Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-01-10
CHAPTER w.

Don't be frightened" said the de-
tective kindlyss 1T is not you I'm after,
but I want you to help me run the vii
lain down. What's your name?''
Wilson, sir; John Wilson. I've been
gardener here, sir, for''-
Ibid you put this sand here yester-
day." interrupted Hendricks.
eyes, sir. The master told me as
long as it was going ON the drive in
front that 1 might as we'll put it in the
walks to kill the crab grass. The sand
gets very hard, sir, when it has rained
on it, and it becomes almost the same
as cement.
''What time did you do it?''
''About o'clock, sir. haven't yet
finished the whole walk. The other
end''-
"You used wheelbarrow to bring
the sand from that pile up there and
you scattered it on with a hoe?"
eyes, sir, - replied the old man won
deringly "My shovel was carried off
in one of the carts Master would not
allow the heavy cart wheels to cut the
turf here, and had to use my barrow. ="
''You stood on the sides and smoothed
the sand with rake?''
eyes, sir, but 1 didn't know you was
here p
Hendricks glanced at Lampkin and
smiled. "There's bang up compliment
for you," he said. Then he pointed to
where the tracks ended so abruptly and
said to Wilson:
''Have you been sweeping or raklng
in this sand here since the body was
found?"
''Why, no, sir. I haven't been down
here at ALL They told US in the kitchen
that the policemen would not allow any
of us to see the master. ?"
''That certainly is very remarkable, -
broke in Ralph Benton, looking at the
tracks. "Mr. Hendricks, where do you
think the murderer stood when he fired
at my father?''
Hendricks seemed not to have heard
the question. He was looking toward
the house.
ST see some men coming" he said.
''Ah, it is the chief and the coronerP'
He went forward to meet them, and
Lampkin saw him shaking hands with
the men and bowling.
''The jury for the inquest are gather
ing said Ralph to Lampkin. "I'll go
to the house and see about where it will
be held. Will you 60 up, doctor?"
"No, thanks replied Lampkin.
cpl wait for Hendricks. I see he is
coming"
The chief and the coroner stopped to
speak to Ralph, and Hendricks came
back to DR.. Lampkin.
''I have just thought of something
he said. pointing to the tracks near the
dead man. "You see, they look as if
they came from the side gate. .
eyes. Then you don't think the
crime was committed by any member
of the householder replied the doctor.
81 can't see what that's got to do
with it, said Hendricks, stroking his
chin thoughtfully. "Ah, I'm glad the
sun is shiningp' he said, stopping to-
ward the grass and sighting across the
level ground at the gate which opened
from a side street. Mature often lends
me helping hand. There is no artif-
ciality about her, and she won't be
tempered with.
L don't follow you, said Lampkin,
mystified.
cit is the dew again. explained
Hendricks. "On the front lawn awhile
the frosty appearance to guide US, but
now in the sunlight the whole surface
of the grass is a carpet of green be-
spangled with blue, red and yellow dia-
monds-that is, except a path leading
direct from this point to that gate over
there
Lampkin came to the side of the de-
tective and sighted over the sward at
the gate.
''Too fine for my eyes, he said
'tAh, now I see what you mean! By
.Jove, it is wonderfully clear!''
1.-THE trouble is that it knocks the
smoothness out of another theory T,
marked the detective with frown.
''What is that?''
Never mind now. There are too
many real things that demand imme-
diate attention. replied Hendricks.
''What shall you do next?'' asked the
doctor.
''To kill time while the jury is get
ting together I'll show you that my
dewdrop theory is correct was the re
ply. eff you will come with me to
that walk over there, I'll show you
tracks crossing the sand in direct line
from here to the gate"
Hendricks led the way across the
grass to the walk
'"There you are,'' he said, pointing
to tracks in the sand.
"And coming this way, too,' added
Lampkin.
They do not go out again, but are
lost up there in the middle of the ether
walk" said the detective Doctor,
there is nut to crack. 1t is the blamed
est puzzle I ever tackled. The whole
thing is in frightful muddle. J. was
never in my life so hampered with con-
hicting circumstances. One minute /