Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-02-03

- 80
Bantinni was never seen without them,
that similarity occurred to me. Next
my glance wandered TO his long finger
nails, and their grewsome points, and
Bantinni popped into my head again.
Then what should enter my mind but
that it was Kola himself who had often
used that foreign idiom, contained in
the letter to Miss Huntington. And now
we know that Kolai is a %hypnotist of rare
ability, and so is Bantinni."
An exclamation of wonder escaped
the doctors lips.
do you really think Kola and Ban.
tinni are identical?"
"Oh. no." laughed the detective. "If
l did should act at once. The similari.
ties are there, but they may mean moth
ing at ALL"
At this juncture the door opened, and
Sergt. Deuham entered. His whole
manner was that of a man who had sud-
denly met with great disappointment.
Good morning, Capt. Hendricks"
said he, respectfully, and he made a
careless sign of greeting to DR.. Lamp
kin.
"Oh, it's Capt. Hendricks, eh?" said
the detective, lightly. What has come
over the spirit of your dream, my boy?"
The sergeant sat down awkwardly.
A flush was rising in his cheeks.
II have come to beg for advice" he
said. "As you are not concerned in the
Caruthers affair, ] thought you might
be willing to give me a pointer. You
see, the chief trusted the whole business
to me, and l was SO confident of the re-
liability of certain information 1
had"
I'm the shape of a letter from Gle
low?" broke in Hendricks, smiling
broadly.
"Yes," admitted the sergeant, in as
tonishment How did you know"
"A letter that every known expert
declared was no forgery?"
"Yes."
We'll, go on. lin listening"
For a moment the young officer hung
his head in embarrassment, then he
pulled himself together and concluded:
But IN following the letter up we met
with nothing but failure. Mr.. Hen
bricks, am at theend of my rope, audit
really looks as if l am going to be set
back. Capt. McRae is furious at me-"
"Ah, that would be too badl" said
Hendricks, with a touch of genuine SYM
pathy in his voice. You have the in
gradients of success in your makeup,
and. above all, you have enthusiasm,
which, when IT is well curbed, is the
main thing. Your egotisIn will rub off.
see exactly how the land lies, and ]
want to help you. In fact, l will. ifyou
will join me-"
IN do anything in Gods world you
suggest, Mr.. Hendricks" said the SER
geant. warmly, a hopeful note coming
into his voice.
We'll, just let it be known at head
| quarters that you have become asso-
ciated with me in the case, and together
we will get what we can out of it. l
am no fool, aud / know that for a
young detective to join me will be no
discredit to him. especially il we win"
TT will be the making of me-" said
Denham, beaming all over. Butt can't
| see what can be done"
81 can," answered Hendricks, with a
! glance askance at Lampkin. Sergeant,
I have been hard at work on this case
| since the night the affair was discov-
cred"
You have!"
Eyes, and never got any substantial
clew till You gave it to Inc. That's why
I am willing to help you now"
81 gave it I o you?" said Denhnm, his
brow contracted.
1.-THE cuff with the bloody message on
it," exclaimed Hendricks. 1T was writ
ten by Gielow, and he is now starving,
If he is not deaal, somewhere in confine-
ment. He is in the power of a certain
Count BantiAni--you read it Bantam
WHO was n rival of his for the hand of
Miss Huntington"
Denhnm's establishment was too great
to admit of ex pression.
Hendricks passed a copy of the Her
aid over to him. you see" he said, in
dicating with his finger a place among
the personals. II am trying to find the
man whom you sent away without talk
ing dowa his address. If we knew where
he picked up that cuff we would be on
the road to success"
Denham crossed his legs and folded
his arms awkwardly. Apparently he
had a struggle with his pride
"As far as that is concerned, he said
sheepishly, 81 can help you on that
point. I remember now that my as
s~istant, who talked with the fellow
told me that he said he had picked ur
the cuff on the new road which ha:
been cut by an old colonial house above
Fort Lee. on the Palisades. Icould have
told you then, but | was an ass. l was
so full of my own Importance that
simply lied 10 you"
Hendricks raised his open hand il
the air, all the fingers apart. He was
gazing into Lampkin's astonished eyes
"Five!" he exclaimed. -Kola and
Count Bautinni are one and the same
Gielow is confined somewhere about thu
old house"
The sergeant was more than mysti
fed.
Hendricks sprang up.
EXpialn III all 10 hlm, uoctor, ht
said, pointing to the officer. 81 mus
formulate a plan of immediate action
He stood at the window, his hands
locked behind him, while Lampkin was
explaining the matter TO Denham, ant
just after the doctor had finished, he
whirled into the adjoining room. rout
ing the astonished Office boy from
seat near the telephone.
I'VE must prepare Ko.a for our com