The Delta independent., 1898-02-18

that Mr.. Stanwood?''
II believe not, F" replied Ralph.
"No one has been near him since We
came, SIR" said the policeman. draw.
ing near. 1--WE had orders''-
81 know" interrupted the detective
.mpatiently. "Mr. Benton. which do
you think are Mr.. Stanwood's trackss"
III really don't KNOW" replied
1alph-
1.-TWO men have been near him. +" said
Hendricks. 1--WE must first find which
racks wsre made BY Mr.. 3tanwood.
Send for him, please"
Ralph nodded to the policeman. who
hastened to the house. Hendricks
stepped carefully from the grass to the
body. He stopped, picked mp something
20 minute that the others could not tell
what it was and put it into she pocket
Of his waistcoat.
"What did you fnd?" ASKED Ralph.
Without noticing the question Hem
bricks bent down and began to examine
the bullet hole in the forehead Of the
dead man.
"Did your father smoker" The de-
tective looked straight at the young
man.
"No," replied Ralph. "never to my
knowledge"
At that moment Stanwood came hur-
riedly across the grass
Ibid you want to see me, sir!' he
asked.
Hendricks stood MP straight.
"I'm sorry to disturb you," he said.
"but / wanted to ask from which di-
rection you approached the body when
you discovered the murder"
1--WE were all over in the center
walk" answered Stanwood. ~ came
in to the right Of him-just there. /
think, near his left arm"
"Yes, I see your tracks," said Hen
bricks. "But you did not have ON those
boots?''
mo; hastily put on my slippers.
had little time to dress after Miss Has
tings raped on my door"
"Ah. she gave the alarm"' said Hen
bricks.
Miss Hastings is . guest Of my sis-
ter" explained Ralph. "a young lady
from Boston"
I1tuuIlCkS uOuucu ItutCtlNelys
Ibid you have light when you
found the body. Mr.. Stanwood?"
"No, sir"
"You struck match to look at him."
''No, I did not"
81 see the murderer's tracks," said
Hendricks quickly, a. II to divert their
attention from his last question. "He
did not wear broad heeled slippers. but
boots Of . rather stylish appearance.
As Hendricks spoke be glanced round
at their faces, and Dr.. Lampkin fancied
his eyes dwelt longer en- Ralph Benton's
than on that Of any one else.
Ralph's eyes wero downcast.
could the murderer have been 20
close a. that?" he asked. ''It seems to
me that my father Ralph did not
finish his sentence. The detective looked
at him inquiringly as IL to encourage
him to proceed and then turned his At
tention to the tracks. Stepping back to
the grass, he went along the edge Of the
walk In the direction Of the houss ioR
about So feet, then stopped. crossed tho
walk and began to search through .
bed Of high grass. They saw him stoop
and pick up something. 1t was re-
volvef.
Here's tho weapon" he said indif-
ferently. "SS caliber.''
Benton was tho nrst TO approach. He
extended bis hand for tho weapon.
II beg your pardon, said Hendricks
politely. He stepped backward. hold
ing the revolver very carefully by the
tip Of the barrel. "You see, doctor" he
went on, turning to Lampkin, this
thing also has q damp and dry side. I"
II see." replied tho doctor. looking
at the revolver without touching it.
Its poor rule that won't work two
ways, you see" said the detective, with
q smile. He took q white silk handker-
chief from his pocket and wrapped tho
weapon in 1t. ''Can't be too careful in
handling . thing like this after mur-
der" he continued. There Is no tell
ing what single spot or scratch might
unfold"
He remained standing on the edge Of
the walk for several minutes without
speaking. his eyes first ON the footprint
and then ON the grass where he had
found the revolver. Ralph Benton and
Stanwood had moved down toward tho
body, leaving Hendricks and the doctor
together.
"what in it," whispered Lampkin.
81 can't mako head or tail Of H."
said tho detective, frowninR. "snd
sometimes when I get stumped this way
I become 70 nervous ! can't advances an
c.a w.
.sisgANl l1iN, Ts'sS
i;&.EHS ~ A