Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-01-31
bolted the door.


wonder what she did with her satchel
or bag. She had to take something, and
a trunk was out of the question.
Hendricks opened the door of a closet.
"Ahp' he exclaimed There you
are, doctor. There is bag almost as
large as Montcastle's up on that shelf
by the bandbox. She packed it, then
unpacked it and took the trouble to re-
place it up there. -
Are you sure?' asked the doctor
dead sure
Dr. Lampkin looked incredulous.
II don't quite catch your = he be-
gan.
Hendricks pointed at a white under
skirt and nightdress hanging from one
of the hooks
"Those hings have never been
worn,.' he i'd
"WeIl, at if they haven't?'
1.-The Gre ,es in EN- show that they
have been )lded to fit the bag The
wrinkles indicate that they have been
compressed considerably.
"Ah!"
Don t simply say Abr if you want
to talk, said the detective, initiating
his friends tone. lit sounds like APP
plause from the gallery. It's loud. but
it means nothing"
''I'm doing my BEST was Lamp
kin's rejoinder.
Yesterday Or last night, pursued
Hendricks, ''she took the bag down
from the shelf, wiped it and packed it
There is the. mixture of cobwebs. lint
o,,I I,,Ct nIriE t7
picked up soiled towel and exhibited
it to his companion. Then he reached
up and took the empty bag from the
shelf. ''See how free from dust it is, -
he ran on, with a merry chuckle. IN
bet you a dinner that the bandbox next
to it is covered with dust. %
Cpl go you,' returned Lampl-ln.
Though l know you will win. -
Hendricks sneezed as he drew the
box from the shelf.
"Che-hooi There is enough dust to
fill the eyes of all the detectives in
America, and her ladyship did not util
ize it except as an eye opener. She IS
sharp and cautious, but not enough so
to hide her movements P"
''Do you think she is-concerned III
the murder?' asked Lampkin.
''Never formed a positive opinion SO
early in game in my life, - was the
answer. "If did, I'd follow my opin-
ions nose into trouble. 1t is because l
am continually drowning that | am
able to clutch circumstantial straws
See?''
''Have you found any motive?" ques-
toned the doctor.
motive enough, the Lord knows,
muttered Hendricks, "too much mo-
tive. That's the draw back. Son is heir
to big fortune; daughter ditto; man i'll
love with her or her chances and an
other fellow as mad as blazes at the
dead man for usurping his rights, or
fancied rights, to certain patents and
inventions. -
''You mean that Mr.. Brooks Allen?'
said Lampkin. II heard the chief OF
police talking about his intimacy with
old Mr.. Benton when l went out to
him up?"
mot till have cleared this rubbish
away" returned the detective, with
perplexed frown. He looked again at
the bed in the room. II wish | really
knew if Miss Benton slept III her led.
1t has a cold, unused appearance Ii
she did not, she has tum bIed it artistic.
ally
The door latch ratified, and voices
were heard outside in the hall.
Hendricks bit his lip and made boy
ish grimace of mock alarm. Then he
quickly glided to the closet. closed the
door and turned the key.
II declare" sounded Miss Benton 5
voice. II believe some one has bolted
my door on the inside.
perhaps 1T may be the detective, .
Eaid Miss Hastings. He told me he
was going to look around the house. .
''In my room? How dare-the i'm
pertinence! won't stand''-
"ShP' interrupted Miss Hastings
''They can hear you.
81 don't care if they do. What
right
Hendricks stepped to the door, wink
ing over his shoulder at his com panion
"The devil is to pay now. he said
"Help me out Of it.
Hendricks gave the knob warning
rattle and then slid back the bolt.
"AhI' he said in a tone of well
feigned surprise. 81 hope-I sincerely
hope we haven't got into any private
quarters. I was anxious to confer with
my friend over little matter, and you
know, Miss Benton, men never can
keep from laundering. Your room, is it
not Miss Hastings?'
cts mine, % replied Miss Benton,
getting her breath excitedly. She
glanced uneasily at the door of the
closet. You are entirely welcome.
You are. Of course, welcome to the use
of the whole house. I was-was only
surprised to find my door bolted, and
this affair has unstrung me so that l
l.. L.. N<,.,