The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-03-19

"There is no reason why you may not
place a guard round the house highland
day, captain" said Hendricks, frown-
ing slightly at Welsh's compliment. "It
it allays the fears of the ladies it will
serve a coed purpose"
THANK you," said Mrs. Roundtree,
soldly.
where is your telephone, mayor?'
asked Welsh.
''In the library across the hall. Show
it to him, Lillian" said the mayor.
When Mrs. Roundtree heard the tele-
phone bell ring she went into the Ii
brary to hear Welsh give his orders, and
Fred Walters followed her, leaving the
mayor and Hendricks together.
"While they are in there, should be
glad to get look at the grounds from
back window upstairs, if you will
show me up" said the detective.
Certainly, with pleasure the mayor
replied. This way" And he led Hen
bricks up the rear steps to the floor
above. There is a window in this
servants ROOM" he went on, pushing a
door open, "but it looks out on the side
rather than the back. The old lumber
room is in the rear; but you'll get all
over dust if you go there"
| mo matter; it won't hurt me-"
When they had opened the door of
the lumber-room and were making
their way through dusty piles of old
furniture, carpets, rugs, pictures and
broken statuary, Hendricks smiled and
pointed to typewriter on table near
the window. "See how well guessed"
he said. crossing the room and bending
over the machine. 81 am interested in
typewriters. / had chance to buy
stock in one before they became the
rage, and if / had done so would now
be too rich to have to be nosing round
in other peoples affairs like this. This
machine was made about 'S5; purple
and copying" he added, rubbing his
finger on the ribbon and transferring
the stain to his cuff. 81 like the black
better" Then he went to window
and carelessly looked out. "Ah!" he
said; you see how thick the woods are
behind the place where we found his
tracks? He could have got away very
easily. Would your daughter be able
to defend herself, Mr.. Roundtree, in
case of sudden attack" Hendricks
asked, as they came back toward the
+ stairs. Can she use revolver"
"Quite well, indeed" the mayor an
swered; "her husband taught her. But
l don't like her to carry one. 1t makes
her mother uneasy"
AS they reached the lower floor the
others were coming from the library
Welsh went out to call a cab, and Hen
bricks Joined him. The moment the
cab stopped at the door, the captain
got in, but Hendricks held back. 81
have left my umbrella out there" he
said apologetically. swat moment
Hendricks went down the walk, and
was soon hidden from view by the
lockwood bushes. Five minutes passed
Welsh was impatiently wondering
what had become of him, when he
emerged from the shrubbery, lighting
cigar. Without word of explanation
for his delay, he got into the cab be
side Welsh, and told the driver to &c
ahead.
SWELL" said Mrs. Roundtrse, as tho
cab drove away, that man must bt
overrated, certainly. If had not heart
that he was brilliant member of hi.
profession, / should have said he was
the most stupid man alive. l felt 81
irritated by his dawdling actions that
was tempted to turn my back on him
The idea of his wanting to see the gar
dening tools, lecturing Robert abou
not hanging up a watering-pot, ant
using our house to write his CORE
spondence inland at such an awful
time, too"
81 think he was unable to find ghos
of clew," remarked Fred Walters
''He was trying to hide his disappoint
ment by Indifference. He has no doub
accomplished great things in Europ,
and elsewhere in this country, but any
one can see that he has met his Waterlo,
: here"
"What did he go upstairs for?" Mrs
Walters spoke to her father in a ton
that was too low for the others to hear
: He had sat down at his desk several fee
from where his wife and son-in-lav
were standing.
ITO get look at the grounds from
: the back windows" the mayor replied
"From the servants room?" sh
asked.
"No, the lumber-room." And tn
mayor drew sheet of paper towar
him and began to write. He did not nc
tice that she stared at him strangel
for a moment after he had answered
and that she sat down in a rocking
. chair with her back to the light, an
took no part in the conversation goin
on between Walters and her mother.
CHAPTER TX.