Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-10-14
full bronze pieces. Old man. I have IN

the detective so high that the cover Of
the vase was on level with his chin.
Hendricks removed the cover and
looked into the vessel.
Lampkin saw him pick up something
inside the vase, examine it and lay it
back. For a moment the detective
stood, his back to the doctor, hand on
either side of the vessel. Then he lift
ed it, cautiously stepped down to the
floor, and placed it on the table.
Prepare to be Mortified, old man."
he said, grimly. ct is here"
Lampkin started. ''Y GU don't mean"
"Iou needn't look unless you want
to-" frowned the detective. "But our
arch fiend has actually cremated the
body of Caruthers, leaving only the
jeweled hand of his victim to prevent
there being any doubt as to the identity
of the ashes. 1t was cremation; know
bone ashes when see them
Lampkin got up and peered into the
jar, turning the CHASTITY object over on
the bed of ashes beneath.
There is no odor,'' he said, trying to
speak in matter-of-fact tone. 'That
is strange"
''Embalmed," said Hendricks. II
saw indications of it in the punctures
of the flesh"
"You are right" agreed the doctor.
"Let me see moment" with these
words the detective sprang to the vase,
and, picking up the grewsome object,
examined it infinitely.
81 have only one isolated clew," he
said, putting the severed hand back on
the ashes.
"What is that?'
"In his effort to cut and wrench this
hand from the joint at the wrist, the
murderer allowed his sharp nails to
sink into the flesh. The marks did not
show at the time, but the process of
decomposition has brought them out
distinctly. Doctor, the fellow who did
the job manicures his fnger-nails to
sharp points, as is the vogue among So
! ciety men of a certain class"
Lampllin made an examination.
you are certainly right" he said,
returning the hand to the vase.
'Shrewd and cautious as the perpetra-
tor evidently was that did not occur to
him."
God has never yet made it possible
for a human mind to be full of hellish
deed and at the same time master de-
tails that will completely overcome de-
lection" was Hendricks reply.
"You do not think that the body could
have been reduced to ashes in these
apartments said Lampkin, tentatively.
Hendricks shook his head, and point
ed to the open fireplace where lay the
ashes of a wood fire.
'No, this is the only fireplace and it
has not been used for fortnight"
"Are you sure?" incredulously.
"Quite sure. This chimney seems to
come straight down from the roof, and
raindrops have fallen and left their i'm
prints here. 1t rained two weeks ago
and has been clear ever since"
Il would never have thought of that"
"It is my business to think of every
thing"
Lampkin's face betrayed the birth of
an important ldea.
Surely" he said, ''the body could
not easily have been removed for the
| purpose of cremation elsewhere with
out being dismembered. Perhaps If
| you made careful examination you
might find traces of it's having been
cut up"
Thanks for the suggestion" said
Hendricks. Lampkin watched him rs
he went into the bathroom and closely
examined the porcelain tub and white
tiled floor.
NO" he said, coming back. Il think
he managed to remove the body in iss
entirety"
you think that?' remarked the
doctor, not convinced.
Eyes; it would be an easy thing to
do. AS Caruthers was supposed to be
leaving, it would be natural for him to
take u trunk, and his luggage going
out would not attract much attention"
Good heavens!" exclaimed the doc
tor. "In his own trunk"
At this juncture the door leading into
the corridor swung open and the clerk
who had shown them upstairs entered
suddenly, his eyes alighting on the
severed hand which lay across the
somewhat narrow mouth of the vase.
"My Lord" he exclaimed, his even
bullying from their sockets, "has-has
he been murdered, Mr.. Hendricks 2"
An expression of deep annoyance set.
tied on the face of the detective.
"Yes," he said. "But leave us alone
for few minutes, and please don't say
anything about this down in the office
just yet. We would be interrupted by
sight-seers:"
The clerk thrust his white, borrifeG
face forward and peered into the vase
Surely not-not cremated, Mr.. Hen
drcks!" he gasped.
That's about the size of it," retortcc
the detective. He went to the door and
held it open. The clerk took the hint
and backed out of the room.
Don't lay it to me if this gets out
sooner than you WISH" he said. "a
member of the detective force was
down there in citizens clothes and
recognized you when you first came
in. He had heard of the remarks going
round about Mr.. Caruthers' absence,
and seeing you on hand made him
more curious. He has Mr.. Caruthers
man down there now, asking him ques-
tons. 1t seems nothing has been seen
of Mr.. Caruthers since he had the row
with Mr.. Arthur Gielow at the club"
Hendricks leaned against the door
facing.
"They had a row, eh?'
"That's the general report, sir"