The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-04-22

pile of books and papers on a shelf over
head, but the detective called out:
Hold on! Don't touch it," and he
brought a chair and placed it under the
shelf. Then he went to the window,
raised the shade as high as it would go,
and let in the sunlight; after which he
stepped upon the chair, and, with a
hand on each end of the shelf, looked
carefully at the books and papers on
which the file rested.
"Ah, blast his ugly picture!" he ejacu-
lated. Hes nobody's fool"
What's the matter?" asked WILDLY
I'VE shan't find the letter, after ALL
Hendricks lifted the file and stepped
down to the floor.
why, you haven't looked protested
Miss Delmar.
"Yes, have" said the detective, in a
disappointed tone. "Those books and
papers up there are thiclly covered
with dust, but the file is comparatively
free from it,
''Ah!" said Miss Delmar ''Some one
has been handling it,
Exactly; and quite recently" Hen
gan to turn over the papers fastened in
by sharp-pointed steel prongs. "Ah!
1 see they are arranged according to
date of arrival. You think, Mr.. WILDLY,
that the letter you remember noticing
came about month ago. Well, we must
turn to about the Goth of June. All!
here is the spot; and, by Jove! our
friend was in hurry-not so very eau,
tious, after ALL"
what is it 2" asked WILDLY.
Gle has torn letter out at this place.
And it was blue one, too, for he has
left tiny fragment of it on the prongs."
Hendricks held minute piece of paper
towards WILDLY. "Does that look like
the paper on which that particular let
ter was written?"
81 think so.''
Hendricks nodded, and put the torn
piece into the back part of his watch
case. Then, taking the letter-file to the
window, he laid it on the end of the
desk, and, keeping it open at the place
where the letter had been distracted, he
examined it closely.
Miss Delmar drew nearer her lover.
Il do hope he will find the criminal.
1t would make me happier than any
thing in the world" she whispered.
81 don't think there is much hope,''
replied WILDLY, in a low tone, as he
stealthily pressed her hand, his eyes on
the broad back of the detective.
81 think there is great DEAL" said
the girl. "Oh, should simply be de-
lighted to be able to show papa that you
are innocent, after all! He would never
object then, you know, for you would
be your uncle's legal heir, and worth
More money than I could ever expect
from papa. If only"
''By Jove!" Hendricks startled ex-
clamation drew their eyes to him. He
was holding the file close to his face
and examining letter with his lens.
''What is it?" asked WILDLY.
tB-l-o-o-d!" said Hendricks, playfully,
in deep, gurgling tone. THE fellow
extracted that letter within two min
utes after he cut Strong's throat
''How do you know" asked Miss Del
mar.
II find traces of blood on each of the
two letters between which the missing
one lay. So far, SO good! Now, there is
but one course of action, and if that
fails l shall be at sea; so, Mr.. WILDLY,
keep your wits about you. The letter
taken from this file must have been of
such nature that it would associate
the writer of it with the crime That
means good deal. 1t is quite likely
that the murderer witnessed your I'M
cle's reception of the letter and saw him
file it away; otherwise he could not
have gone to it so readily. Now, what
we have to do is to find the envelope you
say your uncle threw into the waste
paper basket
impossible" said WILDLY
'Why?''
Matthews has been looking after the
rooms since the maid went off, and he
takes out the waste paper as soon as it
accumulates. 1t must have been
thrown away several weeks ago."
Where does he throw such things? ?"
II don't know"
Call him.
WILDLY rang, and in a minute Mat.
thews came up from the basement.
tro BE Continued
Ambiguous.
A noted evangelist is fond of telling