The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-04-07

paper from the desk and slid it careful
ly under the frail, crisp fragment.
"Don't dare to breathe on it, " he
cautioned as he carried it toward win
dow lit will 60 to pieces like soap
! bubble. was awfully afraid he'd get
his foot on it and grind it into atoms. !"
i The detective raised the sheet of paper
to his eyes and examined the burned en-
velope carefully. Lampkin heard him
calculate something in tone of disap-
pointment
Empty and blank at thati'' he mutt
tered.
"What could the fellow mean by de-
stroyipg it?'' asked DR.. Lampkin.
The brows of the detective met. He
| looked about the room, shifted the air
| and pointed to stream of smoke issu-
ing from the room through crack be-
meath a window SASH.
HE has burned more paper than
that" he remarked. "He was all fred
quick about it. We did not burst in on
him soon enough" .. -.
AS Hendricks spoke he began to thor
oughly search the room.
''Ah, running waterr' he exclaimed,
going to the hot and cold water basin
: in a little alcove adjoining the room
and looking into it. Got match, doc
tor? It's dark here"
Lampkin struck one and gave it to
him. Hendricks held it in the basin and
carefully examined the porcelain sur
face. Suddenly he raised himself.
"Never saw his beat" he said. "The
young rascal has absolutely washed the
remains of burned paper into the city
sewer. He is now laughing in his sleeve
at my maneuvering to get possession OF
that blank envelope. That's the second
time he has done me. I'll keep the
count. ...,.
II don't quite like his looks" re-
marked the doctor 1T seems to me he
il trying to cover up something
Hendricks said nothing, but taking
the charred envelope from the desk he
laid it exactly on the spot where it had
! blown from Ralph's hand. ....
"What's Jhat for?" asked Lampkin.
1T can't aid me to keep it, and when
he comes back here and finds it still
there he will be thrown off the track.
Now we must take a peep at the
young fellows belongings. | don't
think he was undressed last night
that is, l am pretty sure he did not
take Off his shirt and necktie.''
"Why?'' ... .
Because a young man of his taste
would never wear a black dress bow,
such as he has On now. with business
suit Of clothes.
lyon think, then, that he was in
evening dress last night?" asked DR..
| Lampkin.
] Hendricks opened a closet See all
! those coats neatly hung on coat stretch
I CTS back there?' he asked.
| Lampkin nodded.
THAT shows the young man is order
! ~ by habit went on the detective.
; "Well. here hangs his evening suit. 1t
has simply been jerked OH to the hook.
! You know man is more particular
about his evening suit than any other.
! There is little doubt that Ralph Benton
| took of these garments i'll rush last
night Hendricks carried the coat,
vest and trousers to one of the windows
/! and examined them closely in the light
Lampkin saw him holding up first one
article and then another, with a per-
picked look on his face -
What's ur?' asked the doctor, ap-
proacning him.
II cart account for the presence OF
these fragments Of tow" answered
Hen il1cks II find them on the lapels
of tae coat, on the front part of the vest
ard absolutely rubbed into the cloth Oh
the inside of the trousers legs. See!" he
exclaimed "The silk has been worn
off one of the vest buttons. .
That's strange. said Lampkin.
Il should think So" answered Hen.
bricks How in thunder could q man
get suit of clothes n exactly thai
condition.
Might have been drunk" suggested
the doctor.
"That would not account for direct
line of tow fragments from his ankle!
to his neck" said Hendricks IF i,
were covered all over. it would be diff
ferent, but Hendricks turned anC
hung up the garments as he had foun
them ''It's chaos, my FRIEND" b
: said. Never was matter in NOR
nebulous condition. First it's Mis-
Benton, then Montcastle, then Ralph
them
"Me?n TESTED Lampkin, seeing tina
Hendricks had stopped for lack G
words
t "Yes, you, blast your ugly picture!
retorted the detective, with a merr
! laugh. "You did it in your sleep afte
Q swimming the river in your nightshir'
holding your revolver over your head
: keep it dry. Then you swan back, ge
! into bed, and walked you. !"
"You never play tho clown exceI
Z when you are thwarted, and you rarel
: play the Clown said Lampkin. In
piled compliment-see?"
d Epigram You shall write them *
. my play said Hendricks.
i 'tYou have forgotten more brigl
4 things than KNOW said Lampkin.
h You'd know more if you'd forgotte
!. fewer of your witticisms. How's th'
i for a roundabout compliments belize