The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-22
The North Walk Mystery.
By WILL N. HARLEM.
copyright, 1897. by viii N. Harben.l


bricks pointed to the charred remains Of
the envelope. HE was burning it a:
we came up stairs. l could smell i
through the crack Of the door. That's
why broke in so suddenly"
Hendricks took a sheet Of writing
paper from the desk and slid it careful
ly under the frail, crisp fragment.
Don't dare to breathe on il" he
cautioned as he carried it toward win
dow. 1T will go to pieces like soap
bubble. I was awfully afraid he'd get
his foot on it and grind it into atoms. Z"
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 thatr' he NUT
tered.
What could the fellow mean by de-
stroying it?" asked DR.. Lampkin.
The brows Of the detective met. He
looked about the room, shifted the air
and pointed to a stream of smoke issu-
ing from the room through crack be-
meath window sash.
HE has burned more paper than
that, he remarked. "He was all fired
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 waterp' 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 il 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 that 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 peep at the
young fellows belongings don't
think he was undressed last night
that is, am pretty sure he did not
take off his shirt and necktie. "
"Why?"
Because young man of his taste
would never wear 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 closet. "See all
hose coats neatly hung on coat stretch
RS 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 I
las simply been jerked on to the hook.
lou know man is more particular 6
bout his evening suit than any other
mere IS little doubt that Ralph Benton
ooK on these garments in a rush last
light. Hendricks carried the coat
est and trousers to one of the windows
nd examined them closely in the light.
'ampkin saw him holding up first one '
rticle and then another, with a per. Q
lexed look on his face"
What's up?" asked the doctor. an.
reaching him. {
cant account for the presence of J
hese fragments Of tow" answered '
hendricks. II find them on the lapels
the coat, on the front part of the vest t
no absolutely rubbed into the cloth on Q
ne inside OF the trousers legs. Seep' he I
reclaimed. 1.-The silk has been worn
u one OF the vest buttons"
THAT'S strange" said Lampkin.
" l should think SO" answered Hen.
TICKS. How in thunder could man
ct suit OF clothes In exactly that {
)uultlOu!
Might have been drunk" suggested \
le doctor.
That would not account for direct
ne OF tow fragments from his ankles G
his neck, said Hendricks. IF il
ere covered all over, it would be dit /
rent, but Hendricks turned and /
ung up the garments as he had found Z
HEM Its chaos, my friend" he
aid. Never was a matter in more !
ebulous condition. First it's Miss
'enton, then Montcastle, then Ralph,
hem
MeY' jested Lampkin, seeing that
hendricks had stopped for lack Of
words.
Yes. you, blast your ugly picturer'
etorted the detective, with a merry
augn. You did it in your sleep after
"lmmans the river in your nightshirt,