Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1899-04-28
(Cont;nued from last week.
CHAPTER II.

AS the two friends turned into sight
of the twelve-story hotel, they saw in
front of it long line of fashionable
carriages from which were alighting
men and ladies in evening dress.
'Swell blowout" commented Hen
bricks. doctor, we ought to have on
our swallowtails and white neckties."
II have almost given up that sort of
thing" replied the doctor. my prin-
cipal amusement nowadays seems to
be watching you at your work. If that
eastern chap, Kola, hadn't won your
heart so completely, I'd have given up
my own aims and tried to become your
right bower"
''You are that already, old man." re-
burned the detective. "But Kola can't
be depended on. When it suits him he
works with me like a prairie on fire,
but often when I have the most impor-
tant matters on hand find him in his
old rat-hole of a den drugged to his
eyes in the suffocating smoke and odor
of incense, and moving about in his
gray robe and cowl like ha!f-mumm-
fed monk. Ugh! he gives me the all
overs"
"1ou have never told me much about
him." said the doctor. 1.-The time | met
him during your Investigations of the
Benton murder case he interested me
greatly"
Hendricks shook his head.
Il don't go much on what can't be ex-
planned to my full satisfaction, and
can't explain kola. When l ask him
20 turn the light on his queer mode Of
life he grins, shakes his head and SAYS
It would take 20 years of study and
ascetic living in the east to compre-
bend even the rudimentary part Of
his out|andiSh philosophy. didn't tell
him was going to Boston, and he may
feel mffed at me, but he'll get over it,
BY this time they had reached the
>s,de ENTRANCE to the hotel, and they
vent into the crowded office, from
which, in several directions, ran spa
cious corridors, the walls Of which were
adorned with costly paintings and
sculpture. Through an open door they
had glimpse of the white and gold
ballroom. The music of Hungarian
orchestra swelled out from a balcony
overhead, and throngs of men and WON.
en- passed to and fro through the cor
ridors. Hendricks sank into a big
chair near the doorway leading into the
Turkish smoking room, and by down.
ward motion of his hand signified his
desire for Lampkin to sit beside him.
you say you know Caruthers?' he
asked.
VERY slightly"
See if you recognize him In the ball
- ROOM"
Lanpkin studied the thronsg for sew
eral-nainutes, then he went nearer, and
standing behind crowd of men and a
bunch of palms he studiously surveyed
the ballroom. He went back to the
detective.
"See anything of him?" questioned
Hendricks, taking his fixed gaze from
the rug at:his feet.
"No."
Then we must ask for him at the
DESK"
They approached one of the active
clerks behind the counter. Hendricks
drew out visiting card and fingered
ii, his name downward.
I'D like to see Mr.. Weldon Caruth-
ers," he said.
The clerk glanced at the key-rack
behind him and shook his head.
HE hasn't returned yet," he an
swered. He is still out of town"
"Where is he?" asked Hendricks.
IL cannot tell you, Sir" and the clerk
turned to answer question put by
man in evening dress on his right.
II am very anxious to see Mr..
Caruthers to night" resumed Hen
dricks, when he could get the clerks
attention again. 1T is a very impor-
tant matter"
The man in evening dress had over
heard; he paused, interested.
Are you looking for Caruthers?'
he asked.
II am replied Hendricks.
''That's odd," smiled the man. I've
seen a dozen people tonight asking
about him. We were just discussing
his queer conduct and wondering what
.vas The matter with him. He has
!'RDheu several Important engage
p tents without a word of explanation.
Ais valet told my man this afternoon
that his master had been called by
night telegram to Philadelphia and had
written him that he would be detained
there for couple of weeks. I presume
it was some urgent business"
The speaker, lighted a cigar and
moved away to group of men in the
~smoking-room. Hendricks drew the
clerk aside.
II am detective" he said, in low
voice Hendricks is my NAME"
'Niqard Hendricks?" exclaimed the
clerk, in establishment, his tone and
manner suddenly apologetio. II had no
idea"
1T is most important that ] should
have look into Caruthers' apartment"
broke in the detective. "Don't say a
word to anyone, but get pass key, and
show my friend and myself up there
right away"
The clerk nodded, Hurried express
sion on his face. Getting a key, he