Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-12-21

Deeply interested in what was to fol-
low, the doctor obeyed.
Taking the box, Hendricks removed
the lid and held the box TO Mr.. Simp-
kins.
"Is it your opinion that those are the
ashes Of human body, such as are pro-
duced from the retort of a regular Gre
matory?'
The individual addressed took the box
to window and looked at the contents
closely. He had the air of man who
was enjoying himself.
SCOT magnifying CLASP" he asked,
shaking the ashes about.
Hendricks produced his, and Lamplin
took it to the speaker.
There was silence while Mr.. Simp-
kins was focusing the lens on the
ashes. Then he came away from the
window, closing the magnifying glass.
'In my opinion they are not from the
retort of crematory," he said, though
to be honest I would not take oath on
it,
"Why are you not positive?" asked
the detective.
Mr.. Simpkins' brows ran together.
He smacked his lips and raised himself
on his toes in pure enjoyment of his
| well-paid Importance.
Because my experienced eye detects
| traces of the ashes of clothing here.
In well-run crematories such residue is
always famed away from the pure
white or grayish ashes of bone which is
! deposited in urns for preservation. But
as the ashes of cloth may, by accident,
have fallen back into the bone-ash,
can't be positive"
| "Ah, I see!" said Hendricks. els
there any way by which one could dis
t tingiush between the ashes from New
York crematory or one in any other
city,"
'None that know of, sir.''
"Well, that is ALL and 1 thank you,
Mr.. Simpkins,' said the detective, lean
| ing back in his chair.
When the man had taken his depart
ure Lampkin asked:
'Could the murderer have had the
| body cremated in another city,"
'Easier than here, and he had ample
| time," said Hendricks in the tone of a
man in deep and perplexed thought.
''He might have had a little trouble in
| shipping the body, but to get the ashes
back here would be very simple thing.
would not be surprised at any develop
ment in this affair. There is one point
that hobs up here which is so puzzling
| that it almost drives me insane"
what is that?" asked the doctor.
'It is this" answered the detective.
'You see, Caruthers had been out of the
city-or rather was believed to have left
New York ten days before I got my
anonymous note telling me where I
could find his remains. Now, if the
writer believed that I would get the
communication without delay the ashes
| were in Caruthers' apartments week
before I got back from Boston,"
"Of course" said Lampkin, in the au-
! tomato tone of one who speaks before
deliberation. Then he calculated with
force: ooh, yes, certainly!"
"But," said Hendricks, with strong
| emphasis on the word, "if the hell
scorched demon has had free access to
6ining-room, then he could have seen
the communication which he had
mailed me lying on my desk during my
absence. It may really have been part
of his plan to have mailed that letter,
knowing I wouldn't get it at once.''
"But for what reason?' asked the
doctor.
"To throw me off the track as to
time," said Hendricks. II said the
other day that this would prove the
chief crime of all my experience. / am
now afraid that it may actually be my
Waterloo I have never dealt with
such wonderful tact and boldness COM
bind. The chief reason for my believ-
ing that he was on to my movements is
that GieiOw did not leave until the night
I discovered the ashes"