Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-12

we shant need absolutely all, said
the detective. You can skip the old
ones and the fat ones and the short
ones. In fact, want tall. thin, gaunt
man, and If You could remember walk
ing down Broadway with him awhile
ago, perhaps two months
Alden laughed gently.
II say Brother Elmendorf." said he,
you're ratified, aren't your
Perhaps l am" the detective admit
ted '"rhis new clew absolutely stands
my case on its head. 1t seems to prove
squarely and fairly that everything l
had figured on was not only wrong; 1t
was upside down. However, let us not
be hasty. Let us think about the doc
tors. I'LL take list Of them"
And he produced pencil and paper
for that purpose.
"Now," said he. "we'n begin with
a."
Tall, thin. young doctor, whose
name begins with Az" said Alden.
II don't know any; but. passing to B,
there's Blair"
Elmendorf leaned back against the
wall and put the pencil and paper into
his pockets.
do you mean to tell me that you
knew DIR. A. G. Blair before this case
came up?" he asked in sort of hope
less tone almost laughable.
"Why. certainly" replied Alden. "Id
met him.
You showed no sign of it over at
Mrs. Simmons" said Elmendorf.
Didn't l? Well, the Lord knows
what l did there. Blair certainly bow
ed to me-"
II was watching you," said Elmen-
dorf. However, this slmplifies mat
tiers. You didn't know Blair well?"
"Not intimately. I'd met him several
times, and" he added, with smile,
Il may have walked down Broadway
with him. but don't remember"
ITS only n small matter" said the
detective, with resumption Of his
usual demeanor. II want to ask Blair
a question:; that's ALL"
"I'll 60 over with you," said Alden.
''Wait till have seen Kendall"
He walked toward the Doctors room
and at the first turn of the hall encoun-
tered Brenda.
you were going to see DR.. KendallY'
she asked. "Please wait in his room"
She hurried by him and reached the
spot where Alden and the detective had
stood. just as the latter was upon the
stairs, for 1t had not suited Elmendorfs
purpose to wait for Alden.
81 must speak with you privately ut
once" she said. Come"
There was sort of bay window OPEN
ing from one Of the corridors, and she
led Elmendorf there. They were par
tally shielded from observation and
could speak in guarded tones without
much risk of being overheard.
"Mr. Elmendorf." she said, chow
could you do this thing? have seri-
Gus wish to know"
81 can do anything" he answered.
the picture of shame and woe. There's
absolutely no good in me. What made
you think there was?"
do you remember that you rose
when you saw that l was not seated"
said she, ''in Elsie's room that first ter
rible day? That's not much, but your
manner was fully that of gentleman"
II was trained in a gentleman's home
in Massachusetts" said Elmendorf. $50
was the gentleman's dog, and we both
remained brutes."
You arranged place to listen," said
Brenda, sin that unused room next FL
sizes. The nurse who helped you has
confessed to DR.. Kendall. 1t was she
and not you who overheard the story
told this afternoon"
"She and not I?' echoed Elmendorf
in a voice of the dead. DO you think
ever listened there? Miss Maclane,
there's some limit even to what will
do. No, no; took the chance; that's
all. This nurse, whom seem to have
got into lot Of trouble, as always
get everybody sooner or later-this
nurse listened when her duties would
let her. knew Miss Miller would
some day tell her story to you"
Now that You have heard the story,
what shall you do? asked Brenda.
ut seems evident" replied Elmen-
dorf. that DR.. Blair is the physician
referred to In that story. He has
known her secret from the beginning.
That was why she had him here, to
plead with him. Well, I've no faith in
Blair. He's crooked. or I'm no Judge.
But he seems to have played a fairly
creditable part toward Elsie Miller"
"Dr. Blair!" exclaimed Brenda.
think of his being called to dress her
wound! Think of his standing there
In that room with Neale and ourselves
and keeping his own counsel SO quiet
ly! begin to have an admiration for
him."
well, l wouldn't go 80 far as that"
said Elmendorf. HE has had his self
lsh ends to serve. However. that Is
neither here nor there now. am
going to him and shall make him tell
me who that man Isl
Her husband?"
Eyes"
"Then what will you do7" she
added.
Find him." said Elnendorf, "and
see that he gets what he deserves.
This will afford me many different
kinds of satisfaction. Miss Maclane.
shall have credit for it in the news
papers, and they're the only friends
I've got. My job will be safe for an
other year at least; shall beat Joe
Neale, whom hate deyoutly. and.
lastly, shall get square with the cow
ard who struck down that little girl.
have longed for him ever since I
first saw her. It's poor thing to do
for her. but it's all ever can do. I'm
afraid"
at is no service to her." said Brenda:
"far from it. You will reveal her
secret"
Nothing can save that" he replied.
ut is a mere dream to think 1t can be