Mexico Missouri message., 1906-01-04

DrSAehAhb thNtlbIon MY name ~
Thornton Stackhouse. have come al
most directly from the house OF my
partner, Paul North. You know, OF
course, about his death--his murder?"
Mr.. Lamni bowed. twirllng a pen be-
tween his fngers, and waited for his
companion to continue.
Perhaps need not recount all the
circumstances, detective, that combine
to make this q very diflcult and deli
cate case. You will readily under
stand, without my saying anything
further, that the very best and most
confidential advice is requisite. And
that is precisely why came here, Mr..
Lamm, to enlist your services in get.
ting at the facts-all the facts-of this
mysterious crime. Now, can l secure
you? There will be a handsome com
pensation-you will have all the time
and money needed to carry on your in
vestigation."
Detective Iamm, looking at the wall
and still twirling his pen in his hands.
seemed to be considering what engage
ments he had made with which this
new commission might conflict At
least, such was the impression of
Thornton Stackhouse.
Il don't know" the detective said
slowly, at last. Il have a great deal
OF business just now--more than can
properly handle, in fact. II depends
upon what you want. Was there any
particular point you wished to present
to my attention, Mr.. Stackhouse, or
was it simply that you wished me to
ascertain facts and report to your"
Mr.. Stackhouse looked at the door
with some vague apprehension.
1--WE shall not be disturbed" said
the detective; II sprang the lock as
same In"
Mr.. Stackhouse brought his chair
CLOSE to the detective. When he spoke
it was in very low tones, hardly above
whisper.
Mr.. Lamm, you may have read In
the afternoon papers that name was
written on the wall close to where my
partner lay dead"
A nod and renewed twirling of the
pen.
THAT name, Mr.. Lamm, was meant
to be mine-Was mine!"
The detective raised his eyebrows
and seemed about to speak.
you are going to ask me how /
know" said Stackheuse. "Why, /
read it with my own eyes. Yes, the
papers said the scrawl might have
meant Stick or Stock or Stockholm,
and so on; but l had a keener and
truer sight than the officers there.
Now, detective, that name was
written by some enemy of mine, who
seeks to implieate me in this terrible
affair. 1 am convinced of the fact
And, being SO convinced, a man of
told that l dismiss the idea that Paul
North wrote that name on the wall as
utterly out of the question"
The grave, listening face near his
" ore no look of surprise, as Mr. Lamm
nodded his full understanding of his
visitors thought
North being put aside, we must
look for the guilty party in another
quarter. Mr.. Lamm, you don't hap
pen to recollect who 1t was at the
meeting Of Nicaragua directors, of
which the papers published an account,
testified that he parteI with Paul
North late yesterday afternoon?"
Mr.. Lamm did not appear to recol-
Ieot, for he pursed up his lips, shrugged
his shoulders slightly and said moth
irg.
swell, detective, that man was Mr..
Richard Fetridge, of whom you may
have heard-a young lawyer of con-
siderable property who has had deal
ings with our Arm"
Richard Fetridge," repeated the de-
tectiye slowly; "well"
'Mr. Fetridge stated, after consider
able hesitation, which couldn't help
noticing, that he left Mr.. North about
i've o'clock, after a business interview
with him at our Office. What the ma
ture Of that conference between them
was can't say. Mr.. Fetridge and l
did not like each other, I'm free to say
it, and latterly fancied that he grew
even more curt and unpleasant in his
manner toward me than before. Not
that l cared for that, you understand;
| would not have given the matter
moments thought but for this terrible |
AFFAIR. Nor even now, IL Fetridge's
strange conference, and his hesItaney
about saying where he left Mr.. North,
were not put in a more peculiar light |
by certain other facts that have come
to my knowledge"
"New facts?"
Eyes. Fetridge and North were seen
together at a much later hour than Eve
o'clock the afternoon Of tho murder"
The statement was made pointedly, |
and the detective gave evidence of in
terest.
Are you sure2" he asked
Absolutely sure" Mr.. Stackhouse's
voice had sunk to a confidential whis-
per- "A business acquaintance whose
word Is beyond question has told me
that he saw the two men walking up