Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-11-23

''There is no reason why you may not
place a guard round the house highland
day, captain" said Hendricks, frown-
ing slightlyat Welsh's compliment. If
it allays the fears Of the ladies it will
serve good purpose"
"Thank you," said Mrs. Roundtree,
soldly.
"Where is your telephone, mayor?"
asked Welsh.
I'm the library across the hall. Show
it to him, Liian," said the mayor.
When Mrs. Roundtree heard the tele-
phone bell ring she went into the IL
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 look at the grounds from
a back window upstairs, if you will
show me up" said the detective. ~
Certainly. with pleasure" the mayor
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 we'll guessed
he said, crossing the room and bending
over the machine. II am interested in
| typewriters. 1 had a chance to buy
stock in one before they became the
rage, and if I 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 'S5; purple
and copying" he added, rubbing his
finger on the ribbon and transferring
the stain to his cuff. II like the black
BETTER" Then he went to a window
and carelessly looked out. "Ah!" he
said; ''you see how thick the woods are
behind the place where we found his
tracks? He could have got away very
easily. Would your daughter be able
to defend herself, Mr.. Roundtree, in
| case of sudden attac]1?" Hendricks
asked, as they came back toward the
stairs. "Can she use revolver"
''Quite well, indeed" the mayor an
swered; cher husband taught her. But
I don't like her to carry one. It makes
her mother uneasy"
AS they reached the lower floor the
others were coming from the library.
Welsh went out to cali q cab, and Hen
| bricks Joined him. The moment the
cab stopped at the door, the captain
got in, but Hendricks held back. 81
have left my umbrella out there, ''S'he
said alphabetically. ''Wait a moment"
Hendricks went down the walk, and
was soon hidden from view by the
lockwood bushes. Five minutes passed.
Welsh was lnpatiently wondering
what had become of him, when he
emerged from the shrubbery, lighting
a cigar. Without a word of explanation
for his delay, he got into the cab be-
side Welsh, and told the driver to go
ahead.
"Well," said Mrs. Roundtree, as the
| cab drove away, that man must be
overrated, certainly. If had not heard
that he was a brilliant member of his
profession, should have said he was
che most stupid man alive. I felt so
irritated by his dawdling actions that
was tempted to turn my back on him.
The idea of his wanting to see the gar
dening tools, lecturing Robert about
not hanging up watering-pot, and
using our house to write his corre-
spondence inland at such an awful
time, too.''
Il think he was unable to find a ghost
of clew," remarked Fred Walters.
HE was trying to hide his disappoint-
ment by Indifference. He has no doubt
accomplished great things in Europe
and elsewhere in this country, but any
one can see that he has met his Waterloo
here"
"What did he go upstairs for?" Mrs.
Walters spoke to her father in tone
that was too low for the others to hear.
He had sat down at his desk several feet
from where his wife and son-in-law
were standing.
ITO get look ut the grounds from
the back windows" the mayor replied.
"From the servants room?'' she
asked.
"No, the lumber-room." And the
mayor drew a sheet of paper toward
him and began to write. He did not no.
tice that she stared at him strangely
for moment after he had answered,
| and that she sat down in a rocking
chair with her back to the light, and
took no part in the conversation going
On between Walters and her mother.
CHAPTER N.
Hendricks sat smoking beside Welsh