Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-09-28

matchbox that / had seen him with bv
the bedside of the dead man. He slid
it half open and tapped it sideways on
the table under the lamp. A round,
fluffy ball rolled out and lay motionless.
Suddenly little black head protruded,
a score of tiny feet padded into motion,
and across the table there crept hairy
caterpillar loathsome. disreputable
object, for across its back lay a ragged
scar, where the hairs had been shorn
away.
DO you recognize the species"
In faint-hearted way | leaned across
to grasp it, but with a sudden motion he
brushed my hand aside.
II see you do not" said he grimly.
1T is common enough in South Africa"
With the end of a match he carefully
pushed the insect back into the box.
and replaced it in his pocket.
The luck was against Marnac," he
continued. mot for one moment do I
suggest that otherwise should have sus-
pected the truth. To begin with, the de-
fective spring of the case allowed the
caterpillar to escape while he was bend
ing over poor Hermann. After he had
done his awful work he slipped it back
hastily into his pocket. He never real
lied what had occurred until, upon acci-
dentally pulling it out with his hand
kerchief in your lodgings, he found II
empty. 1t was for that reason he
searched so anxiously. What became of
it did not matter so long as it was not
found in this room; though, as a matter
of fact, there was very small danger even
then of it affording a clue.
And now we come to stroke of
abominable luck, of which Marnac has
every right to complain. | found the
caterpillar on the sheet of the bed.
where it had crawled in its wanderings.
But that was not the worst of it. for
happened to be the one man in all
Heidelberg who knew Of its peculiar
properties; who knew that its hairs are
slightly poisoned, sufficient indeed to
raise a nasty rash on the hand; who
knew that the old-time HOttentots en-
ployed it for removing their enemies by
blowing the hairs into their lungs I
took out matchbox, emptied it. and
collected the caterpillar. | was closing
the box when looked up and saw Mar
nae watching me with a shocking ex-
preston, which could hardly have dis
torted the face of a perfectly sane man,
however provoked. Nearly every mur-
derer has a screw loose somewhere; but,
in my opinion, Marnac Is in an unusually
bad way. 1t may turn out more of an
asylum than a gallows business, after
ALL"
But the details of the scene you pic
ture; how did you obtain them?"
Il am a quick thinker, and the events
of the evening began to arrange them
selves in a sort of sequence, crowned
by the discovery of the caterpillar. The
inference to be gathered from them was
obvious. | examined the nostrils of the
dead man, and found four of the cater
pillar hairs caught therein. On the dress
ing-table lay an ordinary pair of nail
scissors. Two hairs were jammed where
the blades met. On the creased sheet of
paper, which l found behind the couch,
there was no sign; but the use to which
it had been put was plain. From Hans
| knew the custom of the house: the
sleep after the midday meal, the open
doors, the opportunity. Is the matter
plain to your
What are you going to do?" 1t was
all that could say.
Nothing tonight. To appear at
German police-station at this hour with
such an extraordinary story would be
for two foreigners, at lcast-the height
of absurdity. Besides, there is no hurry;
Marnac won't bulge. He'll sit it out,
never fear"
One o'clock changed out from the
steeples as bade goodnight to Graden
at the door of my lodgings. He had al
ready secured a room in a neighboring
hotel.
Have you lock on your bedroom
door, said he.
Il believe So"
"Well, use it tonight. We've an ugly
customer to deal with; and the worst of
it is that, unless l am much mistaken,
he knows how much we know"
l watched him as he rolled away, a |
gigantic figure in the moonlight, waving |
the thick stick he carried. Never had |
my stairs seemed so uncomfortably dark,
never had they creaked behind me so
mysteriously. 1t was with a sigh of re-
lief that l gained my room and by
luick glance assured myself that l was
alone.
1t seemed that had only just dropped
'f into dreamland-for, indeed, sleep
had been hard to WOO that night-when
knocking at my door brought me from
ny bed l unlocked and opened it.
Cousin Graden filled the foreground.
Il didn't think he'd throw up the
'ponge," said he. "But he has, none the
ess. Marnac has bolted"
"And you?'
Il shall follow"
So commenced those strange wander
ngs which l shall entitle "The Trail Of
he Dead"
Ito be continued.)
Narrow Escape.