Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1899-05-05
TCOnt;nued from last week.


said, putting the severed hand back on
the ashes.
"What is that?"
I'm his effort to cut and wrench this
hand from the joint at the wrist, the
murderer allowed his sharp nails to
oink into the flesh. The marks did not
show at the time, but the process of
decomposition has brought them out
distinctly. Doctor, the fellow who did
1he job manicures his 6nger-nails to
sharp points, as is the vogue among So
ciety men of certain class"
Lampkin made an examination.
"You are certainly right" he said,
returning the hand to the vase.
~Shrewd and cautious as the perpetra-
TOR evidently was that did not occur to
him."
God has never yet made it possible
tor human mind to be full of a hellish
deed and at the same time master de-
tails that will completely overcome de-
tection,'' was Hendricks reply.
"You do not think that the body could
have been reduced to ashes in these
apartments" said Lampkin, tentatively.
Hendricks shook his head, and point
ed to the open fireplace where lay the
ashes Of wood fire.
"No, this is the on]y' fireplace and it
has not been used for fortnight"
Are you sure?" incredulously
"Quite sure. This chimney seems to
come straight down from the roof, aud
raindrops have fallen and left their i'm
prints here. 1t rained two weeks ago
and has been clear ever since.'
Il would never have thought of that. -
1T is my business to think of every
thing"
Lampkins face betrayed the birth of
an important idea.
"SurcIy," he said, 1.-The body could
not easily have been removed for the
purpose Of cremation elsewhere with
out being dismem bered. Perhaps if
you made careful examination you
might find traces of it's having been
cut up"
Thanks for the suggestion" said
Hendricks. Lampkin watched him as
he went into the bathroom and closely
examined the porcelain tub and white
tiled floor.
No. he said, coming back. 81 think
he managed to remove the body in it's
entirety"
you think that" remarked the
doctor, not convinced.
Yes; it would be an easy thing to
do. AS Caruthers was supposed to be
: leaving, 1t would be natural for him to
T. take a trunk, and his luggage going
out would not attract much attention. -
@Good heavens!" exclaimed the doc
tor. in his own trunk"
At<this juncture the door leading into
the corridor swung open and the clerk
who had shown them upstairs entered
suddenly, his eyes alighting on the
severed hand which lay across the
somewhat narrow mouth of the vase.
My Lord!" he exclaimed, his ewes
Dul glng from their sockets, "has-has
ne been murdered, Mr.. Hendricks ?"
An expression of deep annoyance set
TIED on the face of the detective.
Yes,' he said. "But leave US alone
,1or a few minutes, and please don't say
anything about this down in the office
just yet. We would be interrupted by
sight-seers"
Inc clerk thrust his white. Mortified
lace forward and peered into the vase.
surely not-not cremated. Mr.. Hen
dricks!" he gasped.
THAT'S about the size of it," retorted
the detective. He went to the door and
held it open. The clerk took the hint
and backed out of the room
&-<pon't lay it to me if this gets out
sooner than you WISH" he said. "A
member Of the detective force was
down there in citizens clothes and
recognized you when you first came
in. He had heard Of the remarks going
round about Mr.. Caruthers' absence,
and seeing you on hand made him
more curious. He has Mr.. Caruthers'
man down there now, asking him ques-
tons. 1t seems nothing has been seen
of Mr.. Caruthers since he had the row
with Mr.. Arthur Gielow at the club"
Hendricks leaned against the door
facing. ::
"They had row, eh?'
That's the general report, SIR
did you hear what it was about?"
Some dispute over a woman.
think"
'Who was the woman?"
Miss Dorothy Huntington was the
name heard mentioned"
"Ah," broke in Lampkin. coming for
ward. II remember"
But Hendricks was bowling to the
clerk and smiling, as if to denote that
the conversation were at an end.
II might be able to give you pointer
or two" suggested the clerk. Il am
man that generally keeps his eyes and
ears open, and for small consideration
] might" -
Hendricks nodded Understandings.
'Ill send for you another time, you
may be sure of that, and always re-
ward people who aid me. but just
now" Z:
Il thought you might like to know
that Miss Huntington is down in the
ballroom, sir" .s.-:~ 4. -
Hendricks smiled, expressed his