The Delta independent., 1898-03-11
"Essc,ly. / wasn't trying 20 1.te |.

"How did you know she hadn't wash
ed her hands?"
II didn't think she had. Peorle
never do unuer great excitement There
was no water in Ter jug on the wash
stand or any in the siop jar. Besides,
powder stains blown in the akin are
hard TO obliterate.
did you lind them?"
mo"
"Then she is innocent OF the actual
crime
IF she didn't wear gloves when she
pulled the trigger" interrupted Hen
bricks. with little laugh. Come on;
times up. We must surprise that fel-
low in his ROOM"
Hendricks bounded up the thickly
carpeted stairs, taking four steps at d
stride Pausing at Ralph Benton door,
he grasped the knob firmly and turned
it without making a sound. Then he
pressed against the door steadily.
Locked" he granted. The word
had scarcely left his lips when his
shoulder came against the door with
the force of a battering ram. The frail
fastenings gave way, and Hendricks al
most fell into the room.
Ralph was standing in a corner,
holding an envelope over a low turned
gas jet.
II beg pardonr' exclaimed Hen
bricks. IAN accident. assure you Ny
foot slipped. and | tumbled against
your door. I'm devilish awkward
Hope l haven't done much damage"
Its al! right, stammered the young
man. AS he spoke the burning envelope
went out. ara the crisp black remains
were blown across the room. IL was
just trying to clean up some old rub
bish in my desk. 1 suppose you want to
look about here. really have no objec-
tion-anything that will help you get
at the facts. OF course the whole place
is at your disposal"
"Thank you," said Hendricks, step.
ping between him and the ashes of the
envelope MY friend and myself would
like to use your desk. l see materials
Tor writing are here-that is. if it is no
intrusion.
Ralph shrugged his shoulders.
You are quite welcome" he re-
turned, with defiant, dogged express
sion.
Hendricks sat down at the desk.
picked up pen and dipped it into the
ink WELL "Now, DOCTOR" no began,
Thompson said he would take -. 900
for the corner lot but wo1ld net give
me later than tomorrow to decide. Now,
I intend to offer him
Hendricks paused and glanced up at
Ralph. II beg your pardon, Mr.. Ben
ton, but this is-er-a little private deal
we were about TO make, and IL you had
just as soon
"Oh, I'm goingr exclaimed Ralph,
q smile and sneer blending on his
handsome face. II am really sorry II
have intruded on you.''
Hendricks seemed to enjoy the situa-
tion.
'Call again, Mr.. Benton" be
laughed. "Sorry we are busy today"
II like your cheek" remarked DIR.
Lampkin when the young man had left
the room.
"Sb!" The smile had left Hendricks'
face. 1t was tense and serious. He rose
softly, tiptoed to the door. opened 1t
slightly and locked out.
Cant be too cautious" he remarked
as he leaned chair against the door to
keep it closed "Yes, 1 admire my
cheek" he went on rs he came back
to the doctor, "but like his more I
tell you he's a corker."
81 dropped on to your ruse to get
him out of the room, said Lampkin.
81 knew of no Thompson or any corner
lot"
Better to do it decently," returned
the detective Never give 'em chance
to be defiant and tell you to mind your
own business. My idea is to keep On
friendly terms with the whole lot. 1t
was that fragment was after" fen-
bricks pointed to the charred remains Of
the envelope. "He was burning it as
we came up stairs. l could smell IL
through the crack of the door. That's
why broke in so suddenly"
Hendricks took sheet Of writing
paper from the desk and slid it careful
ly under the frail, crisp fragment
Don't dare to breathe on it," he
cautioned as he carried il toward win
dow. 1T will go to pieces like soap
bubble. was awfully afraid he'd get
his foot on it and g-ind it into atoms.
The detective raised the sheet of paper
to his eyes and examined the burned en-
velope carefully. Lampl,in heard him
calculate something in tone of disap.
pointment.
Empty and blank at thatr' he nut
tered.
What could the fellow mean by de-
stroying it?' asked DIR. Lampkin.
The brows of the detective met. He
looked about the room, shifted the air
| - 1.
ing from the room through a crack be-
meath window sash.
''He has burned more paper than