Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-03-15
tcOpyrlght, By The calSoIl Publishias Cal
CHAPTER xIy.-CoNrINUED.

salutation and query with-a question
of his own.
IAN account of myself?" he said,
laughing. Perhaps you think my
Sime's my own. Did you never hear of
ouch thing as journalist being sent
out Of town to do given BIT Of work
for his paper, John Lamm?'
The detective nodded his head and
looked at Thomas In a quizzical sort
Of way.
"Oh, yes, Kingman. But they don't
generally, take man of murder mys-
terry case like this and send him out Of
town on some chance affair; at least
they didn't do that when knew the
office routine. Got new editor down
at your placer"
Nonsense, Lamm," answered Thorn
as. Emergencies may arise at any
moment in a newspaper office. You
know that we'll enough. 1 was pulled
off the North case for little while;
but they put me back again with light
ning-like celebrity, as you see, for here
I am. Now, what have you got to tell
rhe?"
First of all, Kingman," the detective
said, tipped comfortably back in his
chair, ~ want to tell you that I'm a
little surprised, to put it mildly, that
you should have let that young North
girl give you the slip that night How
did 1t happen?"
''The fortune OF war" rejoined
Thomas, for the moment quite inter
ested in the row Of law books on the
shelf above Mr.. Lamm's desk. 1.-THE
best of us get beaten sometimes-even
you. OF course, you have forgotten"
1--WE forgotten nothing, Kingman,"
said Mr.. Lamm, LET 1t pass. The
matter can't be helped. OF course l
= knew 1t wasn't your fault. And now.
20 another subject"
The defective consulted his little
memorandum book and took from its
leaves Stackhouse's letter.
Never mind to whom It is written"
ne said. what do you think of it,
Gaken in connection with what we
know of this man Stacl1house?"
Thomas read the letter twice before
answering
Looks as though there might be
some conspiracy. I should like to
know who this Marie really is"
Mr., LRrnm silently acquiesced in this
wish, buc he said nothing on that
point
I'VE have talked over our friend
stacl1house considerably, Kingman,
first and last" he observed, "and fan
cied we agreed pretty we'll for awhile"
For awhile?" queried Kingman,
"What do you mean?"
"Peoplo change their minds some
times. and 1 have modified my first
opinions regarding the man" continued
Mr., Lamnl, following the pattern of
the wall paper opposite his desk with
his eye. "A decidedly ADLER man is
this Stackhouse than a good many
people give him the credit OF being
ADLER than l thought at first, He is a
smart mana Slick man., as they say
up in New Hampshire The way In
which he has managed to keep North
& Stackhouse out of bankruptcy all
this while shows that he has plenty
of nerve and good deal of skill"
'Not much use without money"
wan Mr.. Thomas sententious comment.
''You know what people say about 1t.
Firm would have gone to smash long
ago II it hadn't been bolstered up.
And all the financial fellows that l
have talked with give the credit for
keeping the firm out Of deep water for
three months past to one msn-Rich-
ard Fetrldgel"
"He's q curious sort Of character,
that Fetridge,D said the detective, con-
templatiyely. "My opinion is that
without his money he would amount
20 but precious little"
You wouldn't put him down as the
Napoleon OF State street, them" hint
ed Thomas
mo, - replied Mr.. Lamm. why, the
man hasn't half the ability Of Thorn
ton stackhouse. There is queer
streak in the fellow. and 1t shows itself
at every turn Plg-headed enough. but
lacks balance. Really weak minded.
for oil his obstinaey In small things.
That's my judgment of the man. what
do you say about him?"
Mr.. Thomas thought moment.
Don't know him as you do, L.amm.
Dut II seems 70 INC ne must nave some
good qualities, some little ability, to
have got on such a friendly footing
Rith the Norths"
"Do you mean the old man, or the
woman"
Wei, the family generally"
ooh, pshawl Paul North only want
Cd to work him for his money, and /
rather think you know that the girls
@ay have been IN with the OH gentle
nan in his laudable endeavor"
perhaps you've seen ami heard
more about the Norths than T." he
said. little uneomfortably sBut Il
dIdnt seem to me-
"ot. the girls9 Well, they may not
have Sad much 20 40 but - ami'4
sV. stly on FotrldGs nna kssp Him la