Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-01-13
"Did you put TINS sand Gese Jester

walks to kill the crab grass The sand
gets very hard, sir, when it has rained
on it, and it becomes almost the same
as cement.
''What time did you do it,"
about i O. clock, sir. haven't yet
finished the whole walk. The other
end"-
"You used wheelbarrow to bring
the sand from that pile up there and
you scattered it Oh with hoe?"
Eyes, sir, replied the old man won
deringly. "My shovel was carried off
in one Of the carts. Master would not
allow the heavy cart wheels to cut the
turf here, and had to use my barrow. "
"You stood OH the sides and smoothed
the sand with rake?"
Eyes, sir, but didn't know you was
here. p
Hendricks glanced at Lampkin and
smiled. "There's II hang up compliment
for you," he said. Then he pointed to
where the tracks ended so abruptly and
said to Wilson:
Have you been sweeping or raking
in this sand here since the body was
found?''
"Wby, no, sir. haven't been down
here at all. They told us in the kitchen
that the policemen would not allow any
of us to see the master"
"That certainly is very remarkable, I"
broke in Ralph Benton, looking at tho
tracks. Mr. Hendricks, where do you
think the murderer stood when he fired
at my father"
Hendricks seemed not to have heard
the question He was looking toward
the house.
Il see some men coming" he said.
"Ah, it is the chief and the coroner"
He went forward to meet them, and
Lampkin saw him shaking hands with
the men and bowling
1.-THE jury for the inquest are gather
ing" said Ralph to Lampkin. IN 60
to the house and SEQ about where it will
be held. Will you 60 up, doctor?"
mo, thanks" replied LampIin.
III wait for Hendricks see he is
coming. s."
The chief and the coroner stopped to
speak to Ralph, and Hendricks came
back to DR.. Lampkin.
Il have just thought of something"
he said. pointing to the tracks near the
dead man You see, they look as if
they came from the side gate. y
Eyes Then you don't think the
crime was committed by any member
of the household" replied the doctor.
IL cant see what that's got to do
with it," said Hendricks, strokinH his
chin thoughtfully "Ah, I'm glad tho
sun is shining" he said, STOPPING to-
ward the grass and sighting across the
level ground ut the gate which opened
from side street. Mature often lends
me helping hand. There is no artiti-
ciality about her, and she won't be
tempered with. "
II don't follow you, said Lampkin,
mystihed.
ut is the dew again." explained
Hendricks "On the front lawn awhile
ago, before the sun rose, we had only
the frosty appearance to guide us, but
now i'll the sunlight the whole surface
of the grass is IL carpet of green be-
spanglcd with blue. red and yellow dia-
mondS-that is, except path leading
direct from this point to that gate over
there"
Lampkin came to the side Of the de-
tective and sighted over the sward at
the gate.
TOO fine for my eyes," he said.
"Ah, now | see what You mean! BY
Jove, it is wonderfully clearr'
"Thc trouble is that it knocks the
smoothness ont of another theory" re-
marked the detective with frown.
What is that?"
Never mind now. There are too
many real things that demand lmme-
diate attention, replied Hendricks
What shall you do next?" asked tho
doctor
ITO kill time while the jury is get
ting together IN show you that my
dcwdrop theory is correct, was the re-
ply "If you will come with me to
that walk over there, I'll show you
tracks crosSirg the sand i'll direct line
from here to the gate.
Hendricks led the way across the
grass to the walk.
There you are" he said, pointing
to tracks in the sand
and coming this way, too" added
Lampkin.
They do not 80 out again, but are
lost up there in the middle of the other
walk" said the detective. Doctor,
there is nut to crack. 1t is the blamed
est puzzle l ever tackled. The whole
thing is in frightful middle. ! was
never in my life so hampered with CON
tlicting circumstances. One minute l
smell rat as big as n barn, and tho
cyclone from an unexpected direction.
AS he spoke Hendricks crossed the
walk, opened the gate and examined
the ground near the sidewalk. Lamp
kin heard him grunt and crossed over
to him.
"What is it," he asked.
LAS / half guessed" answered Hen
bricks "A hanson was driven up here
last night. see the wheel marks near
the edge of the sidewalk.
"Ah, he came in hanson, thenw
exclaimed the doctor. "That g strange. ="
~ tell you I'm frightfully mixed,
and this complexities matters more than
ever" said Hendricks, pointing up the
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