Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-20
SYNOPSIS.

SYNOPSIS.
Chapter I-Minard Hendricks great do,
teotive, just returned from Boston And,
awaiting him an unsigned typewriter let
g'reGllng MIN to apartments in Palace
notei, where he will find remains of Mr.
weldon Caruthers-currently reported FOL
past Two weeks to be out of town No.
tectlVe seems to connect letter with at
tempt made on his own life some time nre.
vious. Goes with friend, DR.. Lampkin. ia
CHAPTER u.
AS the two friends turned into sight
OF the twelve-story hotel, they saw in
front of 1t long line of fashionable
carriages from which were alighting
men and ladies in evening dress.
Swell blowout" commented Hen
bricks. doctor, we ought to have on
our swallow-tails and white neckties."
Il have almost given up that sort OF
thing" replied the doctor. 'My prin-
cipal amusement nowadays seems to
be watching you at your work. If that
eastern chap, Kola, hadn't won your
heart SO completely, I'd have given up
my own aims and tried to become your
right bower"
"You are that already, old man." re-
turned the detective. "But Kola can't
be depended on. When 1t suits him he
works with me like prairie on fire,
but often when / have the most impor-
tant matters on hand find him in his
old rat-hole of den drugged to his
eyes In the suffocating smoke and odor
OF incense, and moving about in his
gray robe and cowl like a half-mummi-
fed monk. Ugh! he gives me the all
overs"
"You have never told me much about
him." said the doctor. 1.-THE time met
him during your Investigations of the
Benton murder case he interested me
greatly"
Hendricks shook his head.
Il don't go much on what can't be ex-
planned to my full satisfaction, and !
CANT explain Kola. When / ask him
to turn the light on his queer mode OF
life he grins, shakes his head and says
1t would take 20 years of study and
ascetic living in the east to compre-
bend even the rudimentary part OF
his outlandish philosophy. didn't tell
him was going to Boston, and he may
feel miffed at me, but he'll get over it,
By this time they had reached the
side entrance to the hotel, and they
went into the crowded office, from
which, in several directions, ran spa
cious corridors, the walls Of which were
adorned with costly paintings and
sculpture. Through an open door they
had q glimpse of the white and gold
ballroom. The music Of Hungarian
orchestra swelled out from balcony
overhead, and throngs Of men and wom-
en- passed to and fro through the cor
ridors. Hendricks sank into q big
chair near the doorway leading into the
Turkish smoking room, and by q down
ward motion of his hand signihed his
desire for Lampkin to sit beside him.
"You say you know Caruthers?" he
asked.
Every slightly"
"see If you recognize him in the ball
room"
Lampkin studied the throng for sew
eral minutes, then he went nearer, and
standing behind crowd Of men and 9
bunch Of palms he studiously surveyed
the ballroom. He went back to the
detective.
"see anything Of him?" questioned
Hendricks, taking his fixed gaze from
the rug at his feet.
mo"
"Then we must ask for him at the
desk"
They approached one of the active
clerks behind the counter. Hendricks
drew out visiting card and fingered
1t, his name downward.
I'D like to see Mr.. Weldon Caruth'
ers," he said.
The clerk glanced at the key-racl
behind him and shook his head.
"He hasn't returned yet" he an.
swered. HE is still out of town"
where is he?" asked Hendricks.
II cannot tell you, SIR" and the clerk
turned to answer question put by 6
man in evening dress on his right.
II am very anxious to see Mr.
Caruthers to night" resumed Hen
bricks, when he could get the clerks
attention again. ut is very impor.
tant matter"
The man in evening dress had over.
heard; he paused, interested.
"Are you looking for Caruthers? p
he asked.
II am" replied Hendricks.
'9That's odd," smiled the man. "I'vs
seen dozen people tonight asking
about him. We were just discussing
his queer conduct and wondering what
was the matter with him. He has
broken several important engage
ments without a word of explanation
His valet told my man this Afternoon
that his master had been called by {
night telegram to Philadelphia and had
written him that he would be detained
there for couple of weeks. Ipresume
1t was some urgent business"
The speaker lighted a cigar ant
moved away to group of men in the
smoking-room. Hendricks drew tn.
clerk aside.
81 am detective" he said, in low
voice. Hendricks Is my name"
"Minard Hendricks?" exclaimed the
clerk, in establishment, his tone ant
manner suddenly apologize. 81 had NJ
idea
ut is most important that should
have look into Caruthers' apartment
broke in the detective. Don't say {
word to anyone, but get pass key, ant
show my friend and myself up Their,