Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-06-27

months OF silence on MS part SHOWS
be is still alive and-inventive."
"Ah, | see. You think that letter
was a trick to lure you into trap by
some one"
''It has that appearance. The letter
was delayed by my absence from town.
AS I was expecting every hour to get
back I did not have my mail for
warded''
''And your absence perhaps saved
your life again." added LampLin.
Hendricks nodded, and gave grim
smile.
'That letter was not written by
fool, doctor, but must not think of it.
l must get to work. Keep your seat.
I'll be through soon"
Hendricks, as he spoke, rose and went
to his desk again. Lampkin smiled in
admiration when he saw his friends
face clear as he plunged into his cor
respondence. Presently, however, he
caught Hendricks glance as it roved 40
sently round the room.
Come, come" chided the doctor,
you are thinking of that letter and the
bomb again
mot that exactly" the detective
said; ''but all at once it has occurred
to me that | haven't given my anony-
nous correspondent a fair showing.
He says Caruthers has been murdered
and we haven't really a bit of actual
proof that he is lying"
but" cried Lampkin, demonstrating
~, 1.-THE letter was written week ago,
and to-days paper says he was at the
Horse Show last night"
Papers are not infallible," said
Hendricks, tapping his call bell. ''Some-
thing in the general tone of this COM
munication makes me think that the
writer really meant to furnish me with
a grewsome exhibition in Caruthers'
apartments. My invitation comes late,
but am going to accept"
The office boy came in.
Bring me to-day's Herald, quick!''
Hendricks commanded with quite "a
change Of tone.
This time, as the detective took the
paper and began to open it, all his GUS
tomary calmness and deliberate
shrewdness seemed to settle on him.
For a moment his penetrating gaze
rested on the "Notes of the Horse
Show" Then he grunted ignifeantly
as he took up pencil and drew circle
around a short paragraph.
"There!" he calculated. ''You see
this paper says Caruthers did not oc-
cupy his box last night; that, as he was
out of town, the box was courteously
extended to Count Bantinni and his
party-NIiss Huntington, her aunt, and
other ladies'
Lampllin rose, an incredulous express
sion Oh his face, and leaned over the
paper. He started to speak, but Hen
bricks had suddenly dropped his hand
on the call-bell with considerable
force.
what is it, sir?" asked the boy. from
the portals Of the door leading into the
ante-room.
''To-day's Sum-" said the detective,
giving his friend strange look.
When the boy had brought the pa
per Hendricks looked over the Horse
Show news most deliberately.
"No mention of Caruthers here what
ever" he said, finally. Doctor, what
time is it ?"
eleven O'clock" said the doctor.
"Do you want me to leave?''
The detective reached for his over
coat
Come walk over to the Palace hotel
with me-"
"Are you going TO make inquiries
there?''
Il shall at least find out if Caruthers
has returned" rejoined Hendricks, re-
fectively, just touch Of evasion in his
tone. "You see, he may have an enemy
who really intended to harm him in
some way, a week ago, and in such a
matter C man ought to be put on his
guard"
"Of course" answered Lamplkin.
'You are quite right"
The detective thrust his hand into his
pocket for his gloves and drew them
out in a disreputable wad.
''Pd like to ascertain, too, if this let
ter was written by my avowed enemy.
You see, I'd go a good many lengths to
get even the faintest. clew to his iden-
titv"