Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-13

Inspector" returned Thomas. In a
voice that trembled In spite OF his ef-
forts 10 the contrary. 81 give you the
solemn word OF man who at least
believes that he speaks the truth.
There has been no murderi"
But for the excited breathing OF the
living in the Office of John Lamm. de-
tective. there was no more sound in
the moment following this utterance
than there would have been N Thorn
as auditors had suddenly become so
many ingenious and lifelike pieces OF
waxwork.
The inspector vas the first 20 re-
cover sufficient Command of himself
20 trust his voice.
DO you mean 90 have MS believe
that IL was a suicide?' he demanded.
with a scornful incredibly.
Il do not" Thomas returned. de-
cisively. 81 mean 90 have you believe
that Paul North died from accident.
pure and simple. without the inter
vent!on Of any second person in any
possible way"
And is this man." said the stiH In
credulous inspector. with toss OF his
head In Fetridge's direction. supposed
TO have knowledge Of this fact2"
Me-" gasped Richard Fetridge. u
assure you. sir, that / haven't the
faintest idea OF what he is talking
about"
"Umha! And the conspiracy" muir
INJURED a reproachful voice close TO the
reporters ear.
Thomas turned quickly to grasp
Lamm's hand.
My friend he said. solemnly. 81
am sorry TO say that you were quite
right There was a conspiracy. You
were shrewdly specializing here one
day as 10 which person was at the
head OF il and which person carried IL
out; but you fell wide OF the truth
there. Lamm. Paul North himself was
at the head of that conspiracy. and
that pitiable woman, his adopted
daughter, was the misguided instru-
ment or perpetuating his vengeance"
Among those who stared at Thomas
there was certainly none whose face
expressed more of bewilderment, dumb
and hopeless, than Richard Fetridge.
Thomas observed this, but the sight
seemed to kindle his indignation.
And as for the cause OF the whole
thing" he said. lit is easily 20 be
found in the man who entered into an
intrigue with an adventures for pur-
poses Of his own to completely ruin
the husband OF Paul North's daugh-
ter"
ssENor tha ra,,sa 80 ,-,,,A - s., 81,
interposed Fetridge In a faint voice.
For the family honor and-and my
own"
Thomas turned from him with a
contemptuous shrug of the shoulders.
And yet was he wholly just in con-
demning this man, whose chief fault
had been that he loved Marion North
Stackhouse too well to give her up so
long as chance remained OF winning
her? With what feverish eagerness
Richard Fetridge must have seized
upon the straw OF hope which the re-
vengeful Creole had brought into his
ONCE that fateful morning in May; and
how he must have argued with his
own conscience Till he had justified his
course TO himselfi But then, allow
ance must be made for the frame of
mind OF Mr.. Thomas. who was grfev-
ously dissatisfied with the outcome OF
the North case.
"And Thornton Stackhouse7" he
asked ITO speak more plainly. per-
haps, Albert Runyon. was told that
he was here"
Thornton Stackhouse Is dead" re-
turned the inspector. impatiently. "Iie
committed suicide this morning. We
are wasting precious time, Mr.. Thorn
as. II what you say is true, It is emil
nently important that | should be as
sured OF IL at once Tell your story IN
the fewest possible words. In the first
place. how did you become possessed
OF this information"
Dead" murmured the reporter.
He looked about him sharply and the
truth seemed TO cone - him. he,