Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-10-21
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER Nv.
AS the doors opened in response to
their ring, the visitors saw fur foot
men in livery ranged against the wall,
like guards before the Vatican. Hen
bricks, with an air that showed his
unfamiliarity with just such field of
operation, gave his hat to the nearest
man and, keeping on his overcoat,
he walked straight into the drawing
room. Lampkin was more deliberate.
He took off his overcoat, gave it and his
silk hat to lackey and came in and
sat down quite as if he were expect
ing to be summoned to the boudoir of
wealthy patient.
Miss Huntington was a few steps in
advance of Mrs. Winfret, as the two
ladies entered through the folding
doors from the rear.
''My aunt feels sorry of her hesita-
ton just now, Mr.. Hendricks" she be-
gan, with genial smile; "but she is
so much given to reading all the SEN
sational news lately that she is con-
stantly expecting some awful calamity
to befall us. She is worried now with
the fear that you may bring bad news.
Her brother Alfred sailed two weeks
ago for Africa, ard we have only heard
from him once"
1T is not concerning him that we de-
sired to speak," said the detective, in
Producing Lampkin with commendable
ease. 81 won't keep you long. have
been informed that you are friends of
Mr.. Weldon Caruthers, and it is about
him that wanted to confer with you.
To come to the point at once, have
reasons for being disturbed about his
rather peculiar absence"
''But he is in Philadelphia, exclaimed
Miss Huntington, in tone which re-
vealed no little relief over his explana-
ton. She seemed to think the detec-
tive was laboring under some mistake
which sh, could easily rectify.
MAY ask how you know that?"
asked Hendricks, automatically.
Miss Huntington hesitated, and then,
receiving the sanction of her aunt's
glance, said:
Il had letter from him only a few
days ago. He had invited Count Ban
tinni, an italian nobleman, my aunt and
myself to use his box at the Horse Show
last night, and had taken the tickets
away by mistake. Oh! Yum sure he
is all right, although his leaving was
quite unexpected. I feel confident he
will explain everything when he re-
turns" ..a- 81
"Are you quite sure that letter was
from him." was the next question OF
the detective. ........
The young lady started and stared at
Hendricks as if debating whether he
could be in his right mind.
II have never dreamt of its not being
from him." she said, firmly. II am
sure I've no reason at all for doubt
ing it,
Mrs. Winfret leaned forward, her an
gular form stiffening as if under some
petrifying process due to the action of
startled state of mind.
81 am not sure of it, now come to
think over the matter" she remarked,
giving CtbSu "Olu q pAA aNS 1AaS
tinct drop. "You remember, Dorothy,
you said you could not forgive him for
debating the letter to a typewriter and
not even signing it,
The young lady flushed at the per-
sonality, but she finally admitted thas
she had not exactly appreciated the
manner in which the letter had been
written, while she still held firm to the
belief that it was genuine.
Nothing could be easier than to
forge typewriter communication"
suggested Hendricks, paving his way
to more startling disclosures. "Have
you the letter." 5@
1T is upstairs" said Dorothy, her
tone betraying growing perturbation,
despite her effort at calmness. "Come
with me, aunt; we will return in a mo-
ment."
When they had quilted the drawing
room, Hendricks resumed his seat, and
looked steadily at the doctor.
II thinkI'll let it out" he said. '.ghe
can bear it. A blind man can see she
isn't in love with the murdered man.
1t is the other. patch in the red cIAzy-
quilt that will turn her cheeks white
and darken those great eyes"
ooh, you refer to Gielow!" c.ied the
doctor.
Hendricks shrugged bis shoulders.
eft will doubtless strike her, as It
will the police, in fact, as it will the
public at large-that he is the one man
in existence who would be likely to want
Caruthers to send in his checks, as it
were, especially as they had row just
prior to the committal of the deed"
1T certainly does look shaky for
Gielow," admitted Lampkin. #a
my one hope" said Hendricks, ''is
that Gielow does not needle-point his
fnger-nails. Few artists have time for
such feminine rubbish .s
"But Gielow is not a regular Bo-
hemian," rejoined Lampkin. HE is
most particular about his dress and is
thoroughly conventional - a strict
church-man and that sort of thing.
His studio is said to be a marvelously
attractive place where, during the sea-
son, he holds afternoon teas and
musicales. It wouldn't surprise me a
bit TO hear that he manicured his nails"
[To BE Continued