Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-11-11

4 may state tnat the ponce are already
on the track of the murderer. and that
important arrests are momentarily ex-
pected?"
State what you please You will
anyway the inspector returned. with
slight frown. mo. / didn't come to
answer questions, as you say. l came
to ask them"
Better than nothing. What are
they?"
In the first place. did you know
North %
Just to the same extent that I
know hundreds Of men. / have seen
him, talked with him-you know how
and where"
In the line Of your work, you
mean?"
Exactly"
Then. as 20 his family?"
They tell me he has two daughters;
both beauties. never saw them.
however. His wife. I believe. is dead. q"
How did he stand in financial cir
cles?"
Thomas uttered a contemptuous
laugh.
North & stackhouse? Ask any
broker"
"Bad2"
Better put it that they showed too
much enterprise TO please conservative
business men. That's the most chart
table construction can put on t."
Humphl You have not a very high
| opinion of North & Stackhouse?"
Thomas shrugged his shoulders.
ss.rT
who handle millions can never come
down 70 the level OF common thieves. %
They must be- then, enormously
rich?'
"On the contrary. they are regarded
as extremely shaky"
'So2 And what have they done with
these millons?"
Got caught in their own trap An
unexpected twist in the market burnt
their hands OF. Oh it's all the same
| in stocks. You can think yourself ever
so clever-but I'm talking too much.
| inspector. ! am saying things on my
mere surmises that no newspaper
would dare TO print Stiu. YOU wanted
my opinion. ami you have 10. II would
| be Of no use. | suppose. 20 ask yours
| in return2"
Thomas gave Applebee a keen look.
under ,Le influence OF which the in
| spector momeutarily closed his eyes.
as If afraid that the reporter might
surprise his thoughts there.
some clients OF North a. Stack
| house have no very pleasant feelings
| towards them, ] presume. on account
| or this Nicaragua scheme?" he adroit-
ly queried. as II 60 change the sub
| jet. 10 was adroit for that reason.
| While appearing TO avoid a direct an
swer, ne was. in reality. putting the
very question which he desired TO have
! answered.
Did the reporter suspect? There
was not the faintest indication. either
in his manner or Ia his quiet reply.
that he did
Some of the poor fools who invest
ed their money in that scheme would
very likely hold the arsn morally re-
! sponsible for running them"
All" said the inspector. as he
turned away. 81 suppose SO. But I'm
! forgetting my case in listening TO
you"
The fact was. Inspector Applebee was
! endeavorinE 10 establish some connec-
tion between the anonymous threaten
ing letter which ten days before. had
been placed I'm his hands by the late
Paul North. and This violent death.
But. In that case" he thought
why has not the money been called
Tor at the post Office? is 10 possible
that the writer OF that letter was in
a position TO know that the matter
had been placed in my hands? / must
move cautiously in this affair or ruin
IL at the outset"
Not long after Mr.. Thomas depar-
ture most OF Applebee's associates left
the house, the medical examiner going
first OF all.
Paul Norths body had been taken
away In the undertaker's wagon. but
the inspector and one officer stiu re-
manned on the premises.
Quite by accident. as he was coming
down the staircase which connected
the library floor with the story above.
after a prowl through the darkened
rooms in the upper part OF the house.
the inspectors eye caught the CLEAN
OF something white.
He picked IL up.
IL was tiny lace handkerchief. such
as a dainty woman often carries. but a