Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-11-27
CHAPTER III.

| CHAPTER II.
That afternoon at 4 O'Clock Dr. Lamp
kin called at the hotel designated BY
Hendricks and was informed BY the
clerk that the detective was in his room
and had left orders for him to como mp
at once.
The room was at the head Of the first
flight of staira Lampkin raped
Come ini'' The doctor started. for
the words seemed 10 como from the
crack beneath the door. Lampkin turned
the knob and pushed The door opened
about Ex inches, struck something
and stopped Il was the head Of the de-
tective, for when Lampkin had looked
through the narrow opening he found
Hendricks ON his hands and knees on
the floor.
"Oh, I beg pardon" he laughed.
rising clumsily. II forgot that ! was
blocking the way. Look outl Don't STEP
IN that thing"
4
asked the doctor. stepping cautiously
over black suit Of clothes which The
detective had carefully stretched on the
door.
"Sh" Hendricks closed the door.
"Old man Benton's." he went on with
Q grin II presume you think ] am
mad. eh,"
Method in IL; I'd bet on that" re-
sur.ed the doctor.
"Don't quote. Be original"
Hendricks sat down ON the side Of a
bed for moment, his chin resting
thoughtfully in bis hand Presently he
rose and drew one Of the sleeves Of the
coat downward An inch or 90
"How's thatg' be asked
"How's what?' asked Lampkin
what are you doing7"
want to get him fixed a. much like
we found him ~ possible. Hard TO do
without stuffing. For little I'd rip up
that mattress and utilize the contents
The more like old Benton II looks the
slicker my brain wheels rcvolve. Ideas
ideas. my friend!"
"wha, do you expect to get out Of
that suiti"
Two fifty at q secondhand store, "
replied the detective He burst into q
little laugh and abruptly relapsed into
intense thoughtfulnesa
II can see that You are deeply inter.
ested." observed Lampkin.
why, old sawbones!"
III You were not, your joke would
not have been so lame.
mot too much interested to enjoy
yours. laughed Hendricks mechanical
ly. "Ha. ha. hn! One on me. He sank
ON his knees. took hold Of the left lapel
Of Benton's coat and examined il
closely.
What are you studying that lapel
90 attentively for," asked the doctor.
Hendricks turned the lapel back and
exposed the underside.
'See that pin;" he asked
"Yes suppose you vii. take IL as
proof Of stinginess and
Nothing Of the kind" broke in the
detective. He rose. opened the back
part Of his watch case and exposed .
tiny shred Of white paper. II found
that under the pin Just now"
"well;" said Lampkin.
1T was there" replied Hendricka
There was a reason for its being there.
but can I make IL ont yet IL is one Of
the half dozen inexplicable things con-
nected with the case. When We know
who shot the owner Of this suit Of
clothes. we'll know what this bit Of pa
per means. "
Lampkin sat down at q table. HAS
anything turned up since I saw your"
Hendricks closed his watch with
snap and sank on the bed.
"You know was hungry when you
left me-" he began We'll. ! went to
the kitchen. The cook. q colored man.
rather talkative by nature. offered 10
give me bite in the dining room, but
I preferred the kitchen. Il is the sink
Of household gossip got him started
by giving him plated ring with a red
glass setting. I now know the house
from to lizard. Old man Benton was
dead against the house party. He hated
Montcastle for some reason or other and
had had a scrap with Ralph nearly ev-
cry night for the last month. Jason con-
firms Jarnagin's story about the quarrel
between MIR. Benton and Allen and says
Allen is u snake In the grass and that
he would not forgive an injury; that
it would rankle, you know, and then
rise and burst. 30 to speak.
"But you haven't particle Of evil
denoe against Allen" said Lampkin
"The fact that he has quarreled with
Mr.. Benton. when the old man was in
the habit Of quarreling with all around
him. would not count for much"
"You are right" agreed the detect
i've, frowning. "but something in the
air seems to promise TO give me clew
before long. The whole case and all
the people in it are buxxing round me
at terrific rate. like swarm Of bees
Do you know how we used to make .
swarm of bees settle, doctor? We raised
frightful racket II these folks don't
look ont, I'll do that. 7"
What do you mean?"
"I'll make an arrest, right or wrong
Somebody in the lay out is keeping back
something. and want 10 know what
il is. Ny progress is blocked. There II
nothing like the pressure Of handcuffs
on the wrists to cure lockjaw. But ]
shall give them little more time. Ja-
son tells me that Mr. Farnhall. Ben
toms lawyer. is greatly disturbed about
some important papers which are miss
ing from the old mans desk. am go
ing to try to help him find them.
CHAPTER XII
Aweek passed. Dr. LAmpkin had not
seen Hendricks since the day following
the discovery OF the crime. Lampkin,
| however. had watched the papers and