Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-03-03
CHAPTER u.-CoNr1NUED.

L
81 might be able to give you a pointer
or two suggested the clerk. Il am
a man that generally keeps his eyes and
ears open, and for a small consideration
I might"
Hendricks nodded Understandings.
iii send for you another time, you
may be sure of that, and l always re-
ward people who aid me. but just
now
II thought you might like to know
that Miss Huntington is down in the
ballroom, SIR"
Hendricks smiled, expressed his
thanks for the information and firm
ly closed the door.
persistent rascal" he said. II didn't
want him to hear what you were about
to say. Now, what was 2"
81 started to say that have a sort of
friend, society man, who brings me
all the club gossip worth mentioning,
and I remember that there is consider
able talk going on at present in the
swell set to Gthe effect that this Miss
Huntington, who is prospectively very
rich heiress, has recently been Informed
by her lawyers that her Uncle Jacob
Van CORTLAND, from whom she had eX-
pected to inherit several millions had
just before his death-willed her the
money on The sole condition that she
should marry Caruthers, to whom
old CORTLAND felt in some way
indebted. 1t has caused much COM
ment, for it has been generally
understood that Arthur Gielow, a
painter of some reputation, but
ri, in love
with her, and that she thought lot of
him."
''Ah!" muttered the detective, his
eyes cleaning; "she liked the poor man
best"
at is said" went on DR.. Lampkin,
"that her lawyers informed her of the
condition in the will more promptly
than they intended because her prefer
ence for Gielow was becoming notice
able. In fact, many believe she was on
the point Of becoming his wife,
The lines of Hendricks brows ran to-
gether as if his beard, at which he was
Juggling, were a bunch of pickering
strings.
"And in case of the death of Caruth-
ers?" he questioned.
''The will seemed to be equally ex-
plicit on that point" replied DR.. Lamp
kin. THE fortune was to be turned
over to Miss Huntington at the end OF
two years if she was the wife Of
Caruthers. In the meantime, however
in case of the death of Caruthers she
was to have the money anyway"
Hendricks took a deep involuntary
breath.
by Jovel" he cried, in tone of sup
pressed excitement. This is growing
into magnificent proportions. 1t is in
teresting me doubly, for in case it is the
artist who has committed the crime il
cannot be my arch enemy, and at first
I was inclined to attribute the whole
thing to thai mysterious genius"
Hendricks reflected a moment, his
eyes on the most prominent figure in
the rich carpet, then he added:
WAS there anything in the papers
about the row between the two men p
mo, it was hushed up BY the club
people. It didn't amount to much anC
my informant did not learn all the par
tieulars. The artist and his rival, who
had the reputation of being something
of a cad, and who is said to have beer
badly spoiled by his prospective mar
rage, were conversing in the smoking
room. which they occupied alone. wheI
the servants in the adjoining lunch
room heard their loud voices and wen
IN just as Caruthers was slapping Gle
low in the face and calling him a pre-
sumptuous pauper. Gielow hurled a bot
tie at the head of his antagonist, blu
by ducking Caruthers preserved hi
.countenance. and the walters separated
them before further damage was done.
Hendricks eyes swept over the room
resting on the open vase and the grew
some member lying across its top. tn
large diamond on the ashen finger
sparkling in the rays of the gaslighi