Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-16
CHAPTER 1.

Boston,"
Just this minute, sir" replied the
office boy. Hes in the back room get
ting his mail"
DIR. Lampkin entered the office and
sat down in one of the soft leaUher-cov-
cred chairs.
moment later the detective entered,
package of unopened letters in his
hand.
(, "Ohl" he calculated. Hello, glad to
see you'll"
1--WE been wondering what had be-
come OF you," said the doctor, as he rose
and shook the disengaged hand of his
friend. Every time dropped in your
office boy told me he was expecting you
on the very next train"
delayed from hour to hour for near
ly two weeks" frowned Hendricks.
Then he laughed. ''rhe joke is on ne,
old man. had really plumed myself
on the reputation was going to make
over there to get even with the Boston
papers for sneering at New Works. big
detective as they called me, but 10
and behold! just as | was bout to stir
up the phlegmatic old village by show
ing my hand, my man made a clean
breast and gave himself up to the po-
lice. Did you ever hear of such luck ?'
Lampkin laughed as he took cigar
from the detectives box.
Anything on hand here?'
Not blessed thing. l might forget
my awful humiliation if could plunge
IintO work baa1S ovar haul
AS the doctor smoked, Hendricks be-
gan to open his letters. He had cast
aside three aud was beginning on the
fourth when his visitor saw him start,
grasp his beard and pull on it excitedly.
by Jove!" he cried, and his big gray
eyes seemed TO expand as they stared
ut the sheet before them.
Whats up now?" questioned the
doctor, leaning forward.
The detective seemed not to hear. He
folded the letter, leaned back in his re-
volving chair, and made clumsy at
tempt to prop his feet up on the edge
of his willow waste basket, but the
frail thing turned over and his heavy
heels struck the floor with hollow
sound.
Lampkin studied the strong features
of his companion with pleasurable
curiosity. He was almost sure that he
had detected just the faintest sugges-
ton of horror in his friends express
sion, which was indeed rare thing.
Then Hendricks shrugged hisshoulders,
gave half defiant logged laugh and
proceeded to open another letter.
He had scarcely drawn it from its en-
velope, however, when he dropped it
and musingly took up the other again.
There was silence while he perused it.
Then he asked:
"Lampkin, have you ever heard the
name of Weldon Caruthers.?"
Haven't your" returned the doctor,
note of surprise in his voice.
ut seems familiar to me, and yet
can't exactly place it,"
"He is one of the ultra swell set" re-
piled Lamplsin. 81 met him once; he is
very well-to-do, q thorough society man
member of the Van Derwenter club
and all that sort of thing. know lot
of interesting gossip about him"
Hendricks fixed the speaker with his
sharp eyes.
81 presume you heard of his being
murdered in cold blood2" said the de-
tective, tentatively.
Murdered? Surely you don't mean
| It'll"
eyes, let me see." Hendricks DELHI
erately consulted the date of the letter
in his hand and even more slowly ex-
amined the postmark on the envelope.
Yes, this writer informs me that the
crime was committed in Caruthers'
apartments in the Palace hotel just
week ago tonight"
| The doctor took deep breath.S
"Oh, it's hoax-a mistake,' lie,
said, in relief. 81 noticed in this morn
ing's paper that Caruthers was in his
box at the Horse Show last night.
was running over the list of men who
had the most conspicuous places and re-
member seeing his name"
What paper did you see it in?"
| Lampkin thought he noticed the pc.
culiar twitching about the corners of
the detectives mouth which usually
indicated suppressed excitement.
"The World, think, yes, I'm positive.
was looking over it at breakfast"
Hendricks features seemed to settle
into rgidity.
Are you quite sure?" he said, me-
chemically, and he leaned forward and
| tapped the bell on his desk. Lampkin
saw that his thoughts were thousand
miles away, nevertheless he answered.:
las sure MS could be of anything;
besides. you don't suppose man of
Caruthers' prominence could have been
| murdered in the SWEETEST hotel in New
York without its being known for n
week."
1T does look that way" acquiesced
the detective, but there was still a re-
serve in his manner and tone that puz-
zled his friend.
The Office boy came in and stood at
the end of the desk.
Bring me this mornings World"
the detective ordered.
Not satisfied?" smiled the doctor.
Hendricks made no reply. He left his
chair and began to walk back and
forth across the room nervously strol-
ing his beard. EIc turned when the
boy laid the paper on the desk. He
opened the pager. signaling to the boy
to leave the room, and began to turn
the leaves with fingers which seemed
too clumsy for use.
Hang it, find it for mel" he said. alb
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