Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-02-17

opened the paper, signaling to the boy
to leave the room, and began to turn
the leaves with fingers which seemed
too clumsy for use.
Hang it. find it for me!' he said, alb
ruptly.
Iampkin opened the paper at the
place devoted to society news, and put
his finger on a paragraph.
There you are" he said. There's
your man who has been dead a week.
Now what are you frowning about?
One would think Caruthers was a rival
| of yours that you want put out of the
way
Hendricks drew a deep breath, and
handed the letter which had so dis
turbed him to his friend.
"Read it, he said.
What the doctor saw was a sheet of
| crisp blue linen paper, and On it the
following typewriter words:
''Minard Hendricks. Detective. New York
City:
"Astute Sir:
''If you will take the trouble to go to the
Palace Hotel tonight after you receive this.
and will inquire for Mr.. Weldon Caruthers,
you will be told that he Is out of town. but
| If you will insist on going to his apartments
| on the second floor, you will find there his
] remains. He has been murdered and the job
has been done so we'll that the chief actor
| in the game has not the slightest fear of de-
lection, and takes this humble opportunity
| of pitting his wits against yours. now so
| celebrated. You are great detective, Hen
| bricks, and they say you have never failed.
But this, my dear sir. shall be your WIter
loo.'
| Lampkin laid the letter down and
| turned. to Hendricks, who stood at his
| elbow.
at is plainly an idle joke" he said.
"I am astonished at your being dis
! turbed over it,"
''Do I look disturbed?" asked Hen
+! bricks, absent-mindedly and turning to
a large lounge he threw himself on it.
81 am absolutely worn out for one
| thing, and then"
| He paused. It was plain to the doc
tor that the detectives mental excite
ment had crippled his faculty for put
! ting words together.
"Look here" said Lampkin, drawing
| a chair near his friend and sitting
! down. 81 say, what's the matter with
yoE anyway"
Hendricks laughed.
81 may as we'll tell you the whole
| truth and unburthen myself" ne be-
gan. THE fact is, doctor, have never
| in all my experience had but one thing
| to really trouble me, and this letter,
somehow, seems to be connected with
| that particular thing. have never men
| toned it to 4 single soul, except my
| mother, but she never talks of my af-
| fairs, although really believe that hap
pening has added ten years to her age.
| Tomake a long story short, about three
| months ago after Kola-that East In
| dian friend of mine-and l bad been
hard at work all day in my library
| over some papers connected with the
| HiIburn murder case. L sent him off
| and joined my mother at dinner. l
! always sat at the head of the table in
a high backed chair upholstered in soft
| leather something like the material on
this lounge. That night when L sat
| down I heard in the deep seat of the
chair a fixing sound. like rocket get
| ting ready to mount, and sme1t the odor
| of burning powder. With what little
presence of mind the good Lord has
! given me. 1 sprang up and kicked the
chair from me half across the room.
/ 1t lay there and spluttered for'a second
| and then the little cloud of smoke dis
appeared from it.
MY mother almost tainted, and
| had to look after her, but l
| returned to the chair in a few
moments and carefully carried it
| out into the coal house. Lampkin, it
| contained the biggest; most deadly
| bomb you ever saw. 1t was round,
| polished brass ball about three inches
in diameter, of a riake l have never
l seen before. My quick action and the
warning the burning fuse gave me
saved my life. ] carefully drew out the
| upholsterer's brass-headed tacks. and
| saw the contrivance to fire the fuse-a
spring affair to strike match when ]
sat down Doctor. that thing sends
cold shudder up my spine every time
| 1 think of it; and thinls of it too often
for my peace of mind. tell you"
| II should think it would worry you,"
said the doctor. 1T certainly was
narrow escape"
1T showed that bad an enemy"
was the detectives reply. And this
| ANONYMOUS communication after three
months of silence on his part. shows
| he is still alive and-inventive."
] ''Ah, l see. You think that letter
was trick to lure you into a trap by
| some one"
ut has that appearance. The letter
was delayed by my absence from town.
| AS l was expecting every hour to get
back ! did not have my mail for
warded."
"And your absence perhaps saved
| your life again" added Lampkin.
Hendricks nodded, and gave grim
| smile.
That letter was not written by
| fool. doctor. but must not think of it.
| 1 must get to work. Keep your seat.
I'll be through soon."
| Hendricks. as he spoke. rose and went