Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-16
and OF reading the following eng
NAUTICAL epistle:

picfon- nv hopes OF fortune are DESTROYED
Let me have frank. fair treatment now.
such az a victor can well AFFORD 20 give a
vs~Quished man; and whatever I can save
from the wreck OF north a Stackhouse
| shall be yours. I have not forgotten the
| old days at Lake Pcntchartrain. I am
aware that I am not entitled TO ask for
mercy. But by the same means that you
have done the mischief you can undo f.
VIII you not. Tire reward VIII be enough
10 satisfy your conscience. 1 cannot speak
more definitely upon paper ] must see
you In person. and have a talk with you
about this. Even N you refuse meet me
face to face. You DO not know how much
! may say 20 you 1T s."
Detective Lamm was still pulling
in a highly-excited frame OF mind over
this letter. when Tuesday afternoon
came.
81 wish had Thomas here to talk
it over" was his unspoken thought as
he gave his ONCE chair twirl where
Is the man all this while?" he said
aloud
Hardly were the words out OF his
mouth when well-known knock was
heard. Lamm's face frightened. and
frightened still more when he admit
ted to his little room OF counsel a mo-
ment later Mr.. Kingman F. Thomas
why, Kingman. where have you
kept yourself all this while? Sit down.
sit down. and give ar account of your
self"
Mr Thomas parted this impetuous
salutation and query with a question
OF his own.
IAN account OF MYSELF" he said.
laughing. Perhaps you think my
times my own. Did you never hear OF
such thing as a journalist being sent
out OF town % do a given bit OF work
for his paper. John Lamm2"
The detective nodded his head and
looked az Thomas in a quizzical sort
Of a way.
"Oh. yes. Kingman. But they don't
generally take a man OF a murder mys-
terry case like this and send him out OF
town on some chance affair: at least
they didn't do that when I knew the
ONCE routine. Got a new editor down
at your placer"
Nonsense. Lamm." answered Thorn
as. Emergencies may arise at any
moment in newspaper Office. You
know that well enough 7 was pulled
on the North case for little while:
but they put me back again with light
ning-like CELEBRITY, as you see. for here
I am. Now. what have you got to tell
me?"
First - 81. Kingman." the detective
said. tipped comfortably back in bis
chair. Il want TO tell you that I'm n
little surprised. TO put it mildly. that
you should have let that young North
girl give you the slip that night. How
did IL happen2"
The fortune OF war" rejoined
Thomas. for the moment quite inter
ested in the row OF law books on the
shelf above Mr.. Lamm's desk. The
best OF us get beaten sometimes-even
you. OF course, you have forgotten"
I've forgotten nothing, Kingman,"
said Mr.. Lamm. Let IL pass. The
matter can't be helped. OF course /
knew IL wasn't your fault And now
70 another subject"
The detective consulted his little
memorandum book and took from its
leaves StRckhOuse's letter.
Never mind To whom Il Is written"
he said. What do you think OF It,
taken in connection with what we
know OF this man Stackhouse?"
Thomas read the letter twice before
answering.
Looks as though there might be
some conspiracy. I should like TO
know who this Marie really is"
Mr.. Lamm silently acquiesced in this
wish. but he said nothing on thAs
point.
1--WE have talked over our friend
Stackhouse considerably, Kingman,
first and last" he observed. "and fan
cied we agreed pretty we'll for awhile"
For awhile7" queried Kingman.
What do you mean?"
People change their minds some
times. and I have modified my FIRST
opinions regarding the man." continued
Mr. Lamm. following the pattern OF
the wall paper opposite his desk with
his eye. "A decidedly ADLER man is
this Stackhouse than good many
people give him the credit OF being
ADLER than ! thought at first He Is a
smart mana slick man. as they say
up In New Hampshire. The way In
which he has managed 70 keep North
4 Stackhouse out OF bankruptcy all
this while shows that he has plenty
Of nerve and good deal Of skill"
mot much use without money"
was Mr.. Thomas sententious comment.
you know what people say about il.
Firm would have gone to smash long
ago II il hadn't been bolstered up.
And all the financial fellows that I |
have talked with give the credit for
keeping the firm out OF deep water tor |
three months past to one man-Rieh-
ard Fetridgei"
Hes a curious sort Of character.
that Fetridge." said the detective. con-
templatively. my opinion IS that /
without his money he would amount |
to but precious little"
You wouldn't put him down as the
Napoleon of State street, then?" hint
ed Thomas.
mo" replied Mr.. Lamm. "Why. the J
man hasn't halt the ability OF Thorn
ton Stackhouse There is a queer
streak in the fellow. and it shows itself
at every turn. Pig-headed enough. but
lacks balance. Really weak minded,
for all mis- obstinacy in small things. I
That's my Judgment of the man What Il