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


"Yo1 We're searching Tor powder
marks on Miss Benton's wrist just
now," remarked Lampkin, with tone
OF conviction, as the detective paused
and leaned against the wall
Exactly. / wasn't trying to make q
mash, you may bet your hat on that.
"How did you know she hadn't wash
ed her hands?''
II didn't think she had. People
never do under great excitement. There
was no water in her jug on the wash
stand or any in the slop jar. Besides.
powder stains blown in the skin are
hard to obliterate."
ibid you find them'"
"No."
"Then she is innocent Of the actual
crime"
If she didn't wear gloves when she
pulled the trigger" interrupted Hen
bricks. with q little laugh. "Come on;
times up. We must surprise that fel-
low in his room"
Hendricks bounded up the thickly
carpeted stairs. taking four steps at a
stride. Pausing at Ralph Benton 3 door.
he grasped the knob firmly and turned
it without making q sound. Then he
pressed against the door steadily.
Locked" he grunted. The word
had scarcely left his lips when his
shoulder came against the door with
the force Of q battering ram. The frail
fastenings gave way, and Hendricks al
most fell into the room.
Ralph was standing in a corner,
holding an envelope over low turned
gas jet.
II beg pardonl" exclaimed Hen
dricks IAN accident, assure you. Ny
foot slipped. and l tumbled against
your door. I'm devilish awkward.
Hope haven't done much damage"
"It's all right, stammered the young
man. As he spoke the burning envelope
went out, and tho crisp black remains
were blown across the room. IL was
just trying to clean up some old rub.
btsh in my desk. suppose you want to
look about here. I really have no objec-
tion-anyt thing that will help you get
at the facts. OF course the whole place
is at your disposal. "
"Thank You, said Hendricks. step
ping between him and the ashes of the
envelope MY friend and myself would
like to use your desk l see materials
for writing are here-that is. If it is no
intrusion.
Ralph shrugged his shoulders
"You arc quite walcone'.' he re-
turned. with a defiant. dogged express
sion. m
Hendricks sat down at the desk,
picked up pen and dipped It into the
ink we'll ''Now, DOCTOR" he began,
Thompson said he would take a.. 900
for the corner lot. bnt would not give
me later than tomorrow to decide. Now,
I intend to offer him.
Hendricks paused and glanced up at
Ralph. II beg your pardon. Mr.. Ben
ton, but this is-er--a little private deal
we were about to make, and il you had
Just as soon
"Oh, I'm goingr' exclaimed Ralph,
q smile and sneer blending on his
handsome face. II am really sorry II I
have lntruded on you.
Hendricks seemed to enjoy the situa-
ton.
"Call again, Mr.. Benton" he
laughed. "Sorry we are busy today"
II like your cheek" remarked DR..
Lampkin when the young man had left
the room.
"Shi" The smile had left Hendricks
face 1t was tense and serioua He rose
softly, tiptoed to the door. opened 1t
slightly and looked out.
Cant be too cautious" he remarked
as he leaned chair against the door to
keep 1t closed. "Yes, I admire my
cheek" he went on as he came hack
to the doctor, "but like his moro. I
tell you he's corker.
II dropped on to your russ to get
him out of the room," said Lampkin
II knew Of no Thompson or any corner
lot.
Better to do it decently," returned
the detective. "Never give 'em chance
to be defiant and tell you to mind your
own business My idea is to keep on
friendly terms with the whole lot II
was that fragment was after" Hen
bricks pointed to the charred remains Of
the envelope. "He was burning 1t as
we came up stairs could smell IL
through the crack of the door. That's
why I broke in SO suddenly"
Hendricks took q sheet Of writing
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 go to pieces like soap
bubble. was awfully afraid he'd get
his foot on it and grind it into atoms"
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 DIR. Lampkin.
The brows Of the detective met. He
looked about the room, sniffed the air
and pointed to 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 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 waterl" he exclaimed,
eoins to the hot and cold water basin