Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-03-31
The detectsxe.put the letter in its en-

S The detectzss,put the letter in its en-
velope.
81 have seen nothing in this letter to
indica tie insanity on the part of Gielow,"
hs said, after moments pause
You don't? Well, it is not at all
such letter as he would have written
if himself, besides you have only to hear
Henri describe how he acted when he
confessed to the murder to know that
he was insane that night"
Hendricks smiled.
81 was behind a screen in the studio
when you and your aunt came in that
night. 1 heard Henri's description"
Miss Huntington shrank back, white
and startled.
"You were?" she gasped, and then,
while Hendricks was nodding with the
slow movement of toy donkey's head.
she added: "And-and you still see no
proof of-of Insanity"
81 must say that do not" was the
deliberate reply.
The girl sat motionless. It was as if
he had deprived her of her last hope.
Her great eyes seemed to expand. Then
she raised her gloved hands half way to
her eyes and held them there as she
said:
"You must believe him out of his
Inindi Look at the address on that en-
velope. He has dire cted it to me at the
general delivery, Charleston, S. c. He
knew 1 was not there. Surely you
see
81 noticed that" remarked Hendricks
when he saw she was going no further.
'And 1 also saw that the envelope bore
the postmark of a railway-the Atlantic
Coast line. The letter was mailed on
the train. You see that road runs from
New York to Charleston, and, from this
postmark, it would be difficult to prove
whether letter were mailed on the
train of that road near New York, or
rear Charleston"
IT can't possibly see what you mean"
said the heiress, helplessly.
IF the letter is forgery" explained
Hendricks, 'the writer of it would de-
sire two things strongly. First. he
would want it to bear the Charleston
| Eostmark to guarantee the belief that
it came from that place; and, second.
| he would want you to getit Now. how
| would a man without confederate in
| Charleston succeed in gaining his point:
| If this letter is forged, the writer of it
| is an experienced villain, for he knows
| that the government prevents its post
| masters mailing letters sent to them for
| that purpose. 1t was found to be ar
| avenue for much secret rascality, so a
| law was passed prohibiting it. Well.
| we will grant, for the sake of argument.
that this forger knew that, so what did
| he do but direct this letter to you at
| Charleston and then drop note to the
| Charleston postmaster requesting him
| in your name to forward your mail to
| your street and number. I am conf
| dent there is something shady about it.
| for, as you can see from the postmark
nearly two days elapsed before ii
| reached Charleston, as is shown by the
| postmark of that office. So you will
sec that / have good reasons for believ-
| ing the letter was mailed near New
York.
| "You must pardon me-" said Miss
| Huntington, the languid largeness OF
| Ier eyes accentuating her despair: "but
| rs cannot believe it is not Mr.. Gielow's
| writing I am unable to enter into your
deductions"
| She had risen, and Hendricks held Out
his hand.
eff you will post me the specimen OF
his handwriting at once, I'll promise
to tell you something more definite as
| soon as see Prof. Westcott the hand
| writing expert"
81 will send it to your office at once
she replied, despondently.
| Hendricks went to the window anG
| watched her as she descended the steps.
| He fancied she had left abruptly to keep
from showing her emotion. AS she was
| crossing the pavement she swayed &c
one side and he thought she would fall.
but she regained herself. stepped firm
! ly into her carriage and was driven
| hcmeward.
| Poor girl" ne muttered. when ]
| agreed to take the case she was almost
! happy, but now she has lost heart en-
| tirely, II I had told the poor little
| woman what I half suspect she would
not sleep wink tonight
! fro BE Continued
L