Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-01-27
CHAPTER XII.

That afternoon at o'clock DR.. Lamp
kin called at the hotel designated by
Hendricks and was informed by the
clerk that the detective was in his room
and had left orders for him to come up
at once.
The room was at tho head of the first
fight of stairs. Lampkin raped
"Come in!' The doctor started, for
the words seemed to come from the
crack A,neath the door. Lampkin turned
the knob and pushed. The door opened
about six inches, struck something
and stopped. 1t was the head of the de-
tective, for when Lampkin had looked
through the narrow opening he found
Hendricks on his hands and knees on
the floor.
= ooh, beg pardon" he laughed,
rising clumsily II forgot that l was
blocking the way. Look out! Don't step
on that thing"
"What in thunder are you doing?"
asked the doctor, stepping cautiously
over black suit of clothes which the
detective had carefully stretched on the
floor.
"Shr' Hendricks closed the door,
"Old man Benton's," he went Oh with
a grin. II presume you think l am
mad, eh?"
Method in it; I'd bet on that" re-
turned the doctor
Don't quote. Be original. "
Hendricks sat down on the side of
bed for a moment, his chin resting
thoughtfully in his hand. Presently he
rose and drew one of the sleeves of the
coat downward all inch or SO.
"How's that?" he asked.
"How's what?" asked Lampkin.
"What are you doing?"
"Want to get him fixed as much like
we found him as possible. Hard to do
without stuffing. For little I'd rip up
that mattress and utilize the contents
The more like old Benton it looks the
slicker my brain wheels revolve. Ideas,
ideas, my friend!"
what do you expect to get out of
that suit?"
1.-TWO fifty at a secondhand store"
replied the detective. He burst into
little laugh and abruptly relapsed into
intense thoughtfulness.
L can see that you are deeply inter.
ested," observed Lampkin.
why, old sawbones?"
eff you were not, your joke would
not have been so lame. p"
"Not too much interested to enjoy
yours, laughed Hendricks mechanical
ly. "Ha, ha, hal One on me-" He sank
OH his knees, took hold of the left lapel
of Benton's coat and examined it
closely.
what are you studying that lapel
30 attentively for?" asked the doctor.
Hendricks turned the lapel back and
exposed the underside.
"See that pin?" he asked
eyes. l suppose you will take it as a
proof of stinginess and'-
"Nothing of the kind" broke in the
detective He rose, opened the back
part of his watch case and exposed
tiny shred of white paper. II found
that under the pin just now"
"Well?" said Lampkin.
"It was there" replied Hendricks.
"There was reason for its being there,
but can't make it out yet 1t is one Of
the half dozen inexplioable things con-
nected with the case. When we know
who shot the owner Of this suit of
clothes, We'll know what this bit of pa
per means"
Lampkin sat down at table. HAS
anything turned up since saw your"
Hendricks closed his watch with
snap and sank on the bed.
"You know was hungry when you
left me-" he began. "Well, went to
the kitchen. The cook, colored man,
rather talkative by nature, offered to
give me bite in the dining room, but
l preferred the kitchen. 1t is the sink
of household gossip. / got him started
by giving him plated ring with red
glass setting. now know the house
from to lizard. Old man Benton was
dead against the house party. He hated
Montcastle for some reason or other and
had had scrap with Ralph nearly ev-
cry night for the last month. Jason con-
firms Jarnagin's story about the quarrel