Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-10-30

turned the detective, and then his
glance fell on Ralph's right hand. II
see YOU have knocked the skin Oft your
hand" he said, taking IL in his own
and looking ut it closely. lyon ought
10 be careful with ii. have known lit
tie things like that to give mon lot OF
trouble"
II bruised IL on the bar in the gym
nasium at the club" said the young
man, quickly withdrawing his hand.
"Do you mean to say-how could 1t
give me troublog"
inflammation and n thousand and
one microbes, said Hendricks, turning
toward the north walk. Rub little
vaseline ON it.
Lampkin saw Ralph draw deep.
free breath and his face brighten.
Thanks" he said. 81 am Us tough as
an OF. I'll go down with you, II you
have no objection. The police gave or
ders 20 keep every one away till you
had seen the body.
"Come ON. perfectly welcome" said
| hendricks cordially.
The walk upon which the murdered
| man lay had recently been covered with
| fresh sand like the drive in front OF the
house. He lay on his back face upward.
shot through the forehead
"Stopw cried Hendricks 10 Benton
and the doctor ~ they were about to
step on to the walk. Keep to the grass
want TO preserve the tracks there in
the sand. Mr.. Benton. has no one been
near him since he was killed except
that Mr.. Stanwood?"
81 believe not, :" replied Ralph
"No one has been near him since we
came, sir. said the policeman. draw
ing near. "we had orders
II know" interrupted the detective
impatiently. mr.. Benton. which dc
you think are Mr.. Stanwood's tracks,
IL really don't know" replied
Ralph
1.-TWO men have been near him. said
Hendricks 1--WE must first find which
tracks were made by Mr.. Stanwood
Send for him. please.
Ralph nodded to the policeman. who
FASTENED to the house. Hendricks
stepped carefully from the grass to the
body. He stopped, picked mp something
90 minute that the sthers could not tell
what IL was and put il into the pocket
Of his waistcoat
"what did you fndi" asked Ralph.
Without noticing the question Hen.
dricks bent down and began to examine
the bullet hole in the forehead Of the
dead man.
"Did your father smoker" The de-
tective looked straight at the young
man.
NO." replied Ralph. never to my
knowledge"
At that moment Stanwood came hur-
riedly across the grass
Ibid you want to see me, sir?" he
asked.
Hendricks stood up straight.
"I'm sorry to distu rb you," he said,
"but wanted to ask from which di'
rection you approached the body when
you discovered the mnrder.
1--WE were all over in the center
walk" answered Stunwood. II came
in to the right Of him-just there.
think. near his left arm"
"Yes. / see your tracks" said Hen
bricks But you did not have ON those
bootsg'
"No: hastily put OH my slippers.
had little time to dress after Miss Has
tings raped on my door.
"Ah, she gave the alarmp - said Hen
bricks.
Miss Hastings is n guest Of my sis
ter, !" explained Ralph. "a young lady
from Boston.
Hendricks nodded ref1ectively.
"Did You have light when you
found the body. Mr.. Stanwood!"
mo, sir. 2"
"You struck a match to look ut hims'
"No. / did not"
''I see the murderer's tracks, said
Hendricks quickly, as II TO divert their
attention from his last question He
did not wear broad heeled slippers. but
boots Of rather stylish appearance. "
As Hendricks spoke he glanced round
at their faces, and Dr.. Lampkin fancied
his eyes dwelt longer on Ralph Benton'i
than ON that Of any one else.
Ralph's eyes were downcast.
Gould the murderer have been &C
close as THAR" he asked. 1T seems &c
me that my father Ralph did moi
finish his sentence. The detective looked
at him inquiringly a. II to encourage
him to proceed and then turned his at.
tention to the tracks. Stepping back te
the grass, he went along the edge Of the
walk in the direction Of the house fol
about S5 feet. then stopped. crossed the
walk and began to search through o
bed Of high grass They saw him stooI
and pick up something. It was q re
volver
Here's the weapon. he said indif'
ferently. "3S caliber."
Benton was the first to approach. HI
extended his hand for the weapon.
~ beg your pardon. said Hendricks
politely He stepped backward, hold
ing the revolver very carefully by the
tip Of the barrel "You see, doctor. ht
went on, turning to Lampkin, "thi.
thing also has damp and dry side. >
81 see. replied the doctor. looking
at the revolver without touching 1t.
"It's poor rule that won't work two
ways you see, )" said the detective. witt
a smile. He took q white silk handker