Mexico Missouri message., 1906-01-04

Murdered him y echoed Mr.. Lamm,
with not a shade OF difference in the
tone Of his voice, quite az II he ex-
pected Just such q revelation.
mot only murdered him." Stack
house went on, his voice now full and
strong under the stress Of excitement;
'but tried to fasten the guilt Of the
crime upon me. Richard Fetridge
wrote my name there in the blood OF
his Northumberland Fetridge, and NO
other. Ieel as certain OF It as Il
had been witness OF the deed. He is
my enemy; l have felt It for a long
time. and In the hostility, and no
doubt his dread lest his scheming with
North should come to light through
my examination of his affairs. he has
done his utmost to discredit and dis
honor me. Now you see why want
Richard Fetridge watched; why want
him followed at every step; why
want his guilt established by incon.
trovertible proof"
BY this time Stackhouse, with his
fists clenched, was pacing the floor.
First Of all" said the detective,
quietly observing Stackhouse under HIS
eyebrows-'first of all, let us look at
your own interests here. Perhaps Won
Over-estimate the influence of that
word written on the wall--your name,
rs you declare. No one else has as
serted this openly, Mr.. stackhouse;
hut there have, no doubt, been whis-
perings to that effect, and it is the
cart of wisdom for you to silence, at
once and effectually, any such charge,
uttered, insinuated, or limited at. You
can, of course, prove your whereabouts
at the time when the murder must
have been committed?"
Mr.. Lamm said this in a tone of
business-like Indifference.
you mean-an alibi?" asked Stack
house, with something more of hesi-
fancy than had characterized his state
ments hitherto.
Certainly"
well, Mr.. Lamm, as we are on con-
fidential terms, talking as man to man,
I see no reason for concealing the fact
that my position as regards an alibi
is little peculiar"
"Indeed" Mr.. Lamm gave his pen
another twirl.
II went to Vercelli's about half-past
six o'clock for dinner with Mr.. Spar
hawk, one of my business friends. He
was obliged to take train out of town
on the Providence road, and after the
dinner walked up and down the Pub
lie Garden, smoking a contempIatiYe
cigar"
"Alone?"
eyes. Just how long this might
have taken l really cannot say"
about what time did you finish
your dinner?'
Somewhere about hali-past seven
o'clock, After this little walk, to help
digest my dinner, went towards
Washington street again. Then-but
why should l beat about the bush?
The evening was on my hands, and
1 dropped in for a quiet little game
with some friends at house in Avory
street"
Eyes; I've heard Of the place" said
the detective, dryly.
There l stayed until it was getting
nearly two o'clock, when l walked into
the Adams house, and slept till break
fast"
'Umha!" Mr.. Lamm seemed to be
considering point about what time
did you visit the AVory street house?
It may be important as bearing on tbs
question of alibi."
mot until after nine. can be sure
Of that, for distinctly remember hear
ing the bells ring at that hour while
I was in the street."
Eat all events" said the detective,
your friends can testify, If it should
be necessary, through any compiled
ton of circumstances, when you Joined
your party, and how long you remained
there?"
Undoubtedly" Mr.. Stackhouse sat
moment thinking in his turn. 81
suppose no reliable opinion has yet
North came TO his end?" He looked
trife uneasy as he put the ques-
ton.
1--WE must await the report of the |
autopsy on that point" rejoined the
detective. "It seems to be taken for
granted that Mr.. North died some time !
between six p. m. and nine a. m by
the papers. Only the decision of the
medical examiner, however, can have |
weight in the matter. II can ascer-
tain its diff in advance" added Mr.
Lamm, as II struck by a sudden
thought, Il will advise you at once"
'Then you really think you can I'M
dertake the case?" Stackhouse asked, |
eagerly.
Il have decided to-" said Lamm,
dryly. II am very glad you came here,
Mr.. staekhoase Ithink / should have
been led into serious error regarding
this case If you had not come, How
ever, it is all right l shall make an |
exception to an almost unbroken bust
ness rule. and undertake the case for
a few days at least II find / cannot
continue the work, / will promptly |