Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-08-18

approached the )esll, which was near
great iron safe by a window, WILDLY
started to draw the letter-Gie from a
pile of books and papers on shclfover-
head, but the detective called out:
Hold on! Don't touch i'll" and he
brought chair and placed it under the
shelf Then he went to the window,
raised the shade as high as itwould so,
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 pictureW heejacu-
lated. He's nobody's fool .
Whats the matter?" asked WHidby.
1--WE shan't find the letter, after ali. -
Hendricks lifted the file and stepped
down to the floor.
why, you haven't looked" protested
Miss Delmar
Eyes, l 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
bricks opened the box-lille file and be.
gan to turn over the papers fastened in
by sharp-pointed steel prongs. "Ah!
l see they are arranged according to
date of arrival. You think, Mr. WILDLY,
that the letter you remember noticing
came about a 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?" asked WILDLY.
"IIe 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 a 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-fle to tbs
window, he laid it on the end of thu
desk, and, keeping it open at the place
where the letter had been distracted, he
examined it closely.
Miss Delmar drew nearer her lover.
81 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 h,
stealthily pressed her hand, his eyes OF
the broad back of the detective,
81 think there is a great DEAL" saiC
the girl "Oh, l should simply be de
lighted to be able to show papa that yol
are innocent, after all! lie would neve
object then, you know, for you would
be your uncle's legal heir, and wortl
more money than | could ever expec
from papa. If only"
"By Jovel" Hendricks startled ell
clamatioh drew their eyes to him. III
was holding the file close to his face
and examining letter with his lens.
what is it?" asked WILDLY.
''B-l-o-o-d!" said Hendricks, playfully
in a 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.
81 find traces of blood on each of IT,
two letters between which the MISSING
one lay. So far, so good Now, there ;
but one cour-a of action, and if tina
fails | shall be at sea; so, Mr.. WILDLY
keep your wits about you. The lette
taken from this file must have been o
such a nature that it would associate
the writer of it with the crime. Tha
means good deal. 1t is quite Iikel,
that the murderer witnessed your un
cle's reception of the letter and saw hiT
file it away; otherwise he could no
have gone to it so readily Now, wha
we have to do is to find the envelope yo
say your uncle threw into the waste
paper basket"
Impossible" said WILDLY.
"Why?"
Matthews has been looking after TIL
rooms since the maid went off, and Il
takes out the waste paper as soon as
accumulates. II must have becl
thrown away several weeks ago"
Where does he throw such things
81 don't know"
Call him"
WILDLY rang, and in a minute Mat
thews came up from the basement.
lTo BE Continued
Ambiguous.