The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-10-09
xl

cases IN WHICH L nave
y been associated with
~xxH Carlton Clarke the one
0EkanD that will best make a
g, story At the time of
which this story deals his fame as an
untangler of mysteries had gone far
often presented a regular procession
of clients as early and as late as
Clarke was willing to receive them.
Many of my readers doubtless will
recall when the city was shocked by
the mysterious murder of the Honor
able Algernon Sydney Hoppington.
Such was the sensation at the time
that it seems almost unnecessary now
to go into the details. The crime, for
crime it was upon the face, was dis
covered about four o'clock in the
morning, and so great was the figure
that the Honorable Algernon Sydney
had cut during his three years resi-
dence in Chicago, where he had come
from England to claim the fortune
running well into the millions gra-
ciously founded there BY 4 great
uncle, that the newspapers held on
their entire mechanical force for a
double-column extra. -.
1 opened the door to admit our old
friend, late Inspector, now Chief,
Ship. 1t was not his first call at
our humble quarters, for he had long
since discovered where to come for a
quiet tip that demanded none of the
official credit in return, and many
stubborn case had he laid before
Clarke.
We had him back into the dining
room. Clarke merely nodded and con-
tinued to sip his coffee and puff at his
cigarette, while he watched the chief
and waited for him to speak.
We'll, Mr.. Wizard, I suppose you
know what I'm here for before 1 tell
you," began the chief.
Yes, should say it is the Hop
pington case. I am afraid l will have
to revise the estimate of the affair
was just delivering to Mr.. Sexton,
here. Not so simple as it looked then.
Tell us about it. Haven't the servants
put yOu IuS IlSuI II dCh
mot within a thousand miles of the
track They don't know anything.
Hoppington was writing in his library
at eleven o'clock. He called the but
Ter, Biffin, to get him bottle of wine.
Half an hour later he came out to the
dining room, where Bifin was with
Bryson, the other man servant, and
LII I@&@ L. ELL
and told them to finish it. They did
and that is the last they remember
Dragged, suppose. have the bottle
with the few drops that were left and
will have them analysed The three
maids had been entertaining company,
some of my men, it appears, in the
kitchen. They had just let them out
che back way and had gone into the
buffers pantry to get bite to eat be-
fore going up to bed when the door
slammed and they heard the bolt shot
and they were locked in. About an
hour afterward, as near as / can
gather from their hysterical memory
of what happened, they heard a pierre
ing female scream ring through the
house
"And look here! Found it on the
lower step of the stoop," and the chief
drew from his pocket bundle and on
unrclling it displayed a tiny white
satin slipper No. A. 1t was liter
ally soaked in blood.
"a woman's work, you think?'
queried Clarke.
At the Hoppington number we found
one of those square red stone man
sions typical of the period immediate
ly following the fire.
"Ah, he was a fancier of orchids, I
see," remarked Clarke.
"Humph!" snorted the chief. I'm
sure / don't know what you are talk
ing about, but If you're looking for
clews there are the knife and the slip
per, that are worth more than all your
old orchids put together for my pur-
poses"
Once out of the house Clarke ex-
claimed:
Quick, Sexton, cab. Well beat
the chief at that little game"
I hailed passing hanson and
Clarke directed the driver to get to the
Auditorium hotel in the quickest pos.
sible time.
"And can you really lay your hands
on the couple within an hour?"
"Oh, of course it is always we'll to
make these things strong when talk
ing to one of the chiefs caliber, but
here is the case as / see it. 1t may
need several revisings before we come
to the end. / admit when confronted
with the evidence of the knife through
the table, the blood-stained slipper and
the mysterious telephone call, to say
nothing of the drugged wine and the
servants carefully rendered hors de
combat, l couldn't see a ray of light
from them. 1t was evident Hopping
ton had been entertaining man and
g woman; that either he disposed Of
the servants himself in order to carry