Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-16

for some OF his natural shortcomings.
However. perhaps this failure will
bring out the facts about Stackhouse.
/ 1 hope so. It's bad break. and great
| many people have gone down with
North & Stackhouse. But I think
Thornton Stackhouse himself has saved
nothing out OF the crash"
The Norths have gone under, OF
course7"
"Yes. Not a dollar. so far as I can
see, VIII be left to them. There's DO
telling. though. what those girls may
have managed to pick up and hide all
this while That young creature, now,
who went Of"
You mean-Miss Stellar" There
was dangerous look in Thomas eyes.
Certainly. She's & hardened little
baggage. I'll be bound Why, man. she
was shrewd enough to throw you OF
the scent. and a girl OF IS who can
trick Kingman F. Thomas when he's
on the watch is an abnormally clever
sort OF creature"
Mr.. Thomas abruptly arose and
looked out Of the little window.
How do you imagine she got away
from you, Kingman?" pursued Mr..
Lamm.
"A piece OF bad luck" the reporter
returned, CURLY. I'VE all have that
sort OF happenings sometimes. I sup
pose the girl watched her chance and
stole away. Nothing very calculating
about that, It seems TO me. It was her
good fortune"
Just SO, just So" assented Mr..
Lamm. IT'S a sore spot with you. old
fellow, Ell? Well. never mind We
know. OF course. who the guilty party
is IN this affair. Never mind Fetridge
now. Flight Sc confession. and you can
take ample revenge by helping 10 bring
that large-eyed maiden who gave you
the slip to justice. You see the point.
Kingman?"
No, / don't" said Mr.. Thomas,
turning upon the ingenious Mr.. Lamm
In great heat. What morbid state OF
mind has come over you? What's the
matter with you that you go on maun-
dering like this?"
"Maundering2" Mr.. Lamm's face
wore look of cleverly assumed aston
ishment
Yes. Numbering Is what said
and | meant IL. too. Comet You don't
mean to look me In the face and tell
me that You think that timid. shrink
ing girl like Stella North would ever
have the courage 60 murder her father.
even II she had the heart 10 do it?"
but she ran away"
There was tell-tale twitching at
the corners OF the detectives mouth
despite his efforts 10 the contrary. OBJ
serving which Mr. Thomas gave a little
start. pulled up his shirt collar. re-
Taxed his features. laughed. though
rather constrainedly. and clapped MIR.
Lamm on the shoulder.
Have done with your Kidding old
man he said. I'm not one OF the
Central ONCE crowd"
Mr.. Lamm cOughed behind his hand.
you cant make me believe any OF
your fOolishness" continued the re-
porter. Now talk straight for a mo-
ment- Stackhouse OF Fetridge-whom
shall watch. now?"
mo use 20 try 20 cheat you. King
man." retorted Mr.. Lamm. with an ex-
pansive smile We'll. in the present
uncertain state OF Affairs. both must be
watched. We ought 20 be here, both
OF us. to look after matters; but an
suddenly called away and this is why
| am so glad you came in"
Called away2"
yes; old Jobson. the clerk at North
& StackhOuse. has Just told me in mis-
innocent way all about a certain suspi-
cious character that occasionally came
70 see North. and lives in New York.
/ an going 10 look the man up there,
and for a day or two you must watch
the Boston end for both OF US"
Mr.. Lamm. after advising Thomas
to still watch Swampscott, and promis-
Ing TO bring in a man or two to help
cover the city points. babe the report
or a friendly good by and went from
his Office directly toward the Albany
station
But the protuberance on his valise,
which marked the sojourning place OF
the very rigid hair brush which was
MIR. Lamm's constant travelling COM
panion, soon pointed north instead OF
south. II was MIR. Thomas whom the
detective followed. Seeing him enter
the Office Of his newspaper, Mr.. Lamm
turned back. deposited his valise in his
Office. and betook himself to Court
square.
''Nowak. how are your"
Thus hailed the detective a tall. we'll
built. well-dressed young man who was
crossing the pavement at brisk pace.
Hello. Lamm, how goes every
thing2" the reporter said.
Quietly, quietly. How are the boys
in the Globe office? hardly ever see |
them nowadays. not even Kingman,
whom ] used to run across so often"
"Kingman?" said Mr.. Nowak. "Oh,
he's busy on the North mystery.
Doesn't do anything else. Has his own |
time. and fits in and out OF the Office |
at all sorts OF odd hours. Sometimes /
he's In a dozen times a day. And then,
again, the editor may not see him for /
"A hours or more. But Kingmer - a
privileged character, you know. He
never wastes his time when he Is on a
job"
Mr. Lamm nodded his head emphat-
ically. You're right, Nowak. The