Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-11-25

HE HASTILY TRANSFERRED THE
CONTENTS OF THE WASTE BASKET
TO HIS HAT
breath. set his teeth. and seemed to be
waiting
Bless me-" thought the inspector.
HE expects IL too"
We'll. Stackhouse." he said with a
reassuring smile: lis there anything
new in the case?"
Stackhouse sighed and shook his head
YEARLY. His dry lips murmured:
Nothing"
He evidently understood that there
was stul a respite. bat it did not seem To-
comfort him. His eve suddenly fen upon
the paper or which ne had been recently
writing. ne fur-ively seized fl in his
hand and crump'ed &C.
The inspo -tor. who observed this. i'm
mediateiy bo-an 90 appear Indifferent
20 Stackhouse's actions. and. pretend
ing 70 turn toward Jolson. stated his
purpose IN calling.
Stackhouso. falling into the trap.
seized the opportunity GO tear the writ
ing paper into strips, and cast Il into the
waste basket
May be shot" was the INSPECTORS
inward ejaculation. If that basket goes
cut OF my sight ull have gathered up
those bits OF torn paper"
Meanwhile he continued 10 talk about
the threatening letter 20 North. which
he held In his hand.
It's altogether probable. Mr.. Stack
house, said the inspector. that we have
very important piece OF evidence here.
II viii require a most careful examina-
ton. Plainly. this Is largely a matter
OF handwriting that We have 10 deal
with. You have your stock books and 50
on available? supposed as much BE
good enough 90 have the books. with an
the correspondence Of the firm that you
can secure. brought here. Iwill have an
expert in handwriting secured at once.
OF course. until after the funeral. your
Office will be closed? Very good. we
shall be able to work uninterruptedly
for day or two"
Gradually all traces Of Stackhouse's
agitation disappeared. He accom-
panied the inspector into the outer Of
fee. The books were got out. Jobson
was sent after by the writing expert. and
Stackhouse seemed TO be eager and alb
sorbed in the new quest. Applebee's op-
portunity came at last. Going into the
inner Office upon the first reasonable pre-
text, he hastily transferred the contents
OF the waste basket to his hat. Forum
ately he had a large head and his hat
was capacious.
After the arrival OF the writing expert
the inspector did not linger long at the
office He suddenly discovered an er-
rand. In five minutes he was locked in a
private Office alone, excitedly compar-
ing. arranging. searching and FASTING
As the writing was only on one side OF
the sheet, patience and little
mucilage soon effected a restoration OF
the whole. And this was the insoec-
tors reward:
ooh. Marioni Oh, my beautiful and
cruel wife, I will not ask you to have
pity on me. for know you hate and de-
spise me. will not AJAX you TO think OF
my suffering and despair. for l know
you have made up your mind that de-
serve the worst misfortune that a guilty
conscience can infict. But, oh, for your
own sake. beg OF you TO tell me what
that wicked and INSCRIPTIONS woman,
whose name was upon your lips when
We parted. has told youi II you knew
what her purpose Is, how she exists by
blackmail and crime. you would be care
ful how you put faith In her. Perhaps
she presented what seemed 10 be
proofs. Remember proofs can be
manufactured"
"Pshaw!" grumbled the inspector,
hugely disappointed; ITS nothing but \
wheedling love letter to his wifel"