I
think, near his left arm"
"Yes, l see your tracks," said Hen
bricks but you did not have Oh those
boots?''
"No; I hastily put on my slippers. I
had little time to dress after Miss Has
tings raped on my door. f"
"Ah. she gave the alarml' said Hen
bricks.
Miss Hastings is guest Of my ais-
tel" explained Ralph, "a young lady
from Boston"
Hendricks nodded reflectively.
Ibid you have a light when you
found the body, Mr.. Stanwood2"
mo, sir.
"You struck match to look at him?"
"No, did moi"
II see the murderer's tracks," said
Hendricks quickly, as if to divert their
attention from his last question. "He
did not wear broad heeled slippers, but
boots Of rather stylish appearance. !"
As Hendricks spok, ne glanced round
at their faces, and DIR. Lampkin fancied
his eyes dwelt longer on Ralph Benton's
than on that Of any one else.
Ralph's eyes were downcast.
Gould the murderer have been SO
close as that" he asked. ut seems to
me that my father Ralph did not
finish his sentence. The detective looked
at him inquiringly as if to encourage
him to proceed and then turned his at
tention to the tracks. Stepping back to
the grass, he went along the edge Of the
walk in the direction Of the house for
about So feet, then stopped, crossed the
walk and began to search through a
bed Of high grass. They saw him stoop
and pick up something, 1t was a re-
volver.
Here's the weapon, he said indif-
ferently. 'SS caliber.
Benton was the first to approach. He
extended his hand for the weapon.
II beg your PARDON" said Hendricks
politely He stepped backward, hold
ing the revolver very carefully by the
tip of the barrel. "You see, DOCTOR" he
went OH, turning to Lampkin. "this
thing also has damp and dry side. l"
IL see, replied the doctor, looking
at the revolver without touching it.
Its a poor rule that won't work two
ways, you see," said the detective, with
smile. He took white silk handker-
chief from his pocket and wrapped the
weapon in it. Cant be too careful in
handling thing like this after muir
der" he continued. "There is no tell
ing what single spot or scratch might
unfold"
He remained standing on the edge Of
the walk for several minutes without
speaking, his eyes first on the footprint
and then on the grass where he had
found the revolver. Ralph Benton and
Stanwood had moved down toward the
body, leaving Hendricks and the doctor
together.
"What is it," whispered Lampkin.
II can't make head or tail Of it,"
said the detective, frowning, land
sometimes when get stumped this way
become so nervous can't advance an