The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-26
CHAPTER XVI.

in the small Library in the rear. 1t wa
lighted only by low burning gas je
,, which swung over the center table
Ralph sat on a divan, the chain of hi!
handouts hanging between his knees
The tall, heavily built policeman leaned
in the doorway.
Ralph laughed as Hendricks entered.
II can't complain at this treatment,
Hendricks" he said, land, as to the
cab, I'm glad you are not going to haul
me off in the black maria. AS it is open
at both ends, one would be liable to sit
in draft
Hendricks smiled, but did not reply.
He turned to the policeman.
go get glass of beer and wait ON
the stoop." he said.
Ralph began to tumble in the pocket
of his waistcoat and produced quarter
of dollar.
II say, Hendricks" he said, rising
and tossing the money on the table,
lyon won't mind if stand treat, will
your
| mot at all, was the answer. The
policeman grinned as he picked up the
coin and touched his hat to the young
man. who had resumed his seat on the
divan. Hendricks sat down and drum
med on the table with his fingers.
Lampkin and Kola stood near the door.
Il say, Hendricks, all jokes aside"
said Ralph, "are you detectives-you
fellows with names that are household
words, as it were-are you ever badly
mistaken?'
Seldom when we get along as far
as have with you" answered the de-
tective. "At any rate, you are an agree
able prisoner. You make it pleasure
instead Of a task. may say you fill
the bill IDEALLY
The fire of Ralph's wit seemed to die
out. His face grew serious.
There is no use going further with
this" said he. "Tell me frankly what
evidence you have against me-
Hendricks took cigar case from his
pocket. He passed it first to Ralph,
then to Lampkin and the adept. Ralph !
was the only one to accept, and he be- |
came amused again when he tried to !
get match from his pocket and was
prevented by the handouts.
lyon may as well unchain me-" he
SAID. Il promise not to break away. 1t |
would be folly for me to try to down
the man at the door, you three and
your hosts OF hidden demons, who are
the genii of the masters dark lantern"
Il don't think shall run any risks"
said the detective, striking match and
holding it to the end of the young mans
cigar. "A bird in hand, you know,
is worth two on the roof, as the Ger
mans put it.
Ralph nodded.
The only thing that puzzles me-"
ne said, lis my arrest. 1t is inconpru-
Gus. L am the stone that spoils the
mosaic. l ought not to be in it, but il
seems that l am. Hendricks, I have
had queer sort of admiration for you
In the past. but have never thought
you could be stupid enough to arrest
The wrong man under any circum-
stances. If You don't unchain me before
explain, you shall cease to be my ideal
detective" -.
i should dislike that" answered
''but presume my pride
must suffer-that is, il you are the
wrong man.
Ralph pulled two or three times 10
keep his cigar alight Suddenly he bent
his puzzled gaze again on Hendricks.
Tell me exactly why you have ar
'ested me-, he demanded. "You are
Toefully of the track. Honestly, that's
! fact" ,
Am I?' Hendricks shrugged his
'houiders and glanced slyly at Lamp I
nm, whose eye he caught. IT know
nat on the night of the murder Won
ame in at the side gate and crossed the |
.rass in bee line for the north wall
found your tracks, the only footprints
Tot explained by others, near the body
u your father. These tracks traced to I
certain point on the walk, where 9
Where the maker Of them vanished .
n the air like the nightmare we saw ,
ust now" put In Ralph, with a smile. J
$50 It seemed at frst (" agreed Hen q
tricks, "but the other day Wilson. the }
gardener, recalled the fact that in order I
o surprise the young ladies, who had q
expressed desire to have swing, Won Y
lad yourself late in the afternoon bun0 T
me from bough of a big oak. The b
hight your father was killed IL was e
hanging at the edge of the walk. not d
I've feet from the spot where the foot 4
'rints ended. What had become of the b
wing Wilson could not imagine, but I :
ound 1t in the hollow Of the tree above {
he lower boughs."
Hendricks paused. knocked the asbes
rom his cigar and took two or three
iraws at it, his eyes the while fixed ON b
he young mans face. '" II
Ralph smiled. d
well" he said, "go ahead" +, r,