Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-07-04

had a glimpse of the white and gold
ballroom. The music of q Hungarian
orchestra swelled out from balcony
overhead, and tbrongs of men and wom-
en- passed to and fro through the cor
ridOrs. Hendricks sank into a big
chair near the doorway leading into the
Turkish smoking room, and by down.
ward motion Of his hand signified his
desire for Lampkin to sit beside him.
You say you know Caruthers?" he
asked.
VERY slightly"
"See if you recognize him in the ball
room"
Lampkin studied the throng for sew
eral minutes, then he went nearer, and
standing behind a crowd of men and a
bunch of palms he studously surveyed
the ballroom. He went back to the
detective.
"See anything of him?" questioned
Hendricks, taking his fixed gaze from
the rug at his feet.
"No."
Then we must ask for him at the
desk"
clerks behind the counter. Hendricks
drew out a visiting card and fingered
it, his name downward.
I'D like to see Mr.. Weldon Caruth-
ers," he said.
The clerk glanced at the key-rack
behind him and shook his head.
"He hasn't returned yet" he an
swered. HE is still out of town."
Where is hep" asked Hendricks.
81 cannot tell you, SIR" and the clerk
turned to answer a question put by a
man in evening dress on his right.
Il am very anxious to see Mr..
Caruthers to night" resumed Hen
bricks, when he could get the clerk S
attention again. cit is a very impor-
tant matter"
The man in evening dress had over
heard; he paused, interested.
Are you looking for Caruthers?'
lie asked.
II am" replied Hendricks.
That's odd," smiled the man. 1--WE
seen a dozen people tonight asking
about him. We were just discussing
his queer conduct and wondering what
was the matter with him. He has
broken several important engage
ments without word Of explanation.
His valet told my man this afternoon
that his master had been called by a
night telegram to Philadelphia and had
written him that he would be detained
there for couple of weeks. l presume
it was some urgent business"
The speaker lighted a cigar and
moved away to a group of men in the
smoking-room. Hendricks drew the
clerk aside.
II am a detective" he said, in q low
voice. "Hendricks is my name"
"Minard Hendricks?" exclaimed the
clerk, in establishment, his tone and
manner suddenly apologize. Il had no
idea
1T is most important that ] should
have look into Caruthers' apartment"
broke in the detective. Don't say Il
word to anyone, but get pass key, and
show my friend and myself up there
right away"
The clerk nodded, a furried express
sion on his face. Getting key, he
came from behind the counter and
started towards the elevator.
"Not that way" objected Hendricks,
OBTAINING him. Cant we go up the
rear stairs?"
Sure" said the clerk. cts only one
flight" And he piloted them to the
stairs behind the cloakroom. you'll
find the apartments just as Mr.. Caruth-
ers left them. His valet said that his
master had written him that the room
must not be disturbed by anyone"
Hendricks paused on the stair.
did Mr.. Caruthers not inform his
man that he was going away?" he
asked.
'No; you see Mr.. Caruthers' man is
married and lives on the west side.
lie happened to have a day off and did
not know what had become of his mas
ter till he got the letter."
81 see," remarked Hendricks, and he
started on again.
Reaching the door opening into
Caruthers' apartments, the clerk I'M
locked it and led them in. The first
chamber was a private sitting-room,
the dainty pieces OF French furniture,
draperies and rugs being in perfect
order.
THE gas is burning" observed Hen
bricks, looking up at the cut-glass
globes.
GAS I said, no one has been in the
rooms since Mr.. Caruthers went away"
Not even his valet?" asked the de-
tective.
''It looks so, or surely he would have
extinguished the gas. 1t seems to be
burning in the next room too"
This chamber was large luxurious
bedroom, and as they entered it Lamp
kin's imagination prepared itself for a
horrible spectacle. To his great re-
lief, however, everything here was also
in perfect order. The white lace COW
erlet lay as smoothly as newly fallen
snow, and the sheets and pillows looked
as if they had never been used. The
clerk now with a look Of growing curl