Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-03-08
~tCFFyrfEht, by The cassell Publishing Co.
CHAPTER XII.-CoNTNUED.

the news? No surprise to vow. sup
poser"
what news"" questioned the chief
inspector, grui6g.
why, the 0tIlapse Of North g.
stackhouse, IN " sure. What, hadn't
you heard?" -,
The two officials were staring at
each other.
Where did you hear shat, Mendell?"
Applebee asked.
Where? Everywhere. IT'S all over
town OF course circumstances make
everybody talk about It, All sorts of
rumors are afoat as to the cause Of it.
Some say it wouldn't have occurred
but for North's death. Others say 1t
had to come anyway-that it was only
a matter Of time. But, plague take it,
that wasn't what came for"
"Quite So" said Applebee. But,
turning from gossip to business, what's
your report?"
well, gentlemen" returned Men
dell, briskly, opening his portfolio and
extracting therefrom several papers,
81 don't know that 1 can help you a
great deal, but I'm satisfied Of one
thing. Out of all the specimens of
writing which Johson presented for my
inspection, there are not five which
could have been done by the party who
prepared the anonymous letter."
There are four, them" said Apple
bee.
Just" returned Mendell, spreading
the samples upon the table; land there
you have them"
And how about your preference?"
81 have none. You see, the writing
of the original is too shaky to be a
auo6 guide. It is evidently a dis
EJtsed hand, but at the same time not
disguised by a person who understood
how to disguise handwriting. Evil
IDENTIFY when he had written it he
thought, because it didn't have the
general appearance, to Ills eye, Of his
own writing, it was consequently sufi-
GENTLY blind to deceive anybody. l
don't believe the popularity of the
formation of the letters ever occurred
to the person"
"Who are these parties?"
'Three of them are business men.
The fourth was formerly clerk in the
firms employ, but was discharged,
believe, for drunkenness"
"Pshaw!" said Applebee. 81 know
these three men. They're none of
them in need of money, and would
not have taken that means to get II
If they had been"
ut remains, then, with this other
fellow-Willard Smith-eh?" said the
chief inspector. What do you know
of this mans history?"
Nothing but the few words that
Jobson accidentally let fAll," replied
the expert. "HA said that the man
was young and Industrious. That he
invested every cent in Nicaragua Mid
land, lost his money and took to rum
as a consolation"
That's our man." said the chief In
spector, positively. "Applebee, let's
get to. work on this at once"
There was no time lost. Inspector
Appellee and his assistants were soon
securing the city for information con-
corning Mr.. Willard Smith, late clerk
with North & Stackhouse. But the
quest presented some unexpected DIM
culties, and when Tuesday morning
came 1t had not yet achieved success
Applebee was scarcely awake on
Tuesday morning when the following
telegram was placed in his hands:
Hartford Conn, a. m.
Important! Meet me at Headquarters
1t IL.
Does he bring Stella North with
him?'' was the grave question that per-
sisted in Applebee's mind during the
Intervening time. "If so, am con-
6dent that we are nearing the end OF
this perplexing case"
He communicated his anxiety to the
chief inspector, and both men waited
with impotence the coming of the
man who had gone In quest of the
mysterious fugitive Alas, for their
hopes! Inspector White was quite
alonu,
The three men were closeted togeth.
eT as soon as he arrived.
Not trace of herr" exclaimed Ap-
plebee. impatiently.
Slipped through my fingers like &
fish," said White. Circumstances
very peculiar. Whole thing mystic
Tious; more than mysterious--suspi-
ciOus."
How do you mean?"
White placed his hand impressively
on Applebee's shoulder, and though
the door was shut, spoke in almost q
whisper:
Il tell you, man, it is one of two
things. That girls either made away
with herself, or she's had help to es.
cape"
IT'S likely enough that she had heir
70 escape" observed the chief. "Bnl
know Of no good reason why she
should 80 outside of the state OF Mas
sachusetts for the purpose of commit,
ting suicide"
Wait till you have keard me, eaid
White. eagerly. 7ObserVe the facts