Mexico Missouri message., 1906-01-04
LcopgIlahl. By u caaaelI Publishina -
CHAPTER III.


About two o'clock in the Afternoon
Of the dsy Paul North was found dead
Detective Lamm, pursuing the even
eontemplative tenor OF his way by
the old 0ranary burying ground, found
himself suddenly arm In arm with an
excited gentleman whose face he did
not recall.
mr.. Lamm?" questioned Mr.. Rich
ard Fetridge.
''Fhat is my name, sir"
Excuse me. / know you. I need
your services at once. have unlimited
money at my disposal. You have been
recommended to me by trusted friends
as most discreet In your calling.
Come with mel"
The two were in Mr.. Fetridge's pri-
Vate Office, and the door secured
against intrusion before Detective
LamIn's vis-a-vis declared himself
Pardon my abruptness," said Fet-
ridge. Pressing business must be my
excuse. Not to waste time in pream-
bles, Detective Lamm, want to retain
your services in a matter Of vital In
terest to me. You shall fix the amount
IF compensation yourself Now will
you undertake this serVice?"
Mr. Lamm looked at MIN calmly.
THAT depends somewhat upon the ma
ture of the business in hand" he said,
drgly.
oh It's perfectly legitimate" went
on Mr.. Fetridge. Its this terrible
murder in Marlboro street.-the killing
Of Paul North. lie was my friend;
I am on intimate terms with the fam
ily, and l wish to be kept fully posted
On the progress Of the work of dqtect-
ing the guilty party"
'Umhal You have keen interest
ii this matter, sirl"
Why, detective" said Fetridge, edg-
ing his chair closer, Il have good rea-
son to be eager in this matter. AS
man to man, I tell you here that
believe the guilty man in this case to
be Paul North's partner!"
The detective remained utterly un-
moved, but grave and attentive.
Mr.. Thornton Staekhouse?"
"0f course" said Fetridge, quickly,
Fl make this statement absolutely in
confidence. wouldn't condemn the
man publicly on my simple suspl.
sionsyg
"oh. Of course not"
''But / tell you, sir" Fetridge re-
sumed. pacing the floor excitedly, 81
know the man to be villain. know
MIN for scoundrel, and good heav-
ems! Poor Northl Poor Marionl
What misfortuneI"
You win, Of course, acquaint me
with the reasons for your suspicions?"
Mr. Lamm mildly suggested, by way Of
bringing his now motionless client to
q realization of hIs surroundings. Fet-
ridge awoke from his trance with a
start
''RsasonsF" he echoed. mo! Ger
taiIlig not!"
'Umha" (the detective had habit
Of prefacing his discourse with this
reflective grunt), "North had quite a
family?''
He has two daughters. sir"
"Young2 Unmarried?''
''What7 Don't you know? The eId-
est. Marion is Thornton Stackhouss's
wife. The younger, Stella, is III"
And Mrs. North7"
Dead lAese Is years. Her sister,
Comfort Harwood, is the housekeeper.
The family are at the beach &C
swampscott-still, / presume, In igno.
rance Of the awful cloud whlSh is
hanging over them, Poor girlsl Poor
old Aunt Comfort! / say, Lamm.
you'll undertake the case, won't you?
II there's any disgrace / can save this
bereaYed family, l am bound to do it.
want to employ you to hunt up evil
dence in behalf Of the family, and to
report to me as rapidly as possible.
Ia fact / wish to know, II it can be
done, all the evidence the police have
when the inquest il called. won't
conceal from you that the attitude 4
shall take on that occasion may be
governed largely by what you tell me. 2
fWeli, Mr.. Fetridge, no mao can
make fairer offer than you've made,
and under the circumstances l'll be
very glad to take ~ the case and see
what can make Of It. Count ubon me
to. let you know when I have found
anything Of the slightest valnsp
Il certainly BhaH detective RS
turned Fetridse, whose face expressed
the satisfaction he felt at securing
such az ally Ana 50 the conference
snded
DstectiYe Lamnl, now turning his
steps towards his own once, not far
away, bethougnt himself that this man
elackhouse, whom he knew very we'll
BY sight. would be likely to occupy
large abare Of his time ana attention
for many days TO come.
Il came as a surprise, even to HIS
imperturbable nature. to and that the
arst face 70 look into his as he entered
bic oiuce was the face 81 Thornton
stackhousa. But Detective Lamm was
quite equal to the occasion.
We're you waiting to see me?1 ha
aaifa7 ~ h,a nnat ffer.of. $50 tona.