Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-12-04
CHAPTER XVI

Iney IOunu hhipn anu tno Poiiocusoh
In tho small Library In the rear. It was
lighted only by low burning gas jet
which swung over tho center table
Ralph sat ON divan. tho chain Of his
handouts hanging between his knees.
The tall. heavily built policeman leaned
In the doorway.
Ralph laughed ~ Hendricks entered.
''I can't complain at this treatment
Hendricks" he said, "and, rs to the
cab. I'm glad you are not going TO haul
me of in the black maria Asit In open
at both ends, one would be liable TO sit
in draft.
Hendricks smiled. but did not reply.
He turned to the policeman.
go get glass Of beer and wait ON
the stoop." no said.
Ralph began to tumble in the pocket
Of his waistcoat and produced o quarter
Of o dollar.
II say, Hendricks" he said, rising
and tossing the money on the table.
"you won't mind il stand treat, will
your"
"Not at all, 4" was the answer. The
policeman grinned as he picked up the
coin and touched his hat to the young
man. who had resumed his seat ON the
divan. Hendricks sat down and drum
med on the table with his 6ngerA
Lampkin and Kola stood near the door.
IT say, Hendricks. all jokes aside.
said Ralph, ARE you detsctives-yOu
fellows with names that are household
words, as il were-are you ever badly
Mistaken
Seldom when we get along as far
a. have with you, answered the de-
tective. AT any rate, you are an agree
able prisoner. You make it q pleasure
instead Of Q task I Imay say you I'LL
the bill ideally"
The fire Of Raiph's wit seemed TO die
out His face grew seriouA
"Tbere is no use going further with
this" said he Tell me frankly what
evidence you have against me.
Hendricks took cigar case from his
pocket He passed it first to Ralph,
then TO Lampkin and the adept Ralph
was the only one to accept. and he be-
came amused again when he tried to
get = match from his pocket and was
prevented by the handouts.
"You may as well unohain me, I" he
said II promise not to break away. II
would be folly for me to try to down
the man at the door, you three and
your hosts Of hidden demons, who are
the genii Of the masters dark lantern. "
"I don't think shall run any risks, "
said the detective, striking match and
holding IL to the end Of the young mans
cigar "A bird in hand, you know.
10 worth two on the roof. as the Ger
mans put it 7"
Ralph nodded.
1.-THE only thing that puzzles me. /"
he said, lis my arrest It is incongru-
GUS ! am the stone that spoils the
mosaic. I ought not to be in it, but IL
seems that ] am. Hendricks, ! have
had queer sort Of admiration for you
In the past, but have never thought
you could be stupid enough to arrest
the wrong man under any circum-
stances II you don't unchain me before
! explain, you shall cease to be my ideal
detective
II should dislike that" answered
Hendricks, ''but I presume my pride
must suffer-that Ii, II you are the
wrong man"
Ralph puffed two or three times TO
keep his cigar alight Suddenly be bent
his puzzled gaze again ON Hendricka
Tell me exactly why you have Ar
rested me-" he demanded lyon are
woefully Of the track. Honestly. that's
q fact
IAN n" Hendricks shrugged his
shoulders and glanced slyly at Lamp
kin, whose eye be caught II know
that on the night ct the murder you
came In at the side gate and crossed the
gra@ In q bee line for the north walk.
! found your tracks, the only footprints
not explained By others, near the body
Of your father. These tracks ! traced 10
. certain point on the walk. where
"Where the maker Of them vanished
in the air like the nightmare we saw
Just now." put in Ralph. with smile.
$50 IL seemed at first, |" agreed Hen
bricks, ''but the other day Wilson, the|
gardener. recalled the fact that In order
to surprise ths young ladies, who had
expressed a desire to have swing. you|
had yourself late In the afternoon hungI
one from q bough Of . big OAK. TheI
night your father was killed II was|
hanging at the edge of the walk, not|
five feet from the spot where the foot
prints ended. What had become Of the|
swing Wilson could not imagine, but j
form: 1t in the hollow Of tho tree above|
the lower bougha
Hendricks paused. knecksd. The aahss|