The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-04-16
From Clue to Climax.
81 WILL N. HARDEN.
copyright 1896, by J. B. Lippincott Col
CHAPTER XIII.-CoNTINUED.

eve want to find certain blue en-
velope, Matthews" the detective began,
at was thrown into this basket by Mr..
Strong about month ago. Can you
help us?"
81 don't know, sir. have been emp
tyin' everythin' of that kind in the eel
lar. l keep all the papers in one barrel
and all the rags in another, and junk
shop man comes every now and then
"And gives you little something for
keeping the stuff for him." interrupted
Hendricks.
"Yes, SIR" the servant nodded.
"Has he been here lately?"
Just a day or so before the murder,
Fir. | remember"
Gould you take Mr.. WILDLY and my
self to his place." said the detective.
1--WE might be in time to keep our bit of
evidence from being made up into new
paper"
Eyes, sir, without any trouble. His
shop is on First street, under the bridge.
1T is pretty tough place, sir, but we
can take the cars and get down quick
enough"
II see am to be of no further assis-
lance" jested Miss Demar.
II didn't quite think you would care
TO soil your skirts in ragman's shop"
replied the detective. "But as soon as
we get clew, Mr.. WILDLY may bring
the news to you. We'd better be going
too"
Hendricks and Matthews started out
at once. WILDLY fingered in the draw
ing-room with Miss Delmar.
IF you have the time, you might stay
here until we return" said WILDLY.
II am sure we shan't be long"
'I'llwatan hour, anyway" the young
lady promised. 81 am dying to know
if you accomplish anything. But run
on; they are waiting for you, and here
comes the car"
In ten minutes the three men had
reached the bridge spanning the murky
river and were entering the shop indi-
Gated by Matthews.
I'VE must tell him exactly what we
want Hendricks whispered to WILDLY
at the door. "He hasn't very honest
face, and if he thinks we have lost some
thing of intrinsic value he may tell us a
lot of lies. Usually they do all they can
to aid detective"
"Ah, I see," answered WILDLY. 81
should have Numbered there if had
been alone"
The dealer, little Jew, with very
crafty face, came from behind coun.
ter piled up high with sacks Of rags and
paper.
what can do for you, gentlemen? ~
he asked.
In q few words Hendricks explained
what they were searching for.
"Ah! and you want to catch him, eh {
Well, / hope you can" said the Jew
II think / know the bags got from
dere. They are up in the loft. will
throw them down, and you can look
through them here"
"You are very good" said Hendricks;
that's exactly what we want"
The Jew ran up ladder through 9
hole in the ceiling, and in a moment
three sacks filled with old paper tum
ibled down at their feet.
Hendricks pointed to clean place or
the floor, and said to Matthew's: "Shallt
them out"
Matthews emptied one of the bags il
a heap, and WILDLY bent over it.
"No doubt about the stuff being from
our house." he said. Here is note ad
dressed to me, and there are some ole
hills of uncle's." But after five min
utes' search he declared he saw no en-
yelope which looked like the one he hat
in mind. The second bag was searched
without success, but the third had hard
" been opened before WILDLY picked
up large, square envelope.
II think this must be it," he said.
"You are right; it matches the colo
of the paper. They must have gon
together" replied the detective; and h
opened the case of his watch and hel
the corner of the envelope down to tn
front of the tiny bit. 1--WE are all RICH
SO far" Hendricks walked TO the iron
of the shop alone. studying, with
wrinked brow, the envelope. Whidb
paid the Jew for his trouble, and the
Joined him.
"Can you make anything out OF III
he asked.
''Not a blasted thing" replied Hel
bricks. at was NAILED in New Yor