Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-02-07

empty and blank at that'' he NUT
tered
.'What could the fellow mean by de-
stroying it?'' asked DR.. Lampkin.
The brows of the detective met. He
looked about the room, shifted the air
and pointed to a stream of smoke isau-
ing from the room through a crack be-
meath window sash.
''He has burned more paper than
that,'' he remarked. "He was all fired
| quick about it. We did not burst in on
him soon enough.
| AS Hendricks spoke he began to thor
oughly search the room.
''Ah, running waterr' he exclaimed,
going to the hot and cold water basin
in a little alcove adjoining the room
and looking into it. "Got match, doc
tor? It's dark here
Lampkin struck one and gave it to
him. Hendricks held it in the basin and
carefully examined the porcelain sur
face. Suddenly he raised himself
"Never saw his beat, - he said. ''The
young rascal has absolutely washed the
remains of a burned paper into the city
sewer. He is now laughing in his sleeve
at my maneuvering to get possession of
that blank envelope. That's the second
time he has done me. I'll keep the
count -
81 don't quite like his looks, - re-
marked the doctor. sit seems to me he
is trying to cover up something."
Hendricks said nothing, but taking
the charred envelope from the desk he
laid it exactly on the spot where it had
blown from Ralph's hand
"What's that for?'' asked Lampkin.
''It can't aid me to keep it, and when
he comes back here and finds it still
there he will be thrown off the track.
Now we must take a peep at the
young fellows belongings. I don't
think he was undressed last night
that is, am pretty sure he did not
take off his shirt and necktie''
"Why?"
Because young man OF his taste
would never wear a black dress bow,
such as he has on now, with business
suit of Clothes
'You think, then, that he was in
evening dress last night?'' asked DR..
Lampkin
Hendricks opened closet. ''See all
those coats neatly hung on coat stretch
ers back there?'' he asked.
Lampkin nodded.
''That shows the young man is order
~ by habit went on the detective
"Well, here hangs his evening suit. It
has simply been jerked on to the hook.
You know man is more particular
about his evening suit than any other
There is little doubt that Ralph Benton
took off these garments in rush last
1rrhf oJz ~iol
vest and trousers to one of the windows
end examined them closely in the light.
Lampkin saw him holding up first one
article and then another, with a per-
picked look on his face
whats up?'' asked the doctor, ap-
preaching him.
Il can't account for the presence of
these fragments of tow answered
Hendricks. st find them on the lapels
of the coat, on the front part of the vest
and absolutely rubbed into the cloth on
the inside of the trousers legs. Seel'' he
exclaimed. 1.-THE silk has been worn
off one of the vest buttons.
''That's strange said Lampkin.
II should think so,' answered Hen
bricks. 'How in thunder could man
get a suit of clothes in exactly that
coudition?''
"Might have been drunk suggested
the doctor
''That would not account for direct
line of tow fragments from his ankles
to his neck said Hendricks. eff it
were covered all over, it would be diff
ferent, butt Hendricks turned and
hung up the garments as he had found
them. cts chaos, my FRIEND" he
said. "Never was a matter in more
nebulous condition. First it's Miss
Benton, then Montcastle, then Ralph,
them
"Me?" TESTED Lampkin, seeing that
Hendricks had stopped for lack of
words.
eyes, you, blast your ugly picture!''
rstorted the detective, with merry
laugh. "You did it in your sleep after
swimming the river in your nightshirt,
holding your revolver over your head to
keep it dry. Then you swan back, got
into bed, and walked you
You never play the clown except
when you are thwarted, and you rarely
play the CLOWN said Lampkin. elm
piled compliment-see?''
'Epigram. You shall write them for
my play said Hendricks.
"You have forgotten more bright
things than I know said Lampkin
YOU'D know more if you d forgotten
fewer of your witticisms. How's that
for a roundabout compliment? believe
1 shall write my epigrams myself
Some one raped on the door. Hen
bricks opened it. 1t was Jane, the house
maid.
ga man with q dog is down stairs,
sir, to see you. she informed Hen
bricks.