Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-20
might find traces of Its having been

might find traces of its having been
cut up"
Thanks for the suggestion" said
Hendricks. Lampkin watched him as
he went into the bathroom and closely
examined the porcelain tub and white
tiled floor.
NO." he said, coming back. 81 think
he managed to remove the body in It's
entirety"
"You think that?" remarked the
doctor, not convinced.
Eyes; it would be an easy thing to
do AS Caruthers was supposed to be
leaving, it would be natural for him to
take trunk, and his luggage going
out would not attract much attention"
Good heavens!" exclaimed the doc
tor. "In his own trunk"
AT this juncture the door leading into
the corridor swung open and the clerk
who had shown them upstairs entered
suddenly, his eyes alighting on the
severed hand which lay across the
somewhat narrow mouth of the vase.
My Lord!" he exclaimed, his eyes
bullying from their sockets, "has-has
he been murdered, Mr.. Hendricks?"
An expression Of deep annoyance set
tied on the face Of the detective.
Yes" he said. "But leave us alone
Tor few minutes, and please don't say
anything about this down in the office
just yet. We would be interrupted by
sight-seers."
The clerk thrust his white, Mortified
face forward and peered into the vase.
Surely not-not cremated, Mr.. Hem
dricks!" heegasped.
That's about the size of it," retorted
the detective. He went to the door and
held 1t open. The clerk took the hint
and backed out of the room.
Don't lay 1t to me If this gets out
sooner than you WISH" he said. "a
member Of the detective force was
down there in citizens clothes and
recognized you when you first came
in. He had heard of the remarks going
round about Mr.. Caruthers' absence,
and seeing you on hand made him
more curious. he has Mr.. Caruthers'
man down there now, asking him ques-
tons. 1t seems nothing has been seen
of Mr.. Caruthers since he had the row
with Mr.. Arthur Gielow at the club"
Hendricks leaned against the door
facing.
"They had row, eh2"
That's the general report, SIR"
ibid you hear what it was about?"
Some dispute over woman, l
think"
"Who was the woman?"
Miss Dorothy Huntington was the
name heard mentioned"
"Ah," broke in Lampkin, coming for
ward. 81 remember"
But Hendricks was bowling to the
clerk and smiling, as If to denote that
the conversation We're at an end.
II might be able to give you pointer
or two suggested the clerk. ST am
a man that generally keeps his eyes and
ears open, and for a small consideration
I might"
Hendricks nodded lnderstandingly.
"I'll send for you another time, you
may be sure of that, and I always re-
ward people who aid me, but just
now"
II thought you might like to know
that Miss Huntington is down in the
ballroom, SIR
Hendricks smiled, expressed his
thanks for the information and firm
ly closed the door.
Persistent rascal" he said. 81 didn't
want him to hear what you were about
to say. Now, what was it?''
II started to say that have sort of
friend, a society man, who brings me
all the club gossip worth mentioning,
and remember that there is consider
able talk going on at present in the
swell set to the effect that this Miss
Huntington, who is prospectively avery
rich heiress, has recently been informed
by her lawyers that her Uncle Jacob
Van CORTLAND, from whom she had ex-
pected to inherit several millions had
just before his death-willed her the
money on the sole condition that she
should marry Caruthers, to whom
old Courtland felt in some way
indebted 1t has caused much com
ment. for it has been generally
understood that Arthur Gielow, q
| painter of some reputation, but
as poor as church-mouse, was in love
with her, and that she thought a lot of
| him."
"Ah!" muttered the detective, his
eyes cleaning; "she liked the poor man
best"
t''Tt is said," went on DR.. Larnpkin
shat her lawyers informed her of the
condition in the will more promptly
than they intended because her prefer.
ence for Gielow was becoming notice.
able. In fact, many believe she was on
the point of becoming his wife"
The lines of Hendricks brows ran to
| gether as if his beard, at which he was
| Juggling, were bunch of puckering.
| strings.
"And in case of the death of Caruth-
ers?" he questioned.
| ''The will seemed to be equally ex-
plicit on that point" replied DR.. Lamp
kin. "The fortune was to be turned
over to Miss Huntington at the end Of
two years if she was the wife Of
| Caruthers. In the meantime, however
in case of the death of Caruthers she
was to have the money anyway"
Hendricks took deep involuntary
breath.
"By Jove!" he cried, in tone of sup
pressed excitement. This is Prowine
into magnificent proportions. It is in
teresting me doubly, for in case it is tn,
artist who has committed the crime 1
/ ~ X. 4.