The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-02-21

strongest"
I'VE have vital reasons for believing
Mr.. Caruthers has been foully dealt
with" said Hendricks. He studied their
set faces for an instant and then con-
cluded: "The truth is, he was murdered
In his apartments on the night he was
said to have left"
"Oh!" simultaneously burst from
both ladies, and then dead silence filed
the room. There was no sound without
except the dull rumble of passing
stage.
"Murdered?" came from the lips of
the young lady.
Hendricks nodded.
But L think we had better not go into
the details tonight. The papers will
be full of it in the morning"
But you must-you must have come
to me for purpose" said Miss Hunt
ington, helplessly.
1t was because, if you will pardon
the allusion, seem to see the shadow
OF motive for the murder in the fact
that your uncle had stipulated in his
will that your inheritance from him de-
pended on"
MY marriage to Mr.. Caruthers," in
terrupted the girl. Eyes. that is true"
Also" added the detective, your ac-
curing the fortune without marrying
him was not possible except in the case
of his death"
"Ah, see what you meant" exclaimed
Miss Huntington.
Il have no one in view," quickly re-
sumed Hendricks; but you must know
that such a vast fortune, and the hope
of winning your hand with it, would be
great temptation TO many. You must
have several suitors, and it was with
the hope thatyou might confer with me
about them that l sought you SO quick
ly. Little suggestions from the foun-
tain head, so to speak, often save me
much futile research"
The heiress leaned back in her chair.
white and faint. The delicate, tapering
hand she placed on her brow shook as
if with palsy.
"Oh, aunt" she calculated, and then
she tightly pressed her lips together
and remained mute.
You should not think of those you
really care for" said Hendricks, more
pathetically than Lampkin had i'm
agined possible to his weather-beaten
nature. There must be many-very
many who have hoped to gain your re-
gard"
The suggestion evoked no response
from Miss Huntington. Her features
| seemed under the control of but one
dominant idea, and that idea, whatever
it was, deprived of her normal action.
There can be no harm in telling all
we know" broke in Mrs. Winfret, who
acquired considerable calmness in feel
ing that she might be of service You
know. Dorothy, there have been so very
many"
The young lady seemed still too much
agitated to speak.
Gossip has associated your name
with one of the most worthy young men
in town. said Hendricks, delicately;
land as he is doubtless wholly innocent
OF any connection with the tragedy you
might be doing him service to put me
on to all available clews."
Dorothy's face was like a death mask
in yellow plaster.
Gould they possibly associate him
with t." she questioned.
unfortunately it is said that he had
some sort of difficulty with Mr.. Caruth-
ers only a short while before he was
| reported to have left the city"
The features of the girl shrank to-
gether as if she had been smitten in the
| face. She made no reply. A.
I'VE heard about it," put in Mrs. Win
fret. And did not like it, either. The
| only sensible view to take of the stip-
ula tiou in the will was that Dorothy
| ought to carry out her uncle's wishes,
and Arthur Gielow acted so insanely
| over it. l advised him to go abroad, but
| he wouldn't listen to reason. 1t was an
awfully egotisticaI thing-his quarrel
| ing with Mr.. Caruthers in public
| place"
flush of anger flowed into the white
ness of the girls face.
1T is absurd to speak of that quarre!
at such a moment" she said, with spir-
| it, except from the standpoint of its
prejndicing the ignorant public against
an innocent man."
Il seldom make mistakes" said Hen
| bricks; land assure you that l am
] going to work OH the theory that Gle
| lew is not the man l am looking for"
Miss Huntington leaned forward
eagerly. She almost smiled in her
boundless relief.
Il am so glad to hear you say that, "
she said, softly. He has had SO much
trouble already that to be suspected Of
this would break his heart completely"
"Of all the suitors she has had l have
the least use for that Italian, Count
| Bantinni," declared Mrs. Winfret. Il
cannot bear him in my sight. Nobody
knows how he ever got such foOthOld
in society. He was introduced by Sir
Z IN