Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1899-06-23

might by making me play the fool. 1t
was this way. They called me into the
going to try a harmless experiment on
me, and that must pay close attention
to the count, and let nothing take my
thoughts away. Then the count held
up something bright before my eyes
and kept shifting it about until all at
once l fell asleep, or something hap
pened, for I never knew thing till l
found myself lying in the corner and
the count was telling me to wake up"
"Hypnotism!" Involuntary escaped
the lips of the detective.
That is it, sir; was trying to think
what they called it,
Hendricks stood up quickly.
lido you know of his ever having tried
1t on Your master?''
Not to my knowledge, sir"
Hendricks went to table, and tear
ang a leaf from a notebook he wrote
something hurriedly. When he had
finished it he folded it and gave it to
Henri.
''Take this to the Herald advertising
Office" he said. 1T is very important.
See that it is inserted in the Personals
in the morning paper. Be sure to have
1t DONE"
II shall not fail, sir"
Henri reached for his hat and over
coat. Il
"Just a minute said Hendricks,
thoughtfully. There is one other
minor point. Your master seemed to be
rather sensible about his dress. pre-
sumo he wasn't one of those fellows
who let their fingernails grow long and
have them manicured to points,"
"Not him" answered Henri. II heard
him making sport Of the count for that
very thing"
Hendricks glanced indifferently out
OF the window.
''Was the count-did he wear his
nails that way?"
Ills fingers was almost repulsive, sir.
You may have noticed that he is almost
as dark as m,ilatto and with them
long, hooked nails he was anything but
a pleasant sight. I have never under
stood, as I said, how master could"
''If you cannot leave the studio" in
terrupted the detective, II will take
that to the office myself" indicating
the scrap Of paper.
"Oh, | can go, sir. We often leave
the studio open, and if it is the same to
you I'd like to feel that had my hand
in the Investigations
''As you like, Henri"
Hendricks turned into the reception
room where Lampkin and the heiress
sat exchanging desuitory remarks. The
doctor noticed a strange fixity in the de-
tective's eyes and wondered what was
coming as Hendricks advanced slowly
and stood before Miss Huntington.
You are a very courageous young
woman" he said. IL have been de-
liberating whether l could reveal some
thing to you of rather an unpleasant
nature"
Miss Huntington stared steadily and
folded her gloved hands tightly in her
lap.
Il think, no matter what it is, that
you had better tell me- she said. Il
shall! try to bear it."
Hendricks drew up chair and sat
down He glanced towards the doctor
as ii 'or help, but evidently gave up any
idea nt relief from that dignified quar-
ter.
MATTERS have reached very grave
stage" he said, hopping his perspiring
brow. 'Perhaps l ought to begin by
saying that Mr.. Gielow is innocent OF
even the slightest participation in the
murder, for that must be a comforting
thou",it."
Miss Huntington leaned towards him
like some stiff inanimate object.
'He-he is dead?" she said, under her
breath.
4'No, not quite so bad as that" Hen
bricks raised his hand as if his gesture
would correct her surmise. ''But have
reasons for believing that he is in a
very, very critical position. The fact
is, that he succeeded in getting writ
ten message to the police to the effect
that he is confined in some place un-
known to himself by Count Bantinni,
and that he is starving to death. 1t is
clear to me now that, Bantinni is, the
murderer; that, through hypnotic
power, he has made Mr.. Gielow confess
to the murder both to Henri, in person
.f'ii ~ III. t.,E%}"E