Willmar tribune., 1898-11-30

Will that your inheritance from him de-
pended on"
''My marriage to Mr.. Caruthers," in
terrupted the girl. eyes, that is true"
ALSO" added the detective, "your ac-
quiring the fortune without marrying
him was not possible except in the case
of his DEATH
"Ah, see what you mean!" exclaimed
Miss Huntington.
II have no one in view," quickly re-
sumed Hendricks; "but you must know
that such a vast fortune, and the hope
of winning your hand with it, would be
great temptation to many. You must
have several suitors, and it was with
the hope that you might confer with me
about them that sought you so quick
ly. Little suggestions from the foun-
tain head, so to speak, often save me
much futile research.'
The heiress leaned back in her chair,
white and faint. The delicate, tapering
hand she placed on her brow shook as
if with palsy.
"Oh, aunt!" she calculated, and then
she tightly pressed her lips together
and remained mute
"You should not think of those you
really care for" said Hendricks, more
sympathetically than Lampkin had i'm
agined possible to his weather-beaten
nature. "There must be many-very
many who have hoped to gain your re-
gard"
The suggestion evoked no response
from Miss Huntington. Her features
seemed under the control of but one
dominant idea, and that idea, whatever
it was, deprived of her normal action.
There can be no harm in telling all
we know" broke in Mrs. Winfret, who
acquired considerable calmness in feel
ing that she might be of service. You
know, Dorothy, there have been so very
many"
The young lady seemed still too much,
agitated to speak.
Gossip has associated your name
with one of the most worthy young men
in town." said Hendricks, dclicately;
''and as he is doubtless wholly innocent
of any connection with the tragedy you
might be doing him service to put me
on to all available clews.'
Dorothy's face was like death mask
in yellow plaster.
"Could they possibly associate him
with it: >" she questioned.
Unfortunately it is said that he had
some sort of difficulty with Mr.. Caruth-
ers only short while before he was
reported to have left the city,"
The features of the girl shrank to-
gether as if she had been smitten in the
face. She made no reply.
1--WE heard about it, put in Mrs. Win
fret. "And did not like it, either. The
only sensible view to take of the stip-
ulation in the will was that Dorothy
ought to carry out her uncle's wishes,
and Arthur Gielow acted so insanely
over it. I advised him to go abroad, but
he wouldn't listen to reason. 1t was an
awfully egotistical thing quarrel
ing with Mr.. Caruthers in public
place."
A flush of anger flowed into the white
ness of the girls face.
1T is absurd to speak of that quarrel
at such moment" she said, with spir-
it, Except from the standpoint of it's
prejudicing the ignorant public against
an innocent man."
II seldom make mistakes" said Hen
bricks; 'and I assure you that 1 am
going to work on the theory that Gle
low is not the man am looking for.'
Miss Huntington leaned forward
eagerly. She almost smiled in her
boundless relief.
II am so glad to hear you say that"
she said, softly. ''He has had so much
trouble already that to be suspected of
this would break his heart completely"
"Of all the suitors she has had 1 have
the least use for that Italian, Count
Bantinni," declared Mrs. Winfret. II
cannot bear him in my sight. Nobody
knows how he ever got such foothold
in society. He was introduced by Sir
Reginald Tyler, who was the rage here
for a month and went away suddenly
and has never once been heard of since.
Count Bantinni seems to have kept his
place only because of his learning. Peo-
pie seemed to be afraid it would show
ignorance on their part to refuse him
their hospitality"
"Count Bantinni," mused Hendricks;
''know such man, doctor?"
"Only from having seen his name in
society papers," was Lampkin's reply.
HE is absolutely the queerest indi-.
vidual on earth," pursued Mrs. Winfret,
as if glad of an opportunity to express:
her dislike. Dorothy has refused him
three times. We should never have
gone with him last night to the Horse
Show if MI. Caruthers had not ar
ranged the box party before he left.
/ am sure he is a fortune hunter, and
it was with that conviction in my mind
that I told him of the condition in Mr..
Van Courtland's will. He looked per-
fectly bewildered when I mentioned It
and made me give him all the particu-