Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-06

Aunt Comfort explained after a deal
Of circumlocution. which il IS unnec-
essary to reproduce. that she had &C
cidentally come across Il in examining
some papers of her late brotherin-lsw,
which until recently had reposed IN
der lock and key in his writing desk
at the Marlboro street house.
The inspector quoted her agitation
by assuring her that she had done her
full duty in Immediately referring this
matter to the police. and that they
would take steps 20 Investigate It,
As soon as Miss Harwood had gone.
the inspector showed the letter To ais
chief
This Is one OF that kind Of matters
| ia which the newspapers are Of the
most service said that potentata.
Rfser a brief reflection. we might
keep this thing in our possession for
dogs age. and never know any more
about it than we do now. II. however,
/ the newspapers publish Il we stand
an even chance of hearing something
| about this Mr.. Bunyon-f the clew
amounts TO anything at all. which Is
| doubtful By the way. did you ask
the old lady If she had ever heard OF
any person OF that name?'
TO be sure I did" said the in
| spector and she expresses complete
ignorance. I think I'm make some in
| Quiries OF Stachh0use as to whethec
| there was any sucl man to his knowl-
edge associated with North in bust
ness. before giving the thing TO the
newspapers"
''To bee sure. said the Inspector;
! but it's doubtful Apparently North
attached mo- importance 90 the com
municatiou. for if ho had made any
| talk about BE-. we should have heard
| OF the thinE before"
With the letter in his pocket. In
I spector Applebee SET out az once en-
| quest OF the junior partner.
! Inspector Applebce. however. had
/ some difficulty in finding Thornton
| Stackhouse.
The fact was that at this moment
be was engaged in an earnest confer
ence with Detective John I-amm at the
latters Office.
Il have come 20 you. Mr. Lamm.
Mr.. Stackhouse had said. as soon as
! Mr.. Lamm had closed the door Of the
AAtAA..A NtAAANf ANA NN.N IiAA I"'.N aA ga
Ing you a little information with ref
erence 20 personal matters. which
ougat perhaps. 90 have mentioned 70
you before"
| Stackhouse looked rather perturbed.
and RETAINED from meeting the steady
gaze OF the man whom be addressed.
81 trust said Lamm. that 10 Is not
too late now"
mo" rejolned Stackhouse. nervous
Nly: emo. 90 is not too late FOR you; for
I me II may be-"
I There was something despondently
I apprehensive ln the tones OF the man
as DE said these words. but overcJm-
/ Ing with apparent EFFORT his tendency
? 90 despair. DE went on a. once ga a
u tone of forced briskuess.
'AIr. Lamm. I intrusted you in the
FIRST place with all that occurred TO me
TO have any special bearing upon the
/ North case when engaged YOU"
! The detectives raised eyebrows evil
/ IDENTITY conveyed his surprise at this
statement. for SJackhouse went on i'm
/ mediateIy. Yes. 10 is not about that
but about things Immediately growing
| out OF 80 that I have come 10 sneak
20 you now. Mr.. I-amm; In other words
OF my serious domestic troubles. And
believe me. could not say 10 you
what now Go II ! did not know
that I am speaking 90 "A trustworthy
man in absolute confidence"
Mr.. Lamm made an appreciative ges-
ture.
The truth is. sir. that I am utterly
! unable 10 account for the extraOrdi-
nary conduct Of my wife. Up 70 the
day OF this murder. sir. since the
! time that ] married her, Air
Iamm, we have been on the best OF
terms-the best II terms" he repeated,
renectively, as IL half losing himself
| IN dreamy Renaissance.
And since?" the detective insinu-
ated.
Mr.. Stackhouse's reply involved a
substantially accurate description OF
the scene which had followed his ar
| rival at home on the afternoon OF the
18th Of June. a statement which II
may naturally be conceived caused the
detective far less astonishment thar
81 might have in some circumstances
But John Lamm was delighted 10 have
an opportunity to discuss this matter
with his client
And how do you account for thls?''
he Gueried.
Il don't account for It," answered
| Stackhouse. Il cannot account for T..
! 1t is a great and frightful nightmare:
the puzzle OF my whole life. Believe
me, sir. you know absolutely as much
about II as l do"
still" suggested Mr.. Lamm, you
might have means Of surmising which
do not possess"
| "Ah, indeed" returned StackhOuse.
"and II IL were not for that fac; !
should not have come here. Yes. in
deed, do have means Of surmis.ng.
Mr.. Lamm. Ny wife, as an explana-
ton Of her impossible conduct. simply
uttered a name which. am sorry to
say. I know altogether too we'll"
\ THE name was-?"
! marie Moissot"