Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-10-14

returned from Boston, finds awaiting him
an unsigned typewriter letter directing
him to apartments in Palace hotel, where
he will find remain of Mr.. Weldon Caruth-
ers-currently reported for past two weeks
to be out Of town. Detective seems to con-
meet letter with attempt made on his own
life some time previous. Goes with friend,
DR.. Lampkin, to investigate.
CHAPTER II.
s'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 a
bunch of palms he studiously surveyed
the ballroom. He went back to the
detective.
''See anything of him?" questioned
the rug at his feet.
''No.n
.sThen 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
it, his name downward.
I'D like to see Mr.. Weldon Caruth-
ers," he said.
The clerk glanced at the key-raclS
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.
81 cannot tell you, sir" and the clerk
turned to answer question put by
man in evening dress on his right.
81 am very anxious to see Mr..
Caruthers to night" resumed Hen
bricks, when he could get the clerks
attention again. st is a very impor-
tant matter
The man in evening dress had over
heard; he paused, interested.
care you looking for Caruthers?"
lie asked.
81 am" replied Hendricks.
"That's odd,' smiled the man. ''I've
seen a 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 a
night telegram to Philadelphia and had
written him that he would be detained
there for a couple of weeks. presume
it was some urgent business
The speaker Lighted cigar and
moved away to a group of men in the
smoking-room. Hendricks drew the
clerk aside.
81 am a detective" he said, in low
voice. Hendricks is my name"
''Minard Hendricks?" exclaimed the
clerk, in establishment, his tone and
manner suddenly apologize. II had no
idea
SIT is most important that ] should
have look into Caruthers' apartment, "
broke in the detective. Don't say a
word to anyone, but get pass key, and
show my friend and myself up there
right away"
The clerk nodded, Hurried express
sion on his face. Getting a key, he
came from behind the counter and
started towards the elevator.
"Not that way" objected Hendricks,
OBTAINING him. Cant we 60 up the
rear stairs?"
. 'sure," said the clerk. "It's only one
flight And he piloted them to the
stairs behind the cloakroom. you'll
find the apartments just as Mr.. Caruth-
ers left them. His valet said that his
master had written him that the room
must not be disturbed by anyone"
Hendricks paused on the stair.
"Did Mr.. Caruthers not inform his
man that he was going away?" he
asked.
''No; you see Mr.. Caruthers' man is
married and lives on the west side.
He happened to have day off and did
not know what had become of his mas
ter till he got the letter"
II see," remarked Hendricks, and he
started on again.
Reaching the door opening into
Caruthers' apartments, the clerk un-
locked it and led them in. The first
chamber was private sittingroom,
the dainty pieces of French furniture,
draperies and rugs being in perfect
order.
1.-THE gas is burning" observed Hen
bricks, looking up at the cut-glass
globes.
'As I said, no one has been in the
rooms since Mr.. Caruthers went away"
''Not even his valet?" asked the de-
tective.
sit looks so, or surely he would have
extinguished the gas. It seems to be
burning in the next room too"
This chamber was large luxurious
bedroom, and as they entered it Lamp
kin's imagination prepared itself for
horrible spectacle. To his great re-
lief, however, every thing here was also
in perfect order. The white lace COW
erlet lay as smoothly as newly fallen
snow, and the sheets and pillows looked
as If they had never been used. The
clerk now with look of growing curl
osity, if not of incipient horror,
stopped down and looked under the
bed.
Nothing there" he said. Then his
attitude grew more serious, as he went
to the large closets one by one and
opened the doors. ''There is the bath
room yet" he remarked, with shud-
der, his mind perhaps busy with bit
of French history or some recent Amer
lean horror. cts getting mighty COM
mon nowadays to commit bloody