Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-06-27
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTER l.
Has Mr.. Hendricks returned from
Boston %
Jus, this minute, sir" replied the
~ office boy. Hes Il the back room get
ting his mail"
Dr. Lampllin entered the Office and
sat down III one Of the soft eauher-cov-
cred chairs.
A moment later the detective entered,
package Of unopened letters in his
hand.
Obi" he calculated. Hello, glad TO
see you'll"
i've been wondering what had be-
come Of YOU" said the doctor, as he rose
and shook the disengaged hand Of his
friend. Every time l dropped in your
office boy told me he was expecting you
on the very next train"
"Delayed from hour to hour for near
~ two weeks" frowned Hendricks.
Then he laughed. 1.-The joke is on me,
old man. | had really plumed myself
on the reputation / was going to make
over there to get even with the Boston
papers for sneering at New York's big
detective,' as they called me, but 10
and behold! just as | was bout to stir
up the phlegmatic old viIlagesby show
ing my hand, my man made clean
breast and gave himself up to the po-
lice. Did you ever hear Of such luck ?''
Lampkin laughed as he took cigar
from the detectives box.
"Anything on hand here?'
mot q blessed thing. [ might forget
my awful humiliation if | could plunge
into work heels over head.'
As the doctor smoked, Hendricks be-
gan to open his letters. He had cast
aside three and was beginning on the
fourth when his visitor saw him start,
grasp his beard and pull on it excitedly.
by Jove!" he cried, and his big gray
eyes seemed to expand as they stared
at the sheet before them.
whats up now?" questioned the
doctor, leaning forward.
The detective seemed not to hear. He
folded the letter, leaned back in his re-
volving chair. and made a clumsy at
tempt to prop bis feet up on the edge
OF bis willow waste basket, but the
frail thing turned over and his heavy
heels struck the floor with hollow
sound.
Lampkin studied the strong features
of his companion with pIeasurable
curiosity. He was almost sure that be
had detected just the faintest sugges-
ton Of horror in his friends express
sion, which was indeed a rare thing.
Then Hendricks shrugged his shoulders,
gave half defiant logged laugh and
proceeded to open another letter.
He had scarcely drawn it from its en-
velope, however, when he dropped it
and musingly took up the other again.
There was silence while he perused it.
Then he asked:
"Lamplin, have you ever heard the
name Of Weldon Caruthers?'
Haven't you?" returned the doctor,
note of surprise in his voice.
at seems familiar to me, and yet |
can't exactly place it,"
"He is one Of the ultra swell set" re-
piled Lampkin. II met him once; he is
very well-to-do, thorough society man
member Of the Van Derwenter club
and all that sort of thing. | know lot
Of interesting gossip about him"
Hendricks fixed the speaker with his
sharp eyes.
II presume you heard of his being
murdered in cold blood?' said the de-
tectve, tentatively.
Murdered? Surely you don't mean
it'll"
Eyes, let me see" Hendricks delib-
erately consulted the date Of the letter
in his hand and even more slowly ex-
amined the postmark on the envelope.
Eyes, this writer informs me that the
crime was committed in Caruthers'
apartments in the Palace hotel just a
week ago tonight"
The doctor took deep breath.
"Oh. it's a hoax-a mistake" he
said, in relief 81 noticed in this morn
ing's paper that Caruthers was in his
box at the Horse Show last night. [
was running over the list Of men who
had the most conspicuous places and re-
member seeing his name"
''What paper did you see it il?
Iampkin thought he noticed the Pc
culiar twitching about the corners of
the detectives mouth which usually
indicated suppressed excitement.
1.-THE World, think, yes, I'm positive.
was looking over it at breakfast"
Hendricks features seemed to settle
into rigidity.
Are You quite sure?" he said, me-
chemically, and he leaned forward and
tapped the bell on his desk. Lampkin
saw that his thoughts were thousand
miles away, nevertheless he answered:
LAS sure as could be of anything;
besides, you don't suppose man OF
Caruthers' prominence could have been
murdered in the SWEETEST hotel in New
York without its being known for a
week"
at does look that way" acquiesced
the detective. but there was still re-
serve in his manner and tone that puz-